Refreshing or Revolting: 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom

Tradition may be the hallmark of Rolls-Royce, but the eighth-generation Phantom proves the luxury marque knows how to shake things up every once in a while. Along with a more powerful engine, the Phantom adopts a new platform that will eventually underpin every single Rolls-Royce model in the future. Rolls also made a host of styling updates to modernize the sedan while staying true to its heritage. But how do these changes stack up against the model’s predecessor?

Up front, you’ll notice more curved headlights and a new lighting graphic that surrounds the outside of the headlamp units. The boxy front lights on the old model were structured differently, with each light split into top and bottom sections by the bodywork. Rolls also raised the grille higher on the new Phantom, pushing up the Spirit of Ecstasy about half an inch higher as well. A new double R logo now sits below the main grille, and the look of the lower vents has also changed.

If you look carefully, you’ll see new character lines on the side of the 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom. The lines start from one side of the car and gradually fade out into the doors, providing for a soft and fluid look. In contrast, the old model featured harsher, more chiseled lines running across the body. A close look at the softly sloped roofline reveals the new Phantom takes on a coupe-like shape. The old model’s roofline dropped off much more sharply in the rear. Out back, the taillights have changed and feature the same square-shaped lighting graphic as the new headlamps. Also look for a large license plate holder and a slightly less square rear window.

All these changes pale in comparison to the Phantom’s new interior. The cockpit looks much more modern now that it ditches the ancient-looking physical gauges in the instrument cluster for digital gauges set off by round chrome surrounds. The previous Rolls-Royce had plenty of dead space in the cockpit, but for the eighth-gen model, Rolls cleverly filled in the area by using different materials and creating a layered look, with vents, buttons, and knobs on the bottom, and the “Gallery” at the top. This entire upper dash is covered by a single piece of smooth glass, and if you so choose, you can place any piece of customized artwork behind it. Aside from the cockpit, the new Rolls also features the largest Starlight Headliner ever on a Rolls-Royce, and there are picnic tables and monitors in the back that can be put up and down with the push of a button.

Do you think the 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom is refreshing or revolting?

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