Overview
The 2020 Rolls-Royce Phantom is not just an ultimate status symbol, it's the Holy Grail of handcrafted luxury automobiles. Its imposing design and decadent furnishings are derived from decades of building opulent motorcars for the world's wealthiest clients.
It utilizes a modern aluminum structure that rides atop an air suspension for euphoric comfort. The Phantom has few true rivals, as even the Mercedes-Maybach S650 and the Bentley Mulsanne fail to deliver the same levels of sybaritic luxury, and the Mercedes sports a price tag that's $250,000 less. How proletarian. Want to show the world you've arrived? You need a Phantom.
What's New for 2020?
Rolls-Royce's flagship sedan receives three embellishments for 2020: A polished metal fuel filler cap, a new optional Bespoke dash clock, and the option of personalized door-panel embroidery.
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| 2020 Rolls-Royce Phantom |
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Sedan: $452,750
Extended Wheelbase: $494,925
One does not simply choose a Phantom—or any Rolls-Royce for that matter—off the dealer lot. No. These cars are built to the exacting requirements of the millionaires and billionaires who can afford them and are often customized down to the last detail.
We won't even begin to suggest which special-order options are worth adding because, well, what would we know? We would, however, suggest springing for the Extended Wheelbase model to take advantage of its limousine-like rear-seat legroom.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Prodigious power is provided by a 563-hp twin-turbo V-12 paired with an eight-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive. Acceleration is brisk, but Rolls-Royce's claimed 5.1-second zero-to-60-mph time isn't anything you'd appreciate your chauffer trying to replicate; the Phantom is better suited for wafting along with smooth, steady inputs to throttle and steering.
To say that the ride is smooth would be an understatement: The Phantom practically levitates over the road; it features a pothole-spotting camera that helps the suspension adapt to road imperfections in real time.
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| 2020 Rolls-Royce Phantom |
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
To match a Phantom owner's conspicuous consumption, the car has quite a penchant for consuming fuel. The EPA's fuel-economy estimates run as low as 12 mpg city; although the Phantom's 20 mpg highway rating actually bests the smaller Rolls-Royce Ghost's by 2 mpg. If we ever are lucky enough to have the chance to put the Phantom through our 200-mile highway fuel economy test, we'll update this story with test results.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
An interior tailored for kings can be adorned with a custom-artwork dash. Acres of wood, real metal accents, and vast expanses of supple leather cover nearly every square inch of the cabin.
Rolls-Royce offers both a standard- and long-wheelbase version of the Phantom, the latter being 8.6 inches longer, much of which is results as additional rear-seat legroom. Rear-hinged coach doors open to allow graceful ingress and egress to the rear seat where passengers can be treated to a myriad of luxuries such as deep-pile carpeted floor mats, power-adjustable seats with massage, a refrigerated console compartment, and remote controls for the car's infotainment system.
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| 2020 Rolls-Royce Phantom |
Infotainment and Connectivity
Speaking of infotainment, the Phantom comes standard with a large infotainment display artfully hidden behind a large glass panel that runs the full width of the car's dashboard. It's controlled via a rotary knob on the center console.
Lest you think that rear-seat passengers are left out of the technology game, the Phantom also features touchscreens that motor down from each of the front seat-backs to provide access to the car's audio and navigation systems, and even offer a live TV tuner so passengers won't fall behind on their favorite shows while on the go.
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| 2020 Rolls-Royce Phantom |
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) almost certainly will not perform crash testing on the Phantom due to its low sales numbers and sky-high price tag. Its dizzying array of optional tech includes night vision and a distinct laser-light system, but Rolls-Royce also offers more mundane driver-assistance features such as forward collision and lane-departure warning as standard. Key safety features include:
Standard forward collision warning
Standard lane-departure warning
Available adaptive cruise control with night vision
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Like the Cullinan SUV and the Dawn convertible, the Phantom comes with Rolls-Royce's four-year/unlimited mile warranty and maintenance package as standard.
Limited warranty covers 4 years or unlimited miles
Power-train warranty covers 4 years or unlimited miles
Complimentary maintenance is covered for 4 years or unlimited miles.
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| 2020 Rolls-Royce Phantom |
