Rolls-Royce Phantom nameplate turns 100

• Rolls-Royce is celebrating its Phantom nameplate’s centennial
• The nameplate is the oldest nonetheless in use, although it hasn’t been in steady use over time
• Rolls-Royce has launched eight generations of the Phantom and the following could also be an EV

Rolls-Royce’s Phantom nameplate dates again to 1925, though it hasn’t been in steady use all through its historical past. There have been interruptions, corresponding to throughout and after the Second World Struggle, and once more following the change in possession of the Rolls-Royce automobile enterprise throughout the Nineteen Nineties.

The partnership between founders Charles Rolls and Henry Royce within the early twentieth century produced a few of the best vehicles the world has ever seen. Amongst their creations, the Phantom has stood as a defining image of luxurious and engineering excellence, spanning eight generations since its debut in 1925.

This date makes the Phantom nameplate the oldest nonetheless in use, regardless of these breaks in manufacturing. The primary era, referred to as the 40/50 H.P. Phantom, succeeded the 40/50 H.P. Silver Ghost. Rolls-Royce selected the Phantom identify to interchange the Silver Ghost’s unofficial moniker, guaranteeing there was no confusion between the 2 generations of the 40/50 H.P. chassis that underpinned the automobiles.

In keeping with Rolls-Royce, the Phantom identify was probably conceived by the automaker’s then-commercial managing director, Claude Johnson. He acknowledged the advertising energy of naming the corporate’s automobiles, a technique he had already employed by branding the Phantom’s predecessor because the Silver Ghost.

With every successive era, the Phantom has continued to symbolize the top of Rolls-Royce’s craftsmanship and engineering, typically serving as a platform to introduce cutting-edge applied sciences. In earlier years, many inventions have been carried out on a chassis-by-chassis foundation, reflecting the bespoke nature of the marque.

The latest-generation Phantom, launched in 2017, incorporates a new aluminum spaceframe platform designed to reinforce its luxurious credentials. The automobile is fitted with 286 kilos of sound insulation to create an exceptionally quiet cabin. A twin-turbocharged 6.75-liter V-12 engine delivers 563 hp, propelling the luxurious sedan with ease. Moreover, a self-leveling air suspension and rear-wheel steering debuted with this era, additional refining its experience high quality and dealing with.

Wanting forward, the Phantom nameplate is poised for its most important transformation but with the anticipated arrival of the Phantom IX later this decade. Rolls-Royce has dedicated to producing solely electrical automobiles sooner or later, that means the following Phantom will probably be powered solely by batteries, heralding a brand new period for this storied nameplate.