Pent-up demand greets new Rolls-Royce Phantom
No price released yet but 12 bookings received for Phantom VIII limousine
Singapore
A DOZEN deposits have been placed here for the new Rolls-Royce Phantom ultra-luxury limousine - even before its estimated price is announced ahead of next week's preview in Singapore.
And global demand for the car is so strong that it is completely sold out for 2018.
Called the Phantom VIII, it will be unveiled next week at a private premiere in Singapore, with its official list price to be released only after October, according to the manufacturer.
About 400 VIP guests are expected to view the brand new model, which replaces the previous-generation Phantom - the first Rolls-Royce to be unveiled by BMW in 2003 after the German premium manufacturer took over the British marque.
During its 14-year production lifecycle, about 100 Phantoms were sold here by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Singapore, part of the Eurokars group of companies owned by motor magnate Karsono Kwee.
The last unit was registered just last month. It had a starting price of S$1,788,888 before options and COE, making it the most expensive production sedan available.
But the Phantoms ordered here typically averaged between about S$2.0 million and S$2.2 million on the road.
In Singapore, deliveries of the new Phantom are expected to start from the first quarter of 2018 at the earliest, with the dozen orders to be fulfilled progressively over the course of the year.
It is understood that the car is still so new that thus far, only Rolls-Royce's top management have driven it.
At 5,762 millimetres in length, the massive limousine with the trademark rear coach doors is just 80 mm shorter but more imposing, with a bigger front grille.
It is even quieter and more luxurious, with ride comfort said to be enhanced by a more rigid all-aluminium architecture and four-wheel-steering.
Inside, one feature that stands out is the art gallery - a single piece of glass spanning the dashboard, behind which lies a customised artwork in a choice of materials.
Despite the jaw-dropping specifications though, it seems that pent-up demand is mostly behind the strong bookings.
"The car is selling well because it's a long-awaited replacement,'' said an executive with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Singapore. "It has been 14 years since the last model.''
The majority of the orders come from current owners of a Rolls-Royce.
"There are also those moving up from the Ghost,'' the executive added, referring to the smaller Rolls-Royce limousine model.
