Rolls-Royce Phantom reaches its Zenith

ROLLS-ROYCE has revealed a special-edition Phantom Coupe and Drophead Coupe, dubbed the Zenith Collection, that will serve as the last examples of the seventh-generation flagship.

Only 50 examples will be made – all already spoken for by well-heeled buyers – and each will be customised by the Rolls-Royce in-house Bespoke design team to customer specification.

All Zenith Collection models will come with a unique glass shelf in the split-tailgate boot that Rolls says is “the perfect place from which to serve Champagne”, and a fridge large enough to chill two bottles and eight glasses.

The lower section of the tailgate is also wrapped in “the finest padded leathers” to make it more comfortable to sit and enjoy your glass of champagne.

Each car also features a unique laser-etched map on the rear door armrest cap to commemorate the location of each car’s debut – Lake Como for the Phantom Drophead Coupe and Lake Geneva for the Phantom Coupe.

A special plaque also denotes the exclusivity of each Zenith Collection car which is found in a drawer in the centre stack. Encased in polished aluminium, the plaque is laser engraved with the car’s identification number and comes with a piece of the Phantom assembly line from Rolls-Royce headquarters in Goodwood, England.

Other additions include a brushed steel speedometer, blood-orange instrumentation needle tips, contrasting front and rear seat colours and a bespoke headliner dotted with lights described as “individually hand-woven stars clustered to the front and faded to the rear”.

An option on each Zenith Collection car is a unique version of the Rolls-Royce Picnic Hamper, personalised to each car’s chosen colour and made to each customer’s specifications.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars chief executive officer Torsten Muller-Otvos described the Zenith Collection as the pinnacle of opulence.

“Phantom Zenith Collection motor cars speak of the marque’s unrelenting commitment to setting and advancing the standard by which all other luxury goods are judged,” he said.

The 13-year-old seventh-generation Phantom will be replaced by an new flagship built on an all-new aluminium architecture – the same platform that will underpin all future Rolls-Royce cars, including the upcoming Cullinan SUV – and will likely save weight to improve performance and efficiency.

While no pricing for the Zenith Collection was revealed, the standard Phantom range in Australia kicks off at $855,000 driveaway for the sedan, while the Coupe and Drophead coupe cost $995,000 and $1,075,000 respectively.