By Roger Harrison

THE best-kept automotive secret of all time is out. The Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII has arrived. Not that you would hear it, because the legendary low noise level of the marque has been drastically reduced to a level that challenges human hearing.

The most technologically advanced Rolls-Royce ever, Giles Taylor, Director of Design, describes the Phantom VIII as, “the epitome of effortless style, an historical nameplate that occupies a rarefied space in the luxury constellation and conjures a rare magic all of its own. The new Phantom raises a glass to an illustrious design legacy whilst forging a modern and revitalized presence for the next era of Royce-Royce design.”

Without doubt it is a magnificent motorcar to behold and emanates presence and power in a way no other marque can.

The side view design theme of Phantom recalls the elegance of Phantom V. “By separating the front wing line from the waist line, we introduce a sense of movement and this line circles back under the car implying a lighter, fleetness of foot,” noted Taylor

The rear of the new Phantom design evokes the beautiful flowing rears of the 1950’s and 1960’s Phantoms. The rear glass, defined by an impeccably crafted stainless steel frame, is more raked and the rear lines sleeker than the previous Phantom, whilst a subtle scallop on the rear roof line that hovers above the rear occupants assures one of the traditional copious head room.

Not since 1925 when the Phantom 1 was under development and code named ‘Eastern Armored Car’ with pieces of armor plate were left in the factory for industrial spies to see has there been such secrecy over a vehicle launch.

At the core of the Phantom VIII is what Rolls-Royce call “The Architecture of Luxury”. It is an all-aluminum spaceframe architecture designed by Rolls-Royce engineers that will underpin every future Rolls-Royce beginning with the New Phantom. No future Rolls-Royce will be of monocoque construction as used by mass-manufacturers and some mass-luxury brands.

Whilst the majority of so-called luxury manufacturers are limited to sharing individual platforms in a specific sector with mass brands for say their SUV or GT offerings, thereby introducing unacceptable compromise, Rolls-Royce will be uncompromising in only using its own architecture across all its motor cars, whatever the sector.

It has been designed and engineered from the ground up in such a way as to be scalable to the size and weight requirements of different future Rolls-Royce models, including those with different propulsion, traction and control systems, thus underpinning the long-term future product road map.

Approximately 30 percent more rigid than the spaceframe architecture of Phantom VII, the new architecture is at the heart of how the next generation of Rolls-Royces deliver the Rolls-Royce experience in terms of ride comfort, acoustic comfort, seat comfort, exterior presence and interior space.

The new Phantom VIII also benefits from a completely new engine. With the focus on creating the most silent motorcar in the world, a completely silent engine was required, and that meant more low-end output at lower revs to ensure that silence. Hence a completely new, 6.75-liter V12 powertrain has been engineered for new Phantom, in place of the previous naturally aspirated V12 engine.

The new V12 Phantom engine employs two turbo chargers that contribute to a low-end torque output of 900Nm at an incredibly low 1,700rpm whilst also delivering 563bhp or 420kW of power. The result is calm low speed progress associated with state occasions and a seamless surge of power when one needs rapidity. The addition of Satellite Aided Transmission (SAT), married to a ZF 8-Speed gearbox also ensures more than sufficient capability on the road.

Rolls-Royce went to incredible lengths to make the Phantom VIII the most silent car in the world. The 6mm two-layer glazing all around the car effectively excludes external noise while more than 130kg of sound insulation, the largest ever cast aluminium joints in a body-in-white stage of building for better sound insulation and extensive use of high absorption materials effectively dampen everything else.

Acoustic insulation from road noise has been helped by the employment of double skin alloy on areas within the floor and bulkhead of the spaceframe. This is a feature unique to new Phantom. Further noise insulation by inserting heavy foam and felt layers are between these skins to provide sound insulation not witnessed before in the car industry.

In addition, high absorption layers within the headliner, in the doors and in the boot cavity have further aided insulation and reduced reverberation.

Rolls-Royce also worked closely with its tire supplier to invent ‘Silent-Seal' tires — which feature a specific foam layer placed inside the tyre to wipe out tyre cavity noise and reduce overall tyre noise by 9db, meaning that conversation within the car is completely effortless.

The Phantom VIII will without doubt set a new benchmark in luxury, craftsmanship, engineering and status. It was for these reasons that the name Rolls-Royce entered the English language as an adjective describing ultimate quality.

With the Phantom VIII, its enviable position is assured.