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(Bloomberg) -- Sales of luxury cars in Singapore remain resilient despite the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, the Business Times reported Friday, citing data from the Land Transport Authority and automakers. Six luxury brands — Aston Martin Holdings, Bentley Motors Ltd., Ferrari NV, Automobili Lamborghini SPA, McLaren Automotive Ltd. and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd. — sold a total of 178 cars in the first nine months of 2020 versus 256 units for all of last year, according to the report. After adjusting for Singapore’s partial lockdown, the companies sold about 30 cars a month, up from 21 a month in 2019, the BT said. Still, registrations for the high-end car market are a lagging indicator as orders can be made far in advance of delivery, so data may not always accurately reflect a brand’s current performance, the report said. “Sales have been picking up since reopening and we attribute that to customer confidence coming back,” Bentley’s director for the Asia-Pacific region, Bernd Pichler, told the newspaper. Chong Kah Wei, a general manager at McLaren Singapore, said customer orders continued to accumulate. https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/ferrari-and-bentley-find-buyers-in-singapore-despite-the-pandemic-024059177.html

You see it first! More to come...

ask for fun only, i saw 1 just now, with 2 bodyguard how many rolls royce in singapore? why so rare?

Who ordered one? The new Phantom is a triumphant expression of Rolls-Royce’s titanic ambition https://www.wallpaper.com/lifestyle/rolls-royce-phantom-2018 Pent-up demand greets new Rolls-Royce Phantom http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/transport/pent-up-demand-greets-new-rolls-royce-phantom Our focus on the latest Rolls-Royce Phantom explored only a singular facet of this remarkable car’s creation; the ‘Gallery’ feature that allows owners a place for bespoke artworks embedded in the dash. The car launched with seven unique commissions, including works from Thorsten Franck, Liang Yuanwei, Richard Fox and Helen Amy Murray. It was the fluid sculpture of London studio Based Upon that caught our eye, but truth be told, every aspect of the Phantom is something of a creation story, from the impressively engineered platform that sits beneath the imposing bodywork, to the extraordinary complexity of the internal craftsmanship and the little flourishes of detail design that abound. As we noted, commissioning a high-end luxury car like a Phantom has become more and more like specifiying a house or a yacht; a collaborative creative process with limitless options. The new car is the eighth model to bear the Phantom name, but you can sure that practically no two car in this 92-year lifespan has been completely identical. From the very earliest days, the Phantom wasn’t so much a mode of transport as a platform for sybaritic self expression, the self-proclaimed ‘best car in the world’ that existed in a field of its own for most of its life. It’s getting crowded at the top, so Phantom needed to move on. Not that there was any particular wrong with the seventh generation model, a titanic cliff face of an automobile, crafted with enormous assurance at BMW’s DesignWorks studio in order to represent the essence of what was, back in 2003, the complete reinvention of the brand. Fourteen years later, the newest machine to bear the Phantom name was revealed. Unsurprisingly, this is still a monumental piece of automotive design, more akin to a small building than a piece of private transportation. The Phantom has always been about superlatives – price, scale, technology – so Rolls-Royce’s designers and engineers have had to work hard to make light work of a heavy brief. The result will grace the smartest forecourts, rivieras, and private driveways for a generation. Overseen by Rolls-Royce’s design director Giles Taylor, the new car achieves that rare mix of maintaining tradition without jettisoning modernity, swathing the cabin in the traditional mix of leather, wood and chrome, emphasising the architectural and sense of space. The bodywork is evolutionary, not revolutionary, yet retains the undeniably imperious stance that puts the Phantom a head and shoulders above the rest. New Phantom deliveries begin in early 2018, but already change is afoot. Rolls itself is readying a high-riding 4x4, code-named ‘Cullinan’, for launch later next year. And more to the point, given the Phantom’s decade-plus lifespan, could this be the last conventional model before the luxury car evolves into something altogether different? We won’t get behind the wheel – and into that back seat – until later in the year.

ROLLS-ROYCE ‘SWEPTAIL’ – THE REALISATION OF ONE CUSTOMER’S COACHBUILT DREAM https://www.press.rolls-roycemotorcars.com/rolls-royce-motor-cars-pressclub/article/detail/T0271286EN/rolls-royce-sweptail%E2%80%99-%E2%80%93-the-realisation-of-one-customer%E2%80%99s-coachbuilt-dream $12.8 million!!! When, approximately one year ago, Rolls-Royce presented 103EX to the world, it invoked its coachbuilding heritage to inspire its future clientele. This Vision Vehicle envisaged a world of completely personal luxury mobility where new technologies would allow every Rolls-Royce to be designed in their owners’ image, should they wish.When, approximately one year ago, Rolls-Royce presented 103EX to the world, it invoked its coachbuilding heritage to inspire its future clientele. This Vision Vehicle envisaged a world of completely personal luxury mobility where new technologies would allow every Rolls-Royce to be designed in their owners’ image, should they wish. Such a Rolls-Royce would represent the truest meaning of luxury – a personal, Bespoke motor car like no other for each individual commissioning patron. The mere idea of a modern coachbuilt Rolls-Royce was not enough for one Rolls-Royce connoisseur however. This individual approached the marque with his own idea of a two-seat Rolls-Royce that he wanted to be created in the here and now. That motor car is here, now and is christened ‘Sweptail’. In a nod to the swept-tail of certain Rolls-Royces from the 1920s, admired by the client so much, he asked Rolls-Royce to reimagine this feature on his one-off motor car. Presenting the car to the media at the Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa d’Este on Saturday 27th May 2017, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars said, “Sweptail is a truly magnificent car. It exudes the romance of travel for its own sake, and immediately places ‘Sweptail’ in the pantheon of the world’s great intercontinental tourers. Rolls-Royce’s history as the world’s leading coachbuilder is at the very core of its identity as the world’s leading luxury brand. The arrival of 103EX shone a light on the future of Rolls-Royce in this field, and ‘Sweptail’ is proof, today, that Rolls-Royce is at the pinnacle of coachbuilding. We are listening carefully to our most special customers and assessing their interest in investing in similar, completely exclusive coachbuilt masterpieces. At the same time we are looking into the resources which will allow us to offer this unique service to these discerning patrons of luxury.” Through this commission, Rolls-Royce has proven once again to be the world’s leading luxury goods provider. ‘Sweptail’ – how the vision became the reality “Sweptail is the automotive equivalent of Haute Couture,” comments Giles Taylor, Director of Design at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “It is a Rolls-Royce designed and hand-tailored to fit a specific customer. This customer came to the House of Rolls-Royce with an idea, shared in the creative process where we advised him on his cloth, and then we tailored that cloth to him. You might say we cut the cloth for the suit of clothes that he will be judged by.” In 2013, Rolls-Royce was approached by one of its most valued customers with a very particular request. A connoisseur and collector of distinctive, one-off items including super-yachts and private aircraft, this gentleman came to Rolls-Royce to realise his vision of a one-off luxury motor car like no other. The client immediately established a close rapport with the design department led by Taylor, who set about bringing the idea to life. Inspired by the beautiful coachbuilt Rolls-Royces of the 1920s and 1930s, the client’s desire was for a coachbuilt two seater coupé featuring a large panoramic glass roof. As a connoisseur of Rolls-Royces, he was inspired by many of his favourite cars from the marque’s golden era of the early 20th Century, as well as many classic and modern yachts. The grandeur, scale, flamboyance and drama of the 1925 Phantom I Round Door built by Jonckheere; the svelte tapering glasshouse, dramatic dash to axle proportion and up-sweep of the rear departure angle of the 1934 Phantom II Streamline Saloon by Park Ward; the elegantly falling waist-rail, swept tail coachwork of the 1934 Gurney Nutting Phantom II Two Door Light Saloon, and the flowing roofline, rising departure angle, and again the swept tail coachwork of the 1934 Park Ward 20/25 Limousine Coupé were all considered by today’s Rolls-Royce designers in the creation of this very distinctive motor car. Over the course of a number of years, Taylor and his team of designers engaged with the client in a wonderfully intellectual journey as they worked together to realise the customer’s distinct vision and bring it to life. “Our job was to guide, edit and finely hone the lines that would ultimately give our client this most perfect of Rolls-Royces,” comments Taylor. The result of this one-off coachbuild project is the completely unique Rolls-Royce ‘Sweptail’. ‘Sweptail’ – A distinct vision The ‘Sweptail’ is without question a Rolls-Royce that fits to the marque’s DNA. Its initial formality when seen from the front signals that this is one very different and distinct Rolls-Royce. One’s attention is first attracted by the confident and solid character of the front profile, centred on a new treatment of the iconic Rolls-Royce Pantheon grille. The largest of any modern era Rolls-Royce, the grille is milled from solid aluminium before being painstakingly polished by hand to a mirror finish. The periphery of the front face of ‘Sweptail’ is framed in brushed aluminium. As one moves around to the side of ‘Sweptail’ one finds that it is the striking silhouette that defines its unique character. Flowing as they do from upright and formal frontal aspect, the lines of ‘Sweptail’ resolve into a sveltely elegant form. The scale and grandeur of this regal looking coupé is evident. From the leading edge of the windscreen, the roofline accelerates as it fires backwards towards the rear of the motor car, overshooting the boot lid edge to emphasise its length. The longer side window graphic and wide C-pillar finisher underscore the length and proportions of this more wondrous of conveyances. The coup de gras of the rear is the ultimate homage to the world of racing yachts that inspired the client, with its raked stern. Seen directly from behind, the rear taper contrasts strongly with the front of the motor car, shaping a completely new perception of a dramatic Rolls-Royce Coupé. Both the roof line as it tapers towards the centre line of the car, concluding in a ‘bullet-tip’ that houses the centre brake light, and the sweeping lower bumper area of the motor car, combine to create a greater feeling of elegance in motion. The cleanliness of the surface of ‘Sweptail’ is maintained as the bodywork wraps under the car with no visible boundary to the surfaces, a treatment that is akin to the hull of a yacht. The underside of the motor car was designed to deliver the visual of a progressive upward sweep at the rear departure angle of the car, culminating in the swept-tail that gives ‘Sweptail’ it name. And finishing off the uncluttered rear of this one-off motor car, is its identifier and registration number, 08. Two individual digits milled from ingots of aluminium and hand polished. The panoramic glass roof invites one into the magnificent interior, along with the natural light The highlight feature of ‘Sweptail’ however is that specifically asked for by the client. An uninterrupted glass roof, one of the largest and most complex ever seen on a motor car of any marque, allows the cabin to be flooded with natural light, animating a host of beautifully handcrafted materials and componentry. The size, scale and complexity of the glass roof’s curvature is a marvel to behold, and from above again accentuates the speed and elegance of ‘Sweptail’. Creating the ambience of the interior of the motor car, the glass of the roof is framed by polished aluminium rails that channel it into a vanishing point at the rearmost extremity of the cabin. Regal but modern interior The cleanliness and grandeur of the bodywork from the side view, the lengthened side windows and the panoramic glass roof combine to illuminate the two singular occupants of this most singular Rolls-Royce and its modern, minimalistic handcrafted interior. The provision of only two seats in a motor car of this size exudes the romance of travel for its own sake, and immediately places ‘Sweptail’ in the pantheon of the world’s great intercontinental tourers. This is furthered by the overall design of the interior, which has been conceived in a classic two-seat GT configuration, echoing the touring nature of its exterior body lines. And what a place to be as one watches the world slip by through the vast windows and roof, detached from the outside world in a cocoon of luxury whilst feeling one is part of that passing landscape. The interior is ruled by a philosophy of simplicity and minimalism leading to a distillation of componentry and a purification of clutter. The value of beautiful materials takes precedence here, resulting in a fastidious suppression of switchgear to the absolute minimum to make way for the richest of materials applied in the most honest of fashions. An uninterrupted and harmonious visual experience of every surface inside the cabin is ensured. Generous quantities of polished Macassar Ebony and open-pore Paldao adorn the interior, creating visual and tactile contrasts for the owner, both classical and contemporary. All their forms however are thoroughly modern as they echo the exterior lines of ‘Sweptail’, hand-formed to encircle the occupants with some of the most beautiful natural materials in the world. This choice of dark and light, Ebony and Paldao, is set off by contrasting light Moccasin and Dark Spice leathers that adorn the seats, armrests and dashboard top. But it is what those materials have been made to do that is the most fascinating aspect of this one-off cabin. True to the spirit of a transcontinental GT that Rolls-Royce established in the 20s and 30s, in place of the rear seats is a vast expanse of wood creating a mid-shelf with an illuminated glass lip, and a hat shelf which flows to the outer limits of the interior volume. Sitting under the rear opening backlight through which it can be accessed, the hat shelf is in itself a thing of beauty, highly polished and inset with luggage rails. Behind the occupants, a feature named the Passarelle flows from the rear edge of the windscreen to resolve in a teardrop as it connects to the hat shelf to join all interior volumes. This element also includes the only visible presence of this singular motor car’s name as ‘Sweptail’ is discreetly debossed into the surface, exactly on the centre line. Other modern materials and modern uses of those materials feature. The Macassar Ebony veneer seen around the cabin has been handcrafted to adorn the dashboard in the most modern way. The cleanest Rolls-Royce dashboard to date, the minimalist ethic not only dictates that only one control now appears on it whilst all other switchgear is discreetly relocated, but that the clock blends seamlessly too. In a world first, the face of this singular Rolls-Royce clock is also handmade of the thinnest Macassar veneer, visually embedding the clock into the fascia. The delicacy of this particular piece of veneer allows for its rear illumination to pass through to show the hour marks, meaning the only physical elements on the clock are its hands that are precision machined from titanium. This use of titanium then extends to the faces, numbers and hands on all three hand-assembled instrument dials. Two final surprise and delight features have been secreted inside ‘Sweptail’ to the stringent standards of the client. Concealed in the outboard walls on either side of the motor car, behind the opening of the coach doors, are two identical panniers. Each pannier, when activated, deploys forward to present the owner’s bespoke made attaché case which has been carefully packaged to exactly house his personal laptop device. The cases themselves have been hand-constructed from lightweight carbon fibre, wrapped in the finest leather that matches the interior of ‘Sweptail’ and detailed with machined aluminium and titanium clasps and locks. These attaché cases are twinned with the full set of luggage also developed by Rolls-Royce Bespoke for ‘Sweptail’. The luggage resides in the trunk of the motor car, a trunk beautifully clad in the same wood as the hat shelf and inset with polished aluminium luggage rails. The coup de gras of this one-off masterpiece is as personal to the owner as every other feature of ‘Sweptail’. The entire centre console now houses a one-off hand-built mechanism that, at the touch of a button, will deploy a bottle of the client’s favourite vintage champagne – the year of his birth – and two crystal champagne flutes. As the lid of the chiller opens, the mechanical action articulates the bottle to the perfect position for the owner to pick up. A most personal, coachbuilt Rolls-Royce for a specific customer, every aspect of the material treatment of ‘Sweptail’ exudes handcrafted quality and exacting attention to detail. In short, it is a Rolls-Royce – but like no other before.

hi all, anyone knows where we can get nice car charms for fengshui or safety purposes? Those that people hang on their rear view mirror.

http://dereklow.co/what-its-like-to-fly-the-23000-singapore-airlines-suites-class/ nicely written

TaxTheRich100, a YouTube channel which specialises in bringing supercars out of their comfort zones, takes the new Rolls-Royce Wraith out for a dance in a garden. If there is something called "automotive ballet", this would be it. The Wraith looks beautiful going sideways! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap9eROAo82U

Upper Changi Road East near Changi Court Apartment https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=753478691363967&set=a.420702941308212.99801.416856241692882&type=1&theater

What surprises me is some are so poor they could not afford to buy a bulb why cost maybe $8.00. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/recycle-light-bulbs-to/951678.html SINGAPORE: Residents in the South West District are being encouraged to recycle their used light bulbs in what is said to be Singapore's first recycle-a-bulb initiative that aims to benefit low-income households. For every used light bulb recycled, a new energy-efficient light bulb will be given to a low-income household to help it save energy and cost. Residents who recycle their light bulbs will be given vouchers to buy new energy-efficient light bulbs at a discounted price. The recycling drive aims to raise 2,000 energy-efficient light bulbs that will benefit 500 low- income families and vulnerable elderly living in one- to three-room flats. For the past eight years, residents have been actively recycling paper and clothing. This year, the list of recycled products was expanded to include light bulbs, which aren't easy to recycle. Dr Amy Khor, Mayor of South West District and Senior Minister of State for Health and Manpower, said: "In the households, the homemakers or residents themselves really don't know how to recycle (light bulbs). "Most of them will throw (the used light bulbs) in the rubbish chute. "By providing them with proper light bulb recycling bin, we can encourage residents to recycle these light bulbs (in an ethical and safe environment), because light bulbs contain mercury and other substances." Residents can recycle their used bulbs by dropping them at the 30 Residents Committee centres equipped with the recycling bins. - CNA/ir

The economy in China is indeed growing well and this has determined the British automaker Rolls-Royce to open its largest showroom in the country. Rolls-Royce plans to build a showroom in the capital city of Shenyang and the facility will have two storeys, measuring 1,200 square metres in total. According to Henrik Wilhelmseyer, Rolls-Royce's regional director for China, the British automaker will work in collaboration with China's Shenyang Hong Lu Ming Zun in building its largest showroom in the world yet. What makes things even more interesting is that Rolls-Royce will make its China showroom special, because this year, the company is also celebrating the 10th anniversary of Rolls-Royce's rebirth. This was confirmed by Wilhelmseyer, mentioning that this was a very special year as it would mark 10 years of the brand's renaissance at its new home in Goodwood, England. If all goes well and the British automaker actually builds its largest showroom in China, don't be surprised to see even more people turn millionaires, if not billionaires, in the country.

Recently, the term 'material changes' has been used frequently in the war of words between political parties in Singapore. In this blog post, 'material changes' is taken quite literally as Rolls-Royce offers a choice of three new materials for the flying lady hood ornament. The flying lady - also known as the Spirit of Ecstasy - was designed by English sculptor Charles Robinson Sykes (1875 - 1950). According to wikipedia, the story behind it is apparently a secret love between John Walter Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu, (second Lord Montagu of Beaulieu and editor of The Car Illustrated magazine from 1902) and his secretary and model for the emblem - Eleanor Velasco Thornton. The most interesting choice among the three choices is the illuminated polycarbonate flying lady. It looks identical to the one seen on the 101EX-concept, a prototype that was presented at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show. The other two choices are the gold-plated flying lady and a solid sterling silver version. Polycarbonate is a durable material with high impact-resistance and low scratch-resistance. Hence, a hard coating is applied to polycarbonate exterior automotive components. Unlike most thermoplastics, polycarbonate can undergo large plastic deformations without cracking or breaking. If a buyer does not see the need to cough out extra money for these special ornaments, they can always stick to the original stainless steel version.

Unfazed by the European debt crisis and sluggish global economy, Rolls-Royce plans to increase the number of dealers from 105 to 120 worldwide in countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and Chile to target the well-to-do. Rolls-Royce is counting on the growing wealth in Asia and South America to generate demand as the debt crisis dampens sentiment among Europe's rich. The number of households in these regions with more than $5 million in assets is set to grow by 3 to 5 percent per year in the coming years, said Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes, Rolls-Royce's CEO. "Of course, we feel that the mood isn't the best in certain markets, but we're able to compensate with growth in places such as Russia, the Middle East and China," he said. "Our goal is to grow sustainably and not chase volume. Rolls-Royce will remain exceptional," Torsten added. The concentration of wealth is increasing in developing markets. The Asia-Pacific region overtook North America with the most high-net worth individuals in 2011. Earlier this year, Rolls-Royce created a Year of the Dragon special edition of the Phantom for the China market, featuring a hand-painted gold dragon on each side of the wheelbase. They were sold out within two months. China is the perfect example rising affluence in Asia.

[extract] For the ultra-rich folks who want to make their final journey in style, this is for you. Custom hearse builder, Biemme Special Cars, has converted a Rolls-Royce Phantom into the world

[extract] The BMW Group has achieved its best ever first quarter in worldwide sales on the back of March

The insatiable appetite for luxury cars has brought about the Rolls-Royce Ghost to a whole new level. Saying that, what exactly does it mean by a whole new level? It's like utilising the power of technology to improve a certain work of art. From The Terminator to Transformers. Or perhaps from a non-coloured Nokia cell phone to a dashing iPhone. Or it could just be from Phantom to Ghost. /center]While it's hard not to make it too big a deal, for this car, it could just be remotely related to most people's idea of it. How not to? With the price of $969,000 (as of 21 March 2010) and the world-infamous flying lady mascot on the nose, the Ghost is a heavyweight car. The all new Rolls-Royce Ghost has alternatively been described as small or baby Rolls. It's because this luxurious car is bigger than the Mercedes-Benz S-Class but slightly smaller than the Rolls-Royce Phantom. Since 2003, when the brand was transferred from Volkswagen to BMW, the line has included just one model - the Phantom and its four different variations. Needless to say, all that has changed with the introduction of the stunning new model. Nevertheless, the Ghost is envisioned more as a driver's car. It includes requisite technologies like iPod interface and automatic-distance cruise control, which also means a performance oriented bodywork, an eight-speed automatic transmission and a 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12. It

http://www.supercars.net/PicFetch?pic=2003_rolls-royce_phantom-1.jpg Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited has revealed the all-new Rolls-Royce Phantom today at the company's new manufacturing plant and head office at Goodwood in West Sussex, UK. It is just four and a half years since BMW Group became the custodians of the Rolls-Royce marque for automotive use, in July 1998, and committed to launch a new company, a new plant and a new motor car in January 2003. Entirely new from the ground up, the Rolls-Royce Phantom captures the essence of the world's most famous car brand, interpreted in an utterly modern way. Influenced by the guiding principles of Sir Henry Royce, Strive for perfection in everything you do. Take the best that exists and make it better. When it does not exist, design it, the design and engineering teams began with a blank sheet of paper. The result is a motor car which incorporates cutting edge engineering technology, unparalleled quality and the finest in hand-built craftsmanship. The Phantom has a light-weight aluminium space frame body, a V12 engine which develops tremendous power and torque and a style, inside and out, which is every inch a Rolls-Royce. Designers immersed themselves in the heritage and design principles which had made Rolls-Royce world famous and found particular inspiration in the Phantom I and II models of the 1930s, the Silver Cloud of the 1950s and the Silver Shadow of the 1960s. Features like a long wheelbase, a short front overhang, a deep C-pillar, a long bonnet and a particular stance, which made these motor cars look as if they were lightly accelerating even at a standstill, were fundamental design elements and were incorporated into the new Phantom - quite apart from the famous grille and The Spirit of Ecstasy mascot. On the inside, the finest leather, Cashmere trim and fitted cabinetry have been used to create an atmosphere which is simple, yet of unquestionable quality. Access is via coach doors, which open from the centre of the car (the rear doors hinged at the back) reminiscent of the classic Rolls-Royce era and which have been chosen to give easy access to the rear. Combined with a flat floor they allow passengers simply to walk in to the rear, turn and sit down. A slightly curved lounge seat helps to create a social environment. The Rolls-Royce Phantom is easy yet rewarding to drive - something which is vitally important as the majority of owners will drive themselves most of the time. The high driving position gives an excellent view. Intuitive and effortless to drive, the Phantom is beautifully refined and precise in its responses. Self-levelling air springs, electronic dampers and multi-link rear, double wishbone front suspension combine with the long wheelbase and high profile tyres to give the perfect combination of ride and handling. The large wheels and tyres have been specially developed for the Phantom: it is the first car in the world to feature the advanced PAX run-flat tyre system as standard, which allows the car to run for 100 miles at 50 mph after a puncture. On the move, the purpose-designed 6.75-litre V12 engine provides huge reserves of power and torque. The Rolls-Royce Phantom will accelerate from 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds (0-100 kph 5.9 seconds) and on to a limited top speed of 149 mph (240 kph). Behind the wheel, the low-down torque wafts the Phantom swiftly yet effortlessly from tick-over. Peak torque is 720 Nm (531 lb ft) at 3500 rpm, but more importantly 75 per cent of that total is developed at just 1000 rpm. Maximum power is 460 PS (338 kW). The latest in combustion technology - variable valve lift, variable valve timing and direct fuel injection - helps produce excellent fuel economy for a motor car of the Phantom's size and power. On the EU extra urban cycle it returns 25.7 mpg (11.0 l/100 km) and a combined figure of 17.8 mpg (15.9 l/100 km). As well as the main features of the Phantom, there are a number of delightful detail touches which help to make this such a special motor car - something in which Rolls-Royce has always taken pride. For example; the electrically retractable Spirit of Ecstasy, which can be lowered out of sight whenever the Phantom is parked; the wheel hub centres, bearing the interlinked double-R logo, which remain upright; and the umbrellas which will be found stowed within each rear door. Tony Gott, chairman and chief executive of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, says: For nearly 100 years, Rolls-Royce has been the icon of motor engineering and design. The name has entered the language as an expression of perfection. The new Rolls-Royce Phantom is, we believe, entirely in keeping with that long and illustrious heritage, yet is totally contemporary in its design and technology. Its name evokes the personality of the Phantom I and II models of the 1930s and reflects timeless values of quality, distinction and authority, combining the best of the past with the best modern design, engineering and technology to take Rolls-Royce firmly into the 21st century. Story by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited