Rolls-Royce to end production of Phantom this year

Uber luxury carmaker Rolls-Royce is set to end the production of the Phantom at the end of this year, paving the way for the next-generation luxury saloon to arrive in around 2018.

Announcing the end of production, Rolls-Royce boss Torsten Müller-Otvos confirmed that the current Phantom Coupé and Drophead Phantom models will be axed from the new range.

Autocar UK understands the dropping of the coupé and drophead versions of the Phantom are part of a rationalisation of the Rolls-Royce range. Consumers seeking a Rolls-Royce coupé will now have the Ghost and Wraith, while the recently launched Dawn caters for the convertible market. The convertible and coupé versions of the Phantom were launched in 2007 and 2008 respectively.

The final 50 versions of the Phantom Coupé and Drophead will be commemorated under the “Phantom Zenith” banner when they are built in November.

Owners of the Phantom Zenith models - many of which are expected to be Rolls-Royce collectors - will receive cars which feature laser-etched armrests depicting the launch locations of each car, bespoke instruments and a special Spirit of Ecstasy figure. A ‘money can’t buy’ portable memento is also promised.

Rolls-Royce design boss Giles Taylor said: “As the name promises, Zenith will be the pinnacle; the best of its kind; the highest standard achievable by which everything else is judged. Zenith will be the sum of all the best features of Phantom Coupé and Drophead Coupé, with a few surprises added. We expect huge demand for these 50 fine motor cars as we shall not look upon their like again.”

The next-generation Phantom will be the second of a new generation of Rolls-Royce models to switch to an all-aluminium architecture, which has already entered testing and will eventually underpin the entire model range. The first car to feature the new architecture will be the ‘Cullinan’ SUV.

Rolls-Royce is likely to choose a modern, evolutionary design for the new Phantom. Among the many advantages brought by the new architecture will be the possibility of hybrid and electric powertrains - which are a near certainty for the next-generation Phantom. As many Phantoms spend their time in increasingly polluted cities, a low-emission variant of the next Phantom is seen as essential.

Also expected are the latest semi-autonomous driving systems, including lane assist and active steering, and a gesture-controlled and connected infotainment system.

Müller-Otvos said: “I am proud and excited to announce that a new Phantom is on the way – a contemporary and beautiful Phantom enhanced with cutting-edge technologies and design innovations. Any new Phantom is an historic and important moment in automotive history and we are working hard on perfecting the Phantom VIII.”

The current, seventh-generation Rolls-Royce Phantom was launched in 2003, so a replacement is long overdue.