Let me clarify right away: a full test didn't work out. This car didn't let itself be tested, and it considered checking us beneath its dignity. Like, everything is clear about us anyway. It looked at me the way a banker looks at a client with a tarnished credit history, and the photographer got an earful for extra fussing. But then it softened: "Got to work, I understand. Climb in, gentlemen." We're talking about no ordinary car, but a six-meter Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended Wheel Base, which behaves in keeping with its status — even with a certain primness.
In the garage they say that the "Phantom" chose its driver itself. It rejected a former racer for too abrupt movements. It turned down a security guard with long experience — didn't like his look, saying there's little intelligence in it. But this girl suited it: slim, fragile, smiles reservedly, smart eyes. Maybe she reminded it of the "Spirit of Ecstasy"? In the end, it recommended her to the owner. He agreed.
So who chose whom?
Actually, the "Rolls-Royce" and its owner hit it off from the very first meeting. Almost all advisors and friends recommended the boss take something from the German trio for representative purposes. That's what 99.9 percent do. But not our owner. After listening to all the recommendations carefully and thanking them, he, as usual, did it his own way. And when the future owner also chose the best beige shade for the body (not the one usually used for hearses in Russia), the "Phantom" firmly decided to serve this man faithfully. And over forty thousand kilometers, it never doubted the correctness of their choice. Sometimes it seems they exchange thoughts with the owner. Maybe the car has learned to understand stock market reports? True, it doesn't allow itself such liberties as giving the boss financial advice out loud. The "Phantom's" main task is to deliver the boss to the right place on time and create the right atmosphere along the way. So the passenger opened a magazine about yachts. What is he thinking about? About rest or about investing capital? What wave to pick? Or maybe it's better to stay silent altogether? A complex question. But when its own electronic brains aren't enough, the driver will come to the rescue. You can always consult with her. This girl is good because she catches the slightest nuances of the passenger's mood.
The "Rolls-Royce" also wants to misbehave.
When the boss isn't in the cabin, the usually dignified and composed "Phantom" sometimes allows itself some pranks, or at least thoughts about them.
— What's that red monster hanging on our tail? See it in the mirrors?
…
— Let's remember that I have enough horsepower under the hood (four hundred sixty), break away from the security and play a little?
…
— Yes, you're right, that's not a king's business. Sorry, got carried away.
…
— And the security guys work professionally. They don't let go for a moment. And our HUMMER is a powerful machine, looks "preventive." Maybe hint to the boss to pay our valiant security a bonus by February 23rd?
And yet the test happened!
Actually, the test, of course, took place! And there was plenty of drive. Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment, Third Ring Road, Kutuzovsky Prospekt... But that's not the point!
It's just that the Rolls-Royce Phantom cannot be compared with any other car. You can't approach it with ordinary "automotive" standards at all.
A luxurious and cozy living room slowly moves in a traffic jam along Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment. Passengers' feet sink into thick sheep's wool mats. The ceiling is trimmed with an equally cozy combination of sheep's wool and cashmere. The "intimate" rear seat is a sofa with distinct curves at each end. The floor is almost flat. After all, it's two-layered in the "Rolls-Royce," and everything that could interfere with passengers is laid between these layers. Carefully selected veneer, including boxwood inserts. This list could go on forever. If desired, the living room can be turned into an office. Everything "automotive," that is, control buttons for various service systems, is hidden under various little lids in this extraordinary coziness. Even the iDrive joystick, which in the "BMW 7 Series" distracts half the driver's attention, is barely noticeable in the "Rolls-Royce." At least, it isn't something self-sufficient.
The most interesting thing is that only at such an ultra-slow speed, typical of terrible Moscow traffic jams, is there some feeling that all this has wheels. Although it's barely perceptible.
But as soon as we got onto the Third Ring and the car's speed barely exceeded fifty km/h, this feeling completely disappeared. The pneumatic wheel suspension works so effectively that a complete illusion of flying over the road arises. But for a motorist, the most amazing thing is the combination of suspension and steering. If the suspension creates a complete feeling of no contact with the road surface, then the steering (rack-and-pinion type), on the contrary, demonstrates precision worthy of sports cars. It's also worth noting the high efficiency of the braking system. At the same time, there can be no talk of any body rolls — both during the sharpest braking and during equally sharp lane changes, of course.
The main secret of Rolls-Royce.
Only thanks to the conducted test drive did I understand what the main secret of Rolls-Royce is, or rather, the essence of the entire philosophy of this brand. The point is that the task that Rolls-Royce engineers and craftsmen strive to accomplish is akin to the task of a good doctor. It's known that a truly good doctor isn't one who treats effectively, but one whose patients never get sick. Likewise, specialists (British and German) of Rolls-Royce ensure that owners of their cars receive the maximum level of comfort and safety without noticing the complex work of all the numerous systems with which these cars are filled.
Therefore, there's no need to talk in detail about the ultra-modern V12 engine with a displacement of 6.75 liters with direct fuel injection, the spatial aluminum body frame (thanks to which a car of such impressive dimensions has a curb weight of only 2670 kg), and much more. There won't be much point in listing the characteristics that the Rolls-Royce Phantom possesses either. It's enough to just mention the acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h, which is only 5.9 seconds.
Just believe that this is the most classic executive car you can imagine. And use it. And don't forget that Rolls-Royce, not only with its entire appearance but also with its more than century-long history, inspires respect both for itself and for its owner.
Yuri Kladov