Phantom

Segment
Sedan

Another Chinese motor show; another special edition Roller. The British carmaker claims the Pinnacle Travel Phantom was conceived to celebrate the success of its 'Bespoke' program in China and the nation's love of travel, but we all know it was born of a desire to milk the cash cow that is the superpower's nouveau riche. The two-tone exterior of Madeira Red/Silver Sand features an abstract motif of a fast-moving streamlined train, while Infinity Black/Silver Haze and Melanite/Palladium are other possible color schemes.

Move inside, and similar shades of Morello Red and Seashell leather adorn the seats, roofliner, pillars and door cards. A motif finished with Smoke Grey thread is stitched into the seat flutes, but the real star attraction is something Rolls-Royce says is the "most complex and intricate marquetry ever seen" in one of its cars. 230 individual pieces of wood veneer, laser cut and assembled by hand, create a motif of a train speeding cross-continent, leaving plumes of steam in its wake. The motif runs from the glove box to the rear picnic tables, with 24,633 individual stitches keeping it in place. Impressive. Now show me the money!