Phantom

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Sedan

Another day, another spectacular and unique Rolls-Royce model. In 2021 alone, we saw the unveiling of the bespoke Rolls-Royce Phantom 'Iridescent Opulence' and the one-off Phantom with an interior crafted from rare Koa wood, adding to the list of stunning models ordered by clients of the brand in 2020.

The latest addition is the truly grand Phantom Tempus Collection, with truly opulent touches applied to this limited run of 20 Phantoms. Rolls-Royce says that this new design concept draws inspiration from Time itself, along with "astronomical phenomena and the infinite reaches of the universe." There are many stunning additions to the basic Phantom, which is already anything but a basic machine.

All Tempus Collection models come with a Kairos Blue paint finish. This paint contains mica flakes that produce a gentle sparkle, said to mimic the effect of stars in the night sky. The exterior receives black detailing too, while the famous Spirit of Ecstasy - which has just celebrated its 110th anniversary - is personalized with a date or location that each client considers important in some way.

As you would expect, the decadent interior hasn't gone without flourishes of its own and is best described as spaced out - quite literally. Just as the exterior paintwork sparkles, so too does the Bespoke Starlight Headliner. In this case, it's been called the Pulsar Headliner, with that name derived from the pulsar, a rare astronomical phenomenon that contains white-hot stars emitting electromagnetic pulses.

The nearest pulsar is said to be 280 light-years (1,680 trillion miles) away, but the Pulsar Headliner is a few inches above your head. It glistens with special fiber-optic lighting and unique embroidery. There's much in the dreamy cabin that fights for your attention, and the 'Frozen Flow of Time' Gallery is chief among them.

This space plays host to a billet of aluminum that has been milled to create 100 individually contoured columns. They were inspired by the pulsar star's 100-million-year period of rotational spin. As with the exterior, this gallery's design has been imagined with a focus on picking up light, which is why it is both hand-polished and black-anodized.

There is no traditional Rolls-Royce clock, which was entirely intentional. "Rolls-Royce clients are not bound by Time," said Torsten Muller Otvos, the company's Chief Executive. "The outside world with all its pressures and demands are forgotten."

Along the door panels, there are countless illuminated perforations that produce a swirling effect. In fact, we'd be impressed if the chauffeur of the Phantom Tempus was able to avoid being so enamored by the cabin that he forgets to watch the road. A Tempus Champagne Chest is provided; it can accommodate four hand-blown crystal champagne flutes and even comes with a mother-of-pearl caviar spoon. No price was provided, but it doesn't matter - all 20 examples of the Phantom Tempus Collection have already been accounted for.