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“Phantom represents the pinnacle of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, and Phantom Series II showcases the ultimate potential of the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Design Collective,” said Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös following the North American debut of Phantom Series II.

For Rolls-Royce, the debut of a model bearing the Phantom name is no small matter. Rolls-Royce has used the Phantom name for its flagship models going as far back as 1925, when the first Rolls-Royce Phantom replaced the genesis of the marque, the Silver Ghost. Phantom VII was the first Rolls-Royce developed and introduced under BMW’s stewardship, and had a 14-year production run, from 2003 to 2017.

Phantom VIII, Rolls-Royce’s current flagship model, made its debut in 2017. Phantom VIII Series II is an evolution of the current flagship with subtle yet significant refinements, and “the broadest range of Bespoke opportunities ever offered by the House of Rolls-Royce.”

“The artisans at The Home of Rolls-Royce, in Goodwood, are the best at combining metal, wood, leather, and a myriad of materials into a commission that represents the personality of each of our patrons,” said Müller-Ötvös. “Designed to be the ultimate blank canvas for Bespoke, we are excited to see how each of our American clients interpret Phantom for themselves as they create a Bespoke commission that expresses their own character, desires, and interests.”

The new Phantom got its North American unveiling at ‘The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering,’ a marquee event of the Monterey Car Week in California. Held on the rolling greens of the Quail Lodge & Golf Club at Carmel Valley, the Quail has combined the atmosphere of an exclusive garden party with the joy of admiring rare and exceptional automobiles and motorcycles for nineteen years.

In recent years, the event has become a popular destination for exclusive automotive brands to unveil their latest models. This year the event hosted over 200 classics, supercars and exotics, as well as 19 model premieres. Among them was RollsRoyce’s ‘Pebble Beach Collection’ 2022, a colourful and exclusive assemblage of bespoke commissions. The collection includes the first ever Black Badge Cullinan in Forbidden Pink, and a Ghost premiering a new finish - Crystal over Sagano Green. However, the star of the collection was ‘Maverick’ - a Phantom VIII Series II bespoke creation by Rolls-Royce designers. It was conceived as the ultimate ‘blank canvas’ to demonstrate the customisation possibilities with the new Phantom.

“Each commission represents a distinct design reflecting an aspect of what Phantom means to its ultimate owner,” says Jonathan Simms, Rolls-Royce Head of Bespoke. “Many Phantom owners achieve their success through new ideas, unconventional methods, and their own relentless selfbelief. The ‘Maverick’ Bespoke persona demonstrates how Phantom adapts to the modern age, asserting a creative, independent character.”

Maverick’s new expression features two unique Bespoke elements: utilising light and extending the impact of the iconic Starlight Headliner to the exterior. The Pantheon Grille is illuminated, with each metal vane specifically finished to provide a subtle glow. The headlights are graced with 580 intricate laser-cut bezel starlights. Combined, these create a visual connection with the iconic Starlight Headliner inside and add to Phantom’s nighttime presence.

The exterior is finished in a classic Rolls-Royce two-tone colourway, in this case, Black over Monteverde green. The dark tones give high contrast to the bold, hand-applied Peony Pink coachline, which draws inspiration from the interior palette.

Upon opening the coach doors, one encounters an interior suite of Scivaro Grey offset by a vibrant colour pop from large swatches in Peony Pink. The Obsydian Ayous open-pore wood and canadel panelling present a contemporary yet warm look and feel. The Gallery in this special commission features a world first - a unique embroidery design finished in Scivaro Grey with a Peony Pink thread. The customisable treadplate reads: ‘Pebble Beach 2022’ Special Commission.

The other two members of the Pebble Beach 2022 collection were all about debuting never-before-seen colours and finishes from Goodwood. The Black Badge Cullinan debuts “Forbidden Pink.” Its interior glows with the brightness of the “Grace White” hand-crafted leather, subtly offset by Cashmere Grey highlights and Lime Green leather details. As the rear tailgate opens, it reveals a Viewing Suite in the luggage compartment, which, for the first time, is in Peony Pink leather.

The Pebble Beach collection’s Ghost debuts “Crystal over Sagano Green,” created with six layers of finish. The artisans from the marque’s Exterior Surface Finish Centre had spent hours meticulously hand-polishing each layer.

Before the final two clear coatings are completed, the Crystal finish is applied with minute particles of colour specks to create a lustrous, multi-dimensional shimmer on Ghost’s post-opulent design.

“Rolls-Royce is Bespoke, and colour plays a crucial role,” says Simms. “The inspiration for Rolls-Royce colour and finish is limited only by one’s imagination.”