2004 ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM NEW CAR BUYER'S GUIDE

What's New for the 2004 Rolls-Royce Phantom?
Now that BMW owns this venerable British luxury marque, the German automaker is making its first impact with the all-new 2004 Rolls-Royce Phantom, an ultra-luxury sedan set to battle the likes of the Bentley Arnage and Maybach models. Intensive use of aluminum keeps this massive car's curb weight below the three-ton mark while a potent 435-horsepower 6.75-liter V12 motor gets the Rolls-Royce Phantom from rest to 60 mph in less than six seconds thanks to 531 pound-feet of torque available starting at 1,000 rpm. With BMW tuning the foundation, this is one Roller that handles as well as it coddles. Traditional styling cues, a bold chrome waterfall grille and the requisite Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament proclaim that this is nothing less than a Rolls-Royce. The car is loaded with equipment and technology, yet the cabin is quaintly traditional and puts reclusive passengers well behind the thick C-pillars and away from prying eyes.

Advantages of the 2004 Rolls-Royce Phantom:

• BMW engineering underneath the sheetmetal
• Bold yet elegant design forms
• Traditional cabin appointments combined with modern technology

Objections to the 2004 Rolls-Royce Phantom:

• Styling details fall short of potential

Editor's Advice:
The 2004 Rolls-Royce Phantom is the greatest car this company has produced in decades. Certain styling cues, like the tacked-on bumpers and the recessed rectangular headlamps, may turn potential buyers toward the Bentley Arnage or Maybach, but those deciding to obtain the Rolls will be richly rewarded with the best hardware that BMW can muster.