Well, again while looking at Phantom pics, I came across this sit of 3D rendered images. Quite interesting seeing how the 'skeleton' looks and how the lighting and so forth is near perfect.












Amazing stuff...

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This is great Beemer Boi,

It does make you realize that the Phantom is not very pretty at all -- it's big and quite cumbersome really .....but somehow it works, it is a terrific car isn't it.

It works IMPO because the proportions are right. By nature this is a large and imposing car, but w/ details of relevant size and detail to match. Nothing is overstated just reinstated. Gotta love originality, one of BMW group's major area's of strength on so many levels.

It sure is.

As you said Roberto... it sure is not a pretty car by any stretch of the imagination. At the same time, there is nothing inspiring about the way this car looks either. The main thing that appeals to me about BMW's is how their designs are inspiring, emotive and most importantly how BMW manifests is corporate values in the the design and styling of their vehicles.

The Rolls Royce Phantom doesn't really inspire me in any way and it is emotionless. It's face is rather bland, boring and lazy even. The rear is the same story.

...But .... and yes, there always has to be a but .... it still manages to be something very special. I guess with the Phantom's design, the whole package is greater than the sum of all its design elements. Some say it's just the 'in your face' trademark Rolls Royce grille, but to me that's not the case, because past Roller's have a similar grille and even the Bentley's that were made alongside Rolls Royce have a similar size grille. So grille size isn't it.
Is it the sheer length of the car? Again, it's nothing really new. Past Roller's have a similar size...and ofcourse, both variants of Maybach are a rather large cars too. So size alone isn't its true appeal either.
Could it be the old-school interior? Nope, nothing new there either, just keeping with its tradition and heritage.
Could it simply be the fact that BMW owns Rolls Royce, therefore, I have a biased love for the Phantom? No, perish the thought. I may be a BMW fan, but I ain't blinded by brand...and besides, when I first sighted the Phantom, the thought of this brand being owned by BMW never popped into my head, so BMW's ownership of Rolls Royce isn't what appeals to me.
Gee.. what else could it be ? The pop-up/pop-down Spirit of Ecstacy.. hehe, that's simply a nifty little feature to show-off to your chums. Same thing for the self-leveling RR logos on the steering wheel and the wheels.
It surely couldn't be the umbrella conveniently placed in the rear doors. No, ofcourse not, because the new VW Passat has the same feature, so darn it, secret umbrella aint that Phantom's x-factor either.

I guess it's just a combination of all things that come with the Rolls Royce Phantom, both tangible and intanglible. Tangible in the sense of some of its design cues, it's intimidating size, it's dominating grille, it's large wheelbase, it's large wheels, or the superbly crafter interior. Intagible, well everything that goes along with the Rolls Royce name. You all know what I mean.

In the end, I guess the appealing thing about the Rolls Royce Phantom is.... it's a Rolls Royce Phantom.

That was a highly perceptive and very articulate post BB......and spoken like a genuine car fan.

There are, of course, always people who will love [or hate] the Phantom simply because it is such a universally recognized status-symbol ....but for people [like us] who just love cars, we can see the Phantom beyond that context ....and it really is a special vehicle ........even if it is just a "tiny" bit crass and ostentatious.

Thanks mate. ... I guess I can express myself well about the Phantom beceause I've had the priviledge of having an hour-long stare at the car, and even a sit in the back 'lounge' of the car. At a car dealer ofcourse.... like I know anyone that affluent.
I gotta thank this forum for it though, I've learnt so much about cars, and most importantly learnt the skill of looking past the design of a car as a whole, and understand its design better, all thanks to those of you here who give insight points of view ...and that includes you Roberto.



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That is very true. Being universally recognized doesn't mean being universally loved.... but as you said, atleast those of us here have the ability to see past the whole and appreciate all the elements and their meanings which create the whole mass.
As for us loving such a car, even if it is a 'tiny' bit crass and ostentatious, .... well, don't we all wish we could lead that comfortable life, even if it were for only a day? I dunno about you guys, but I sure wouldn't mind that.. just tell me where to sign my soul over to the devil.

... suddenly the Spirit of Ecstacy is irresistably luring... aah, the sadistic game of dreams.