Downtime: The new Rolls-Royce Phantom

It’s the essence of British luxury ... albeit now under the wing of Germany’s BMW Group.

For decades, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and, in particular, its flagship Phantom model, have been synonymous with comfort, elegance, and status.  One word you might not have used Silent.

In August, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars took the wraps off the latest edition of the Phantom the Phantom VII, the first overhaul of the car since 2003 and an attempt to bring innovation to a model that traces its history back to 1925.

The new model is based around what the manufacturer describes as the “Architecture of Luxury” a...