Is there something Rolls-Royce cannot do when it comes to tailored cars? The world's most luxurious car brand may refuse some abominable spec requests. But one thing the Brits won't do is turn away every customer from spending more than the estimated $460,000 for a base Phantom Series II. So, what's Mansory trying to do here exactly? Let's see.
Nearly two months ago, we showed you Mansory's take on making Rolls-Royce's most well-known model into something of their own. But putting the German tuning company's vision to work on a spanking-new Phantom may not have worked very well with the British brand's core philosophy. Or maybe we weren't ready for a fresh, courageous take on enhancing British automotive royalty.
Clients ultimately decide, but what is now clear is that we needed an in-depth look at this somewhat divisive outcome. The advertised murdered-out model initially only allowed us to take some of Mansory's additions in. Fortunately, they made another one!
This 2023 Phantom Series II received the "Pulse Edition" treatment and boasts a complicatedly elegant exterior design. The dark blue body color (which reminds us of BMW's Carbon Black that stands out in bright sunlight) is well balanced by the black accents on the window trim, the wheels, or the very discreet spoiler. The latter may be a subjective add-on for this V12-powered unit, but Mansory is not forcing anyone to put it on their extra Germanized Phantom.
The azure pinstripe delicately accentuates the shoulder line of the posh sedan but also works in tandem with the center caps that give bystanders a hint at what may hide inside. Don't worry if you're not one for details - the Spirit of Ecstasy is finished in the same contrasting color that sits right between cyan and blue.
Can't see it? You'll most likely hear it. The vehicle received an exhaust system upgrade that transformed it into a very noisy machine. It now has a very potent burble, and when putting the pedal to the metal, it will sing the enhanced Phantom's song without any restraint.
Photo: RoCars on YouTube
The front-side view of this Phantom looks too heavy, sadly. Besides the Pantheon-inspired grille and the revised hood mascot sculpture that already occupy a lot of space, the front lip splitter and the front bumper cutouts make it look less like a true Rolls-Royce and more like an unsuccessful attempt at making one yourself in a random shop. It's not bad, bad, but it's not good either.
Inside, Mansory replaced some of the Rolls-Royce logos with its own, which is yet another debatable choice. However, the upholstery is excellent, and the entire look of the cabin screams exquisite.
Unfortunately for this luxurious wafting machine, the very existence of the all-new 7 Series is another issue we must bring up. Rolls-Royce customers aren't the most tech-thirsty people out there, but what BMW did with their four-door star makes the British take on automotive greatness feel a bit too old. Not even Mansory can fix the outdated tech found in this car. The British automaker should up the ante and release a new car that's still V12-powered. And it should do so before burning dead dinosaurs becomes too complicated for the brand's clients.
But, in the end, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so we'll let you be the judge of this Pulse Edition Phantom Series II. Watch it in high-definition and tell us if it's what you expected.
Car shows on TV and his father's Fiat Tempra may have been Florin's early influences, but nowadays he favors different things, like the power of an F-150 Raptor. He'll never be able to ignore the shape of a Ferrari though, especially a yellow one. Full profile
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