Hotel buys 14 Phantoms in one go

14 December 2006

  • Biggest ever order for the Phantom
  • Cars underwent a series of modifications
  • Multi-million pound order from Hong Kong

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How's this for a stocking filler? Rolls Royce is celebrating its biggest ever-order for the Phantom after a Hong Kong hotel bought 14 bespoke examples of the long-wheelbase car in one fell swoop.

The Peninsula Hotel has a history of huge Rolls Royce orders stretching back to 1970, having bought 70 cars, and has specified a raft of changes for its latest fleet.

A new design of screw was developed, for instance, to ensure there is no possibility that hotel guests' presumably very expensive luggage could be damaged in the boot. The boot is also 75 litres larger than the 460-litre norm to cope with the unusual amount of Louis Vuitton luggage that Peninsula guests no doubt travel with.

There's also a cool box for the rear seats so guests can mop their brow with chilled towels as they watch DVDs on twin 12-inch screens. Air-conditioning controls have also moved to the armrest so passengers don't have to break a sweat when they adjust the temperature.

Rolls Royce isn't vulgar enough to discuss the value of the order with us, but with unmodified long wheelbase Phantoms retailing for £299,000, it easily runs into millions of pounds.

Rolls Royce is unsure whether the Peninsula order is the biggest ever for the company. It suspects that a larger order may have been placed by the Co-op in the UK in the 1950s or 1960s.

• If you're considering buying your loved one a Phantom, look out for our video review of the car coming up over Christmas.