Rolls-Royce updates Phantom Series 2 with new wheels, app support

Irene Nikkein, Asia Pacific regional director at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, poses with the Phantom Series 2 during a press event Friday in central Seoul. [ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS]

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars introduced the Phantom Series 2 for the Korean market on Friday, unveiling a partially revamped version of the car five years after the last redo.

The exterior has not changed much from the previous model, but the most immediately apparent alteration is the new polished horizontal line connecting the daytime running lights above the classic Pantheon Grille.

The British marque offers two choices for the wheels, with 3-D, milled, stainless steel wheels with triangular facets. The other option is an elegant disc wheel that is available in both polished stainless steel and black lacquer, which the company says is classic enough to recall the Rolls-Royces of the 1920s.

A thicker steering wheel has been fitted inside.

The Phantom Series 2 is the first car that comes with the Rolls-Royce Connected system, which allows owners to check the condition of the car through a mobile app.

The five-seater sedan comes with a 6.75-liter and 12-cylinder petrol engine, which is the same as the previous model. It generates a maximum of 563 horsepower and 91.8 kilogram-meters of torque.

“We call the Phantom as ‘Rolls-Royce of Rolls-Royces,’ as it represents the very best of Rolls-Royce design, engineering and craftsmanship," Irene Nikkein, Asia Pacific regional director at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said during a press event held in central Seoul, on Friday.

"With Series II, we have introduced new, subtle styling changes that cater to an increasingly younger audience, whilst our artisans in Goodwood continue to ensure that Phantom firmly remains the ultimate blank canvas for Bespoke, creating masterpieces that are individually tailored to our clients.”

The sticker price begins at 712 million won ($540,000)

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars sold a total of 255 vehicles in Korea last year, a dramatic jump from 2016's 56. Korea is one of the top 3 markets in Asia, according to Nikkein.

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]