The eighth generation Phantom in the stately surrounds of Switzerland. Courtesy Rolls-Royce
The eighth generation Phantom in the stately surrounds of Switzerland. Courtesy Rolls-Royce
The eighth generation Phantom in the stately surrounds of Switzerland. Courtesy Rolls-Royce
The eighth generation Phantom in the stately surrounds of Switzerland. Courtesy Rolls-Royce

The new Rolls-Royce Phantom is the eighth wonder of the world


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If there were such a thing as automotive royalty, the Rolls-Royce Phantom would be it. After all, what other single nameplate can claim a heritage that dates back 92 years? Apart from two breaks in continuity – from 1940-1950 and 1991-2003 – the Phantom has been the flag bearer for the Rolls line-up and served as the default limo for heads of state, dignitaries and aristocracy.

The big Roller has managed to stay relevant in a world that is obviously much different now than when the first-gen Phantom debuted in 1925. As a company, Rolls-Royce has weathered its fair share of storms over the past century – including bankruptcy in 1971 – and the brand stood at the crossroads in the early noughties, lumbered with a model range that owed its  ancient underpinnings to cars designed in the 1960s.

The fact that Rolls-Royce not only exists but prospers today (it sold 4,011 cars last year; its second-highest tally in its 113-year history) is down to a BMW Group takeover of the company in 1998. The notion of a German carmaker taking the reins of a British automotive icon would have horrified purists, but the wholesale makeover of the brand that BMW subsequently rolled out proved to be a masterstroke (unlike the Bavarians' stewardship of Rover and Land Rover).

BMW had to start from scratch, because after establishing the born-again Rolls-Royce company, it had to find a fresh location, build a new factory and head office, and design a brand-new car. The vehicle was subsequently developed in complete secrecy and the people working for the company were sworn to silence. Rolls-Royce Motors Cars Limited was established at the start of 2003, and the state-of-the-art, seventh-generation Phantom debuted later that year.

Unlike the antiquated vehicles that preceded it, the Phantom VII was a techno tour de force, underpinned by a sophisticated and lightweight aluminium space-frame chassis, powered by a new 460hp, 6.75-litre V12, and loaded with all the electronics and mod-cons on offer in 2003.

This was the car to kick Rolls-Royce into the new millennium, dispensing with all the olde-worlde frumpiness of its forerunners in one fell swoop, yet still embodying all the stateliness and gravitas that is such an integral part of the RR brand. In the process, not only did it find favour with traditional Rolls-Royce customers, but also succeeded in attracting new, more tech-savvy buyers to the marque.

But time marches on, and while the Phantom VII has soldiered on nobly for the past 14 years, about double the typical lifespan of a luxury car, the time was ripe for an all-new successor that caters to the Rolls-Royce customer of 2018 and beyond. The average age of today's RR buyer is now said to be 39, about 20 years younger than used to be the case a couple of decades ago.

This being so, Rolls-Royce sought to infuse a greater sense of dynamism and "movement" into the Phantom. Whereas the outgoing model was a cutting-edge design when it was penned, its profile is very upright, and too "static". So they addressed this by integrating the grille into the bodywork and leaning it back a few degrees (it formerly stood clear of the bodywork and sat bolt upright). The tapered flanks of the car also create the impression of motion, and the fastback roofline further contributes to this effect.

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Underpinning it all is a new, 30 per cent stiffer aluminium space-frame architecture, and this ultra-flexible platform will form the basis for all of RR's upcoming models, including the keenly anticipated SUV – due next year – known for now as "Project Cullinan". Propulsion for the Phantom VIII comes from a 6.75-litre V12 that now features twin-turbocharging, boosting outputs to an unflustered 570hp and 900Nm to ensure the Roller offers the "waftability" synonymous with the brand.

The Phantom packs a veritable techno arsenal, including a pair of cameras that scan the road ahead and pre-emptively prepare the suspension for upcoming surface irregularities. Each corner of the car is suspended on four-litre airbags for a "magic-carpet" ride, and even the massive tyres are foam-filled to further cushion the ride. Occupants are insulated from the outside world by double-glazed windows (two 3-millimetre-thick panes sandwich an acoustic layer), and there is no less than 130 kilograms of sound-deadening material layered around the cabin.

Naturally, there are lashings of the finest hand-crafted leather and walnut trim (all made to bespoke order), and a day-long drive across Swiss alpine roads provides proof that the Roller still stands as the king of the hill when it comes to cosseting its occupants. No other car is this whisper-quiet or feather-soft in its ride – and you would expect as much, given the Phantom's starting price of Dh1.95 million (or Dh2.2m for the Extended Wheelbase).

RR spokesman Richard Carter is on the money when he says: “There’s not one person in the world who needs a Rolls-Royce Phantom.” Those who buy it do so because it remains the ultimate motorised statement of power and prestige. It is art on wheels.

Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Tips to stay safe during hot weather
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
  • Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
  • Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
  • Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
  • Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
  • Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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RESULT

Manchester United 2 Burnley 2
Man United:
 Lingard (53', 90' 1)
Burnley: Barnes (3'), Defour (36')

Man of the Match: Jesse Lingard (Manchester United)

Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest

Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.

Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.

Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.

Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.

Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.

Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia

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The specs

Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six

Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm

Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto

Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km

Price: From Dh796,600

On sale: now

MATCH INFO

Southampton 0
Manchester City 1
(Sterling 16')

Man of the match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)

MATCH INFO

Liverpool 0

Stoke City 0

Man of the Match: Erik Pieters (Stoke)