The 100th anniversary of the Phantom was reason enough for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars to curate an evening of elevated zichar by KEK Seafood
When one has the benefit of an illustrious and storied pedigree in the ultra-luxury realm, as Rolls-Royce Motor Cars does, it is no longer about checking equipment and trim options off a list.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ patina’d legacy comes with an aura that blows shiny happy newcomers and pretenders alike out of the water. Why? You can’t manufacture luxury; you need to live and breathe it.
Never underestimate the allure of a legacy brand’s enduring history, because this is something the new brands desperately crave.
People like to talk about the “trappings of luxury”, but in most cases, that’s all it is — a trap to ensnare the ignorant. True luxury is a vibe, an attitude that evokes emotional responses of shock and awe that far transcends the empirical.
It isn’t about the smoke and mirrors of a multitude of functions and features to bedazzle the unwary, because luxury is often discreet and deliberate — a whisper, a high-touch or a feeling, for instance.
A commemorative, limited-edition “Phantom Centenary Private Collection” was launched to celebrate the model’s Big 100, but we didn’t see it in Singapore.
Instead, a fleet of seven Phantom variants (including a classic Silver Cloud and Phantom Drophead Coupe) belonging to Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Singapore’s dealer principal, Karsono Kwee, was assembled at the showroom during an intimate gathering arranged by the brand for a small group of us.
The elegant showroom was also divided into different experience spaces in which to better appreciate the legacy of the Phantom, including a Wall of Icons, an Art Showcase, a Bespoke Craft Experience and an Accessories Showcase.
“Marking Phantom’s centenary in Singapore was a deeply meaningful moment,” said Irene Nikkein (pictured above), regional director Asia-Pacific, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “We wanted guests to experience the spirit of Phantom not just through the iconic collection of Phantoms on display, but also through the art, music, and even the food – every detail chosen to honour a century of heritage and innovation. This celebration is not just a tribute to Phantom’s heritage, but a living testament to its enduring spirit and resonance with new generations.”
It was particularly apt for the Phantom’s 100th festivities to be celebrated at the Eurokars Group’s Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Singapore showroom, because the Singapore-based multi-brand dealer celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
Renee Chua, managing director, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Singapore, added: “As we celebrate 100 years of Phantom here in Singapore, we honour a name that has been central to our story. When our journey in Singapore began twenty-two years ago, Phantom was the very first model we represented, and we have since witnessed its remarkable evolution across generations – always adapting, always modernising, yet forever remaining the purest expression of Rolls-Royce luxury.”
Now, on the topic of heritage brands, a handful of us have long been talking to the brand about organising a zichar (煮炒) catch-up. And this is exactly what it did, with the legendary Keng Eng Kee Seafood bringing the heat to the showroom with nostalgic (想当年) favourites, albeit elevated in true Rolls-Royce Motor Cars fashion, of course
