Phantom power

Owner of four Rolls-Royce cars, Yohan Poonawalla took delivery of his BMW-built 2005 Rolls-Royce Phantom at the Navnit Motors’ Thana showroom on April 29, 2005. Bought for a staggering Rs 4 crore, "it is the first Rolls to be officially sold in India after a five-decade gap,” noted a report in the Mumbai Newsline of The Indian Express, April 30, 2005. The luxury saloon made its way to India from the Goodwood factory, UK. Customised with a black and silver twin tone paint job and ‘P’ logos on the exteriors and dashboard, "it will be a mobile office for my father (Zavaray) and myself,” Yohan told the Express hoping to enjoy his rides in the 453-horsepower, 12 cylinder vehicle. He was most excited though at the prospect of his new acquisition being parked next to his rare 1937 R-R Phantom III.

In terms of "looks, road presence, prestige and comfort,” Yohan rated the Phantom superior to the five crore Mercedes built Maybach which he checked out in London. "Trust a man whose first car (at the age of 18) was a Mercedes E-class, whose most memora­ble automotive experience was a spin through London in a Ferrari F360, to have a discerning throttle foot!” proclaimed the Ex­press.

Yohan’s passion for cars is shared by his wife Michelle who drives a BMW 760li and won an event at the Speed Run drag race held in Bombay in February, mentioned the news report.