It’s not generally a car associated with desert sands, but Rolls-Royce's Phantom Series II shines against the startling backdrop of <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/travel/destinations/2023/01/08/alula-named-one-of-conde-nast-travellers-new-seven-wonders-of-the-world/" target="_blank">AlUla</a>. In a promotional photograph series by the manufacturer, celebrating the 112th anniversary of its famed Spirit of Ecstasy ornament, the landscape of Saudi Arabia’s living museum provides a sharp contrast to the modernity of the vehicle, with the car’s gunmetal grey stylings very apparent amid the rocks and dunes. The<a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/motoring/rolls-royce-phantom-series-ii-demands-the-finest-playground-1.443249" target="_blank"> Phantom Series II</a> made its first appearance on more conventional roads nearly 100 years ago. It is one of Rolls-Royce’s more traditional offerings, classic in shape and being powered by a 6.8-litre V12 engine. Big then, but it is a powertrain that purrs rather than roars, which seems fitting for the setting and something AlUla visitors present at the time were undoubtedly happy about. The AlUla trip coincides with a momentous day for Rolls-Royce's Spirit of Ecstasy figurine — it was first registered as the intellectual property of the company on February 6, 1911.