AUTOCARS SPEED AND GALLERY: Rolls Royce

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Monday, March 28, 2011

Rolls-Royce Opens its Largest Dealership in the World in Abu-Dhabi

The United Arab Emirates are known for their love of superlatives, so it comes as no surprise to find out that the world's largest Rolls-Royce showroom has just opened in Abu-Dhabi.

Located in the Umm Al Nar area of the city, the new facility was unveiled in the presence of Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös. The showroom has an area of 900 square meters (9,688 sq-ft) and can display five cars. The unit has an also new dedicated service facility, a coffee bar and a customer configuration lounge where future Rolls-Royce owners can specify their cars to their taste through a variety of color, trim samples and options.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

BMW Group Posts 21.7 Percent Increase in Global Sales in February

The BMW Group, which includes the BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands, sold 111,720 vehicles in February 2011, recording a 21.7 percent increase over February 2010 (91,763 units) and setting a new record high for the month. For the year to the end of February, the German group’s sales volumes were 24.7% higher than in the first two months of the previous year, at 216,911 units compared to 173,913 in January-February 2010. Read more »

Monday, February 28, 2011

Geneva Preshow: Rolls-Royce 102EX EV Study Might Just have the Largest Passenger Car Battery...in the World

Rolls-Royce has pulled the wraps off the next vehicle in its EX concept series, the 102EX (AKA Phantom Experimental Electric). The 102EX is meant to gauge reactions and opinions from the firm's clientele, shareholders, and the general public in regards to a Roller with a non-traditional drive train. As the 102EX is strictly a concept, Rolls-Royce hopes to resolve any issues that people might have with an all-electric - or any non-traditionally powered - Rolls.

Going back to the RR playbook, customers are the most important people to the Spirit of Ecstasy. Therefore, the manufacturer wants to be sure that expectations are met, not too much extra effort has to be put into ownership ("acceptable range...without frequent recharging"), and a proper Rolls-Royce ownership experience is provided.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Rolls Royce Phantom

Rolls Royce will be showcasing a one-off, fully electric powered Phantom at the Geneva Motor Show on 1 March 2011. The British automaker said the car will serve as a working test bed to explore the feasibility of battery-powered Rolls Royce models in the near future.
“We have engineered the world’s first battery electric vehicle for the ultra-luxury segment,” said CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös, speaking from the company’s headquarters in Goodwood. “With this vehicle, we begin an exploration into alternative drive-trains, seeking clarity on which alternative technologies may be suitable to drive Rolls-Royce motor cars of the future.”
The 102EX, also known as the Phantom Experimental Electric (EE), will go on a world tour in 2011 offering Rolls Royce owners and enthusiasts in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America the opportunity to test drive the car and share their experiences, thoughts and concerns directly with the company.
According to Rolls Royce, these include the 102EX's ability to deliver an acceptable range between re-charges and to operate in extreme weather conditions, as well as to benchmark reliability and quality against customer expectations.
“I must be convinced that any alternative drive-train we choose for the future delivers an authentic Rolls-Royce experience,” added Müller-Ötvös. “It must be a technology that is right for our customers, our brand and which sets us on a sound footing for a sustainable future.”
Rolls Royce said it will reveal photos and full technical specifications for the 102EX at the Geneva Salon on March 1.

photos

Thursday, February 24, 2011

2011 Jeremy Westerlund Rolls Royce Apparition

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

VIDEO: A MINI Cooper S Powered by a Helicopter Jet Engine

Rolls-Royce and MINI may have the same owner, but the two iconic British brands have never been intended to cross paths. That was until a Texas-based firm called BMP Design decided to squeeze a Rolls-Royce Allison 250-C20B jet engine sourced from a helicopter in the back of a MINI Cooper S. Yes, that's right, just behind the front seats.

The consequences of this action are easy to imagine: the 420-horsepower, 400 lb-ft of torque RR engine drives the rear wheels, turning the MINI into a 4WD monster. Managing to drive the car is a major achievement, since the driver needs to balance the conventional controls with the separate levers that command the jet engine.

As you are about to see, the speed and the acceleration of this little rocket are mind-blowing. As is the noise coming from the turbine engine. Watch the videos after the break.

By Dan Mihalascu

Source: Jalopnik

_______________________________VIDEOS_______________________________

VIDEO: A MINI Cooper S Powered by a Helicopter Jet Engine

As you are about to see, the speed and the acceleration of this little rocket are mind-blowing. As is the noise coming from the turbine engine. Watch the videos after the break.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Geneva Preshow: Rolls Royce Phantom 102EX with Full-Electric Drive

“We have engineered the world’s first battery electric vehicle for the ultra-luxury segment,” said CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös, speaking from the company’s headquarters in Goodwood. “With this vehicle, we begin an exploration into alternative drive-trains, seeking clarity on which alternative technologies may be suitable to drive Rolls-Royce motor cars of the future.”

The 102EX, also known as the Phantom Experimental Electric (EE), will go on a world tour in 2011 offering Rolls Royce owners and enthusiasts in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America the opportunity to test drive the car and share their experiences, thoughts and concerns directly with the company.

According to Rolls Royce, these include the 102EX's ability to deliver an acceptable range between re-charges and to operate in extreme weather conditions, as well as to benchmark reliability and quality against customer expectations.

“I must be convinced that any alternative drive-train we choose for the future delivers an authentic Rolls-Royce experience,” added Müller-Ötvös. “It must be a technology that is right for our customers, our brand and which sets us on a sound footing for a sustainable future.”

Rolls Royce said it will reveal photos and full technical specifications for the 102EX at the Geneva Salon on March 1.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Here's another car I'd never heard of, the "Chinese Eye" 1965 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud

Read about it http://www.automobilesdeluxe.tv/1965-rolls-royce-silver-cloud-chinese-eye-drophead-coupe-and-its-for-sale/ but it doesn't say if this was a coachbuilt custom, or a factory design

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

100 Rolls Royces Take to the Streets of London to Celebrate Centenary of 'Spirit of Ecstasy'

A selection of one hundred Rolls Royce cars from all eras and generations including examples of Silver Ghosts, Silver Clouds, Silver Shadows and Silver Spurs, took to the streets of London on Sunday, February 6, to celebrate the centenary of the brand's famous hood mascot, the Spirit of Ecstasy. The hood ornament, also called "Flying Lady", was first fitted to Rolls-Royce models in 1911. It was designed by Charles Sykes and legend has it that the figurine was inspired by Eleanor Thornton, a co-worker of Sykes at the time.

“The Spirit of Ecstasy is a genuine icon, a graceful goddess who has adorned the prow of Rolls-Royce cars past and present,” said Rolls-Royce Motor Cars CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös. “She is recognized the world over as a symbol for the pinnacle of automotive aspiration and is an inspiration to those of us working for the company today. The centenary drive was a fitting tribute to such an important figure for our company.”

The Rolls Royce drive started in Belgravia and ended at the Great Conservatory at Syon House in West London, making its way pass significant locations for the British brand including the birthplace of one of the founders of the automaker, Charles Rolls in Hill Street, Mayfair, the site of the studio where Charles Sykes is believed to have created the design of the Spirit of Ecstasy on Brompton Road and Berkeley Square, and the 21st century home of Rolls-Royce in London.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Rolls Royce Phanton - Extended Wheelbase Bliss

As an auto writer, I am often asked to name my favorite car. While I have had many favorites over the years, I can name my current top ride with absolute certainty …

there is no cooler car to cruise any street than in the brand new Extended Wheelbase Rolls Royce Phantom! Make no mistake; this is 20 enormous feet of the smoothest, most sophisticated, most elegant, most gorgeous, most best of everything automobile I have ever experienced!

While I’ve driven top models from Bentley, Bugatti, BMW, Jaguar, Ferrari, Mercedes, Lamborghini, Maserati, Porsche and other ultra-luxury brands, this was my first new Rolls ride. It turned out to be an absolutely marvelous five-day motoring marathon through my hometown streets.

My time with the Rolls was unlike any other press car evaluation I have experienced in my 20 years as an auto writer. For starters, the Rolls was personally delivered to me by Mr. Wayne Kung who arrived nattily attired in suit and tie. As Rolls Royce Product Communications Manager, part of his job is to deliver Phantom test cars to a very select number of auto journalists from across the nation for their personal evaluation. Why me? He said that I had been selected because an unnamed Rolls executive liked my writing style and that I had a reputation in the industry for writing fair and balanced features. Gosh, it sounds like in someone’s eyes, I’ve become the Bill O’Reilly of auto writers. Whatever the case, I was grateful for my entry into Wayne’s world.

Since only about 500 new Rolls models are brought into this country each year, the company has no dedicated press fleet. Wayne said that the Phantom I would be driving is currently for sale for at $473,970. In fact, I was told that two customers were very interested in buying this very car, so I was to use the utmost care when behind-the-wheel. It gave a whole new meaning to entering the no-spin zone. And yes, if I broke it, I would need an immediate bailout as I’d be suffering my own personal financial disaster!

Wayne told me that one of the perspective customers was from California were the Phantom I would be driving had just been displayed at the internationally famous Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. This is sort of an Olympics for multi-millionaire rare car collectors, where this year’s entries came from 27 states and 12 countries. Included were exotic cars from as far away as Hong Kong, Monaco, Germany and Brazil. With many entries valued at over a million dollars each, the combined value of all the collectable cars at the show ran way over $100 million. Included in that star-studded cast was Tonight Show host Jay Leno’s one-of-a-kind five-ton 1953 Chrysler “tank car” powered by a twin-turbo 1,600-hp M47 Patton Tank engine.

The extreme opposite of Leno’s tank car, the extended wheelbase navy-blue Phantom I would be driving has plenty of impressive credentials in its own right. It is powered by a massive 6.75 V-12 engine that pumps out 453 hp. Weighing-in at just less than three tons, this ultra luxury heavyweight can still turn in a 0-60 mph time of a quite respectable 5.7 seconds. Estimated EPA mileage is 13 city/19 highway.

Of course, Rolls Royce owners aren’t too terribly concerned about how fast their car goes or how much gas it consumes. To Rolls owners, the devil is in the details of what it takes to create pure perfection on wheels. As company founder Sir Henry Royce once said, “Strive for perfection in everything you do. Take the best that exists and make it better. When it does not exist, design it.”

Even with its monster V-12 engine, the Phantom had the quietest interior of any car I have ever encountered at highway speeds, or any speed, for that matter. And it is by far the smoothest ride I have ever encountered … a royal magic carpet ride. It took skilled craftsmen 460 hours to hand-build this beauty -- and that doesn’t include engine or structural body-building time. The body can spend up to seven days in the paint shop alone, receiving five coats of paint and clear lacquer, or seven coats for a two-tone paint scheme. Customers can choose from 15 standard colors or 45,000 different hues. After painting, each car is hand polished for five hours to give a finish of unrivalled depth and sheen.

Inside the cabin, the word “plush” doesn’t even come close to describing the luscious interior. Over 18 hides are used in the extended wheelbase Phantom and each one come from specially selected herds of cattle that are hand checked for any imperfections. Only bull hides are used so there are no unsightly stretch marks from fat cows to mar the exquisite seat surfaces. Over 450 leather sections are used in the car and each is cut with the help of a precision laser and stitched by hand. Even the leather-covered owner’s manual was from the same hides as used in the car. Up to 43 book-matched genuine wood trim parts are fitted into the each Phantom. Each wood part is made with up to 28 layers, interspersed with aluminum sheets to ensure strength in case of an impact. In fact, to conserve on weight, the extended wheelbase Phantom uses the largest space-frame chassis in the automotive world.

The rear passenger doors are engineered like no others I have encountered. Hinged at the back, they swing outwards from the B-pillar much like the famous 60s-era Lincoln limousine that President Kennedy was riding in on that fateful day in Dallas. These truly unique coach doors are designed to allow rear passengers to enter and exit the car gracefully, and can be closed with the touch of a button.

Teflon-coated umbrellas with carbon fiber shafts that are cleverly stored James Bond-style inside each rear passenger door are a nice touch, but a bit pricy at $500 a piece. And don’t even think of calling it a backseat – in Rolls Royce parlance, it is a “rear lounge seat that is curved at the outer edges, creating a social space where people can turn towards each other with greater ease.”

After explaining these and some other finer points of the Rolls, Wayne offered to take me to lunch at a restaurant of my choosing.

Where would you decide to go if the choice was yours? I chose to invite my boss along to join in the fun. When Wayne offered me the keys to begin our trip downtown, I deferred: “This will be my only time I get to ride in the back, the way a car of this stature is meant to be experienced.” In short order, I found myself being chauffeured into the city and I didn’t even have to bother with directions. I just said, “501 North Calvert Street, please” and my chauffer for the day dutifully entered the address into the Phantom’s navigation system.

During our trip downtown, Wayne pointed out that with a flick of a switch, the winged hood-ornament figurine could be magically lowered into the hood for safe keeping when parking in the hood. With the flick of another switch, the roof liner above my head was transformed into a starry galaxy featuring hundreds of little white LED lights that could be custom designed into any constellation of the customer’s choice. And if I didn’t care for stars in my eyes, the starry array could be configured into a corporate logo. The Sun, the moon, the stars … my own logo, hey, what could be better!

Bottom Line: It simply doesn’t get any better! As the newly crowned head of Rolls Royce bylines, riding in the seat of ultimate luxury really did make me feel like a king, even if my reign only lasted a few days. No matter where I drove, people noticed. Not only did heads turn, but whole bodies stopped dead in their tracks, eyes wide-open. Even while driving on the Beltway, a car pulled up next to me and a girl in the front passenger seat leaned out to take a photo of the Phantom with her camera phone. People of all ages, from all walks of life, truly appreciated this modern motoring marvel. Now that my fabulous Phantom experience is just a Fleet Street memory, here’s my take: Price of a Rolls Royce Extended Wheelbase Phantom: $473,970. Being able to chauffeur my family and friends around a la Miss Daisy: priceless.

Monday, January 24, 2011

VIDEO: Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Goes Donuts...

Looks like some uber-rich, uber-spoiled and probably uber-bored fellas found a new way to enjoy "The Spirit of Ecstasy". The 'richouligans' attempted to have a bit of slideway fun with a Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe at a parking lot by performing donuts around other parked cars. Not the best way to enjoy a luxurious behemoth with a kerbweight of close to three tonnes with fuel and passengers on board, but whatev. Video after the jump.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Rolls Royce Ghost / 200EX Online Configurator

The public debut for Rolls Royce's new, smaller-sized and lower-priced luxury sedan isn't due until the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, but nevertheless, the BMW Group-owned British firm has created an online configurator for the Ghost's preview model, the 200EX concept study. Judging by the most recent spy shots, there aren't any visible differences (at lease none of any importance) between the Ghost and the 200EX, so what you see here, is what you'll be able to get in a few months time.

If you feel like fooling around with the 200EX configurator that allows you to change the exterior and interior colors of the Rolls, click the link below and then choose 'Design' and after that, 'Visualizer'

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Embarrassing Replica of Rolls Royce Phantom Built on BMW 750i V12 E32

This custom monstrosity of a Rolls Royce Phantom replica is based on one of the last elegant BMW 7-Series models, the late 1980s-early 1990s E32, and was found for sale on a Polish used car website. There are so many things wrong with the build that we don't know where to start, but the flashy Rolls Royce sticker on the steering wheel could take the prize for being the worst item on the car...

The Phantom ~~clown~~ clone is built on a V12-powered 750i with the seller asking a laughable €56,653 (around US$75,500 at today's exchange rates) for the car. More photos after the break.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Anything but Ordinary: Jeremy Westerlund’s Rolls-Royce Apparition

In my opinion, über-luxury sedans are a little bit staid. Yes, from an engineering standpoint they are all very impressive and the technology incorporated into them is often state-of-the-art. You have to admit, though, that very few of us would drool over a Maybach the way you’d drool over a Lamborghini. Even the unshakable Rolls-Royce Phantom, the last word in personal luxury, is a little...well, dull.

So when a student designer like Jeremy Westerlund comes along with a design as interesting and unique as the Rolls Royce Apparition, all you can do is stare. Here is a personal limousine that, if it were built, would be 23 feet long. A car that features yacht-like styling and mahogany inserts on the wheels.

Clever design features abound, like the spare wheel secreted into the bodywork at the front like 1930s Rollers, an open cockpit for the driver and the twin rear windows that mirror the shape of the headlights. It’s like something out of a science fiction film, and a heck of a lot more interesting than some of the so-called concept cars Rolls-Royce has show in the past five years.

Though don’t take my word for it. Voice your own opinion in the comments section below. Is Westerlund’s Apparition a styling triumph or a design disaster?

Source: Jeremy Westerlund via Autoblog