Yes, an electric Rolls-Royce. And why not? The torque curve of an electric motor – making maximum pulling power right at zero RPM – would seem to suit the R-R mission perfectly, as would the distinct lack of noise, vibration and harshness. Sounds like a match made in heaven, no?

Naturally, there are issues to overcome, not the least of which is sourcing a suitably large battery for the three-ton Phantom sedan. According to Auto Express, that battery pack would feature lithium ion cells, which happens to be the same technology used by parent company BMW in its electric Mini E.

These rumors aren’t exactly new – we last heard of an electric Roller about a year ago – but this time the addition of a possible range extender is mentioned for the first time. Such a configuration is featured in both the upcoming Chevy Volt and the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept BMW showed off at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The unnamed spokesperson cited by Auto Express doesn’t offer any sort of timetable as to when we might see an electric Phantom, but we’re not exactly holding our breath.

[Source:Autoblog]

At the Shanghai Motor Show this morning, Rolls-Royce finally put the temporary RR4 moniker to rest by officially naming its new Flying Spur-fighting sedan the “Ghost.” Shown in concept form as the 200EX at last month’s Geneva Motor Show, the Ghost will be built later this year on a separate assembly line at the automaker’s newly expanded Goodwood facility, where it will share paint, wood and leather with its flagship brother, the Phantom. The Ghost is built atop the most recent BMW 7 series platform and will be equipped with a 500+ hp, twin-turbocharged V8 mated to an eight-speed transmission. Expect sales to begin in late 2009, with coupe and convertible variants to follow in the next two to three years.

PRESS RELEASE

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced the name for its new model series which until now has been known as RR4. The name was announced by CEO, Tom Purves at a press conference held at the Shanghai motor show.

The new car will be called the Rolls-Royce Ghost and production will begin at the company’s Goodwood manufacturing facility on the south coast of England later in 2009.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars CEO, Tom Purves, said, “We are delighted to formally announce the Rolls-Royce Ghost. It is one of the most revered names in the automotive industry, evoking images of adventure and technical innovation. The name reflects this new model’s breadth of abilities. The first cars to bear the Ghost name were known not only for impressive dependability and refinement but also great flair and style. This car will be the first in a new generation of models to carry this evocative name and will give us two pinnacle product lines – Phantom and Ghost.

The Rolls-Royce Ghost will be built on its own dedicated production line at Goodwood but will share paint, wood and leather workshops with the Phantom series of cars. Rolls-Royce has expanded all areas of its manufacturing facility over the last 18 months to prepare for the introduction of the Ghost model.

[Source:Autoblog]

Following today’s embargo debacle, Rolls-Royce has finally released the official details and images of its baby Roller, the 200EX. The name draws its inspiration from the “experimental” prototypes that Rolls created during the pre-war era, but this version is more modern and has its sights set on the Bentley Continental Flying Spur.

While Rolls-Royce has deemed the Geneva-bound 200EX a concept, expect almost every exterior and interior detail to carry over to the production model when it arrives in 2010. However, the alphanumeric moniker will be replaced with something more traditional (think some variation of the words Spirit, Shadow or Cloud).

The styling is quintessential Rolls, pulling all the best cues from the Phantom and Drophead Coupe and fitting them into a decidedly smaller package. Based off the latest BMW 7 series platform, the 200EX spans 212.6 inches long, 83 inches wide and 61 inches tall, with a wheelbase of 129.7 inches. A new air suspension system hides behind the seven-spoke, 20-inch wheels, with the front hoops wrapped in 255/45 tires and the rears coated in 285/40 rubber. Rolls remains mum on engine details, only saying that the 200EX is powered by a new V12.

Inside you’ll find all the top-rate, high-dollar trinkets that makes Rolls-Royce the standard of the luxury motoring world, including frosted lamps, chrome door handles, violin key switchgear and an ergonomic roller-ball controller to manipulate the car’s systems.

While we’re anxiously awaiting the official unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show next month, expect the production variant of the 200EX to bow at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this year. Make the jump for all the details.

PRESS RELEASE

ROLLS-ROYCE TO UNVEIL 200EX AT GENEVA MOTOR SHOW

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will unveil its latest experimental car, called 200EX, at the Geneva Motor Show on 3 March 2009.

200EX is a design study for a contemporary four-door saloon and shows the direction for RR4, a new model series from Rolls-Royce due for production in 2010.

PHILOSOPHY

Experimental models have always played a significant role in the history of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, from the first - 1EX, built in 1919 - to the most recent - 101EX, built in 2006. Unlike a concept car, the experimental models developed by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars have always been fully functioning vehicles, residing in a tangible world of wood, leather and metals rather than clay and foam. EX cars offer designers and engineers the opportunity for real-world innovation and have been used to showcase new components and engineering techniques as well as exterior and interior designs. “Modern automotive engineering is a balance of creativity, innovation and application. 200EX is an opportunity to assess these new ideas”, explains Helmut Riedl, Director of Engineering.

100EX was the first experimental car unveiled after Rolls-Royce Motor Cars was relaunched under BMW Group ownership in 2003. Revealed at the Geneva motor show in 2004, the two-door, four-seat convertible was built to mark 100 years of Rolls-Royce motor car design and engineering. Just two years later, 101EX was presented, which explored modern coupé design. Both of these cars inspired production models that not only closely resemble their EX progenitors but have also redefined luxury motoring in the modern age.

Following on from this success, the same group of designers and engineers has created 200EX, itself pointing the way to RR4, a new Rolls-Royce model scheduled for production in 2010. The brief for 200EX? To create a modern, lithe and dynamic Rolls-Royce that bears all the hallmarks of the great cars that have gone before it: effortless performance, unparalleled refinement, exquisite quality and confident design.

DESIGN
“Alluring, inviting, approachable - this car captivates with each encounter” - Chief Designer, Ian Cameron

200EX has a dynamic edge to its styling and is noticeably less formal than previous models. Its size, style and expression broaden the appeal of the car, making it more appropriate for a wider range of circumstances. “200EX is a touring saloon with more than a little panache and perhaps more bravado than one might have expected from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars,” says Cameron. “What you see is a modern car that is immediately recognisable as a true Rolls-Royce, even from angles that obscure the grille and Spirit of Ecstasy. Design elements such as the elevated prow, long bonnet, short front overhang, sharply raked A-pillar and elegant tail give 200EX an air of informal presence - powerful but unobtrusive.”

The exterior design is dominated by large, uninterrupted surfaces, while finely sculptured horizontal lines add definition and geometric precision. In combination, the upward-sweeping sill line and low-cut roof create a powerful profile. The tapered rear is enhanced by powerful shoulders and flanks that draw in sharply, narrowing as they flow from the rear wings to the tail-lights.

The rear-hinged coach doors give the car a natural presence and sense of theatre. Revived in 2003 on the Phantom, this signature feature lends added functionality and style to the design. Opening through a generous 83 degrees, the coach doors offer the widest rear access in the car industry as well as providing the warmest of welcomes to those about to step inside.

At the front, a pair of LED headlamps flank the latest evolution of the world’s most famous grille. “We wanted this to be less reminiscent of the traditional ‘Parthenon’ style and more like a jet intake,” says Ian Cameron. The sides of the intake have been curved inwards and the vanes set back into the opening. It’s a more dynamic form that moves on from the design first seen on the Phantom Drophead Coupé.

The exterior of 200EX is finished in Darkest Tungsten, which contrasts with the silver satin finish applied to the bonnet and A-pillar. Seven-spoke, 20-inch wheels complete the visual impact of the exterior.

Within 200EX, Interior Designer Alan Sheppard has accomplished a contemporary atmosphere, incorporating the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars principles of fine materials and peerless comfort. The space is filled with natural light, which brings in a real sense of the outside world. However, substantial doors and a high shoulder line ensure that occupants feel cosseted and protected. In the rear, the intimate ambience of the lounge seat is emphasised by its position behind the C-pillar, heightening the sense of privacy.

Naturally, the finest materials have been used. Elegant, frosted lamps and chrome door handles feature, while details include traditional violin key switches, eyeball air vents, opaque dials and refined instrumentation.

“As with any Rolls-Royce, detail is crucial,” says Alan Sheppard. “We want the lasting impression for owners to be that their car was made just for them by someone skilled and caring.”

The dashboard has been kept deliberately clear; it is spacious in its design and has an intuitive layout. The controls are neatly sculptured, with more important functions emphasised by accents of chrome. The soft light of the instrument panel glows through the familiar black-rimmed steering wheel, which itself incorporates a number of violin keys as well as an ergonomic roller-ball control.

The interior of 200EX is finished in supple, natural grain Crème Light leather, with Cornsilk carpets and cashmere blend headliner. The featured wood veneer is Santos Palissander, chosen for its contemporary look and striking grain.

“200EX is a modern execution of timeless Rolls-Royce elegance, breaking with some areas of tradition but retaining the core values that make our marque unique,” says Chief Executive Officer Tom Purves. “We expect the more informal, agile design to broaden the appeal of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, attracting people who appreciate its fusion of refinement, new technology and contemporary style.”

200EX TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

* No. of doors/seats: 4/5
* Vehicle length: 5399mm
* Vehicle width 1948mm
* Vehicle height: 1550mm
* Wheelbase: 3295mm
* Engine: new V12
* Wheel and tyre size: 20 inch, 255/45 R 20 front and 285/40 R 20 rear

[Source:Autoblog]

The global economic downturn is affecting other things than the availability of credit, the unemployment rate and the fate of the world’s largest automaker. We had already heard that Suzuki was planning on skipping this year’s 2009 Detroit Auto Show in January (Porsche passed on the 2008 show), but the small Japanese brand has now been joined by a few heavyweights that compete at the very high end of the automotive spectrum. It turns out that Ferrari, Rolls-Royce and Land Rover are all three not attending this year’s Detroit show, presumably because they don’t have anything exciting to announce and the money could be better spent elsewhere.

What’s surprising about this trio of top shelf brands missing out on Detroit is that we always thought luxury goods were least vulnerable to a crappy economy. Sure the middle class and poor get poorer, but the super wealthy usually have a few million stuffed under their mattresses to see them through. Thus, if not less expensive Land Rovers, at least Ferraris and Rollers would still be bought in decent numbers. Apparently that’s not the case, as even the most expensive of autos are seeing sales slow and if they don’t have a new production vehicle or concept car to show, then a trip to Detroit is the vacation nobody wants to take.

[Source:Autoblog]

Long known amongst car people around southern California for its fine dining, upscale boutiques and most importantly its twice-monthly collector car breakfast cruises, the Enderle Center in Tustin, California decided to do something a little different to celebrate its 30th Anniversary: host a Classic European Concours. For this inaugural event they even flew in Pininfarina designer Maurizio Corbi who answered questions and sketched dream cars for the crowd. When someone groaned after hearing Corbi was partly responsible for the new Ferrari California’s form, he quickly pointed out he did the front, which brought relieved laughter. Local collector Dick Marconi brought several cars from his nearby Marconi Automotive Museum, which supports the Marconi Foundation for Kids. Several of Dick’s artworks were also displayed in the center’s Chemers Gallery, but the cars were really all the art we needed to see.

Classics from the ’30s, ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s, along with sportscars from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s were arranged by country of origin and parked through the central parking lot alongside a pedestrian-friendly red carpet. Ferraris were featured and there was an incredible assortment on hand, everything from Cher’s Daytona Spyder to an extremely rare 195S, one of two in existence. The F50 wasn’t too bad either. Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Jaguar, Porsche, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and even Pegaso were also well-represented. It was a great first effort and a fun show, small and manageable with some breathtaking classics, all with great stories behind them.

When our camera started acting up we spotted our pals from Speed and Motion, who graciously agreed to let us use their images for our gallery. Click and enjoy, and be sure to check out the Speed and Motion site for a greater selection of photos and videos from this show, as well as dozens of HD clips from other local events.

[Source:Autoblog]

If you’ve got it, flaunt it. The super high-end automotive market has been counting on that attitude for years, and it may now be coming back to bite them. It seems that sales of luxury marques such as Bentley, Maybach and Aston Martin have been on a downward trajectory over the last year. Despite the fact that there are a number of people who still have plenty of dough to purchase these expensive toys, public perception is causing some of them to hold back and keep those fat wallets in their pockets.

To combat the problem, some high-end brands are choosing to aim even higher. If ex-customers with a net-worth of less than $5 million find it socially unacceptable to make a purchase, Bentley has said it will begin marketing to those with at least a net worth of $25 million. Let us add that we’ve driven a few Bentleys and Rollers and can say with certainty that they are definitely conspicuous in a sea of CamCords and Mustangs.

[Source:Autoblog]

Rolls Royce has been on a roll of late, with a 25-percent increase in global production in 2007, and the gorgeous new Phantom Coupe ready to add to last year’s record totals. Since the official announcement of the ultra-luxury two-door, 200 orders have already been taken, which represents all production for 2008. Even more impressive is the fact that two-thirds of the orders come from customers who have never before owned a Rolls. It doesn’t hurt that the Phantom Coupe’s Drophead sibling is sold out through summer 2009, which means the fixed-top Phantom has little short-term competition on the show floor.

It’s hard to blame the filthy rich for sopping up Phantom Coupes so quickly. The luxury-liner’s incredible contours, stunning materials, and mind-blowing suicide doors make us lie awake at night thinking of ways to become wealthy enough to one day own one. So far all we’ve thought of is more blogging, which means we’ll have to settle for something a bit less well-heeled.

[Source: AutoBlog]

Business at Goodwood is, well… good. As such, Rolls-Royce, already having dedicated millions of dollars to enhancing its production facilities, is looking to add more hands in a bid to keep up with the ever-growing demand for its cars. Production in 2007 was up 25% over 2006 to 1,000 units, and RR execs see another 10% of growth likely for 2008. Credit emerging markets for the increase in demand, especially China, in which 100 cars are expected to be sold by year’s end. That’s up from 71 of the mega-sleds sold there in 2006. Where people are coming into money, they’re buying Rolls-Royces. After all, as status symbols go, the Spirit of Ecstasy is almost without peer, and few luxury objects communicate wealth like a big new Roller. The Phantom (saloon or drophead, take your pick) might well be the ultimate arrival machine. Things are going so well, in fact, that the automaker is basically sold-out through 2009. Better get that second production line going soon, guys.

[Source: AutoBlog]

Well, this makes the one I had seem almost pedestrian. I’m talking about the new Rolls-Royce Phantom Tungsten, the latest limited-production saloon from RR’s Bespoke Collection. The total number of cars being built is unclear, but it’s confirmed that six of them are headed to the Middle East, where they’ll be snapped up instantly. If the color scheme looks familiar, it’s because it mimics that of the 101EX concept. The Darkest Tungsten paint makes its first appearance ever on a production Roller, and the big boy also wears the same seven-spoke wheels as the concept coupe. Other exterior cues appearing on the Tungsten are a brushed aluminum hood similar to the one available on the Drophead Coupe and cool-looking exposed chrome exhaust outlets.

Inside, you get Smoke Grey leather piped with navy accents, Rosewood veneers, and metallic trim accenting the top of the instrument panel and the thin-rimmed steering wheel. Even the engine gets a dress-up kit. The pièce de résistance is the starlight headliner, which uses hundreds of fiber-optic lights to create a virtual starfield above the backseat passengers. Limo companies already do this in prom night cheesemobiles, though, so maybe next time Rolls can up the ante by incorporating a full planetarium back there. You know, with the Pink Floyd laser light shows and everything. They can maybe call it the Nick Mason Edition. Anyway, I digress. Tungsten owners get a pair of silver keyfobs and a fountain pen in a spiffy matching Rosewood box, too. Cost is unknown, but if you can afford it, you’re not even asking about the price, anyway. You’re simply calling your man at the Rolls dealer and making it happen.

Thanks for the heads-up, JW!

[Source: Rolls-Royce via Sybarites]