All Entries Tagged With: "ROLLS-ROYCE"
Rolls Royce 2011 Ghost
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: img Rolls-Royce Motor Cars / imcdb.org ::: 2011 Rolls-Royce Ghost
ROLLS-ROYCE is making marvelous headway with the attractive new Ghost.
It’s a brand new model that’s set to increase production volume, pit wits with Bentley, and play to a broader clientele. The Ghost also shares more in common with BMW than any previous Roller.
Based on the F02 generation long-wheelbase 7-Series (but nearly twice the price @ $245K) Goodwood insists that its new headlining model shares only 20% of its components with the big Bimmer. Almost 100% of this 20% are functioning bits which are tucked away, working with Teutonic efficiency behind the scenes.
The Ghost’s body is assembled at the same factory in Dingolfing that builds BMW’s flagship sedan. And like the Goodwood built Phantom, the Ghost drafts a BMW V12 into service, but only after it’s gone through several rounds of steroid injections and then gagged with silencing engineering to keep all that bruit down to smallest of decibels.
Still, it’s nothing new for a Rolls-Royce (or indeed rival Bentley) to share components with “lesser” marques.
During the Crewe years, GM provided transmissions and electronic systems. The first generation Silver Cloud, for example, shared the same hard shifting 4-speed autobox that the General first used in 1930’s Oldsmobiles.
Recently, the omnipresent and ever snarky Dan Neil wrote for the Wall Street Journal that driving the BMW 7-Series back-to-back with the Ghost could give the driver an acute sense of déja vu. That said, Mr. Neil seemed to appreciate the Roller’s charms more than its Bavarian twin.
“Everything good that the Bimmer is, the Rolls Ghost is that, amplified and anglicized exponentially—quieter, smoother, more luxurious and veddy, veddy powerful,” he wrote.
When your correspondent ventured to the Ghost’s premiere in New York last spring, I couldn’t help but feel the same way just from sitting in the car and feeling about lustily as I did. Still, it was only a brief taste so, it’s hard to tell just how British this Teutonic Ghost really manages to be.
1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud “Chinese Eye” Drophead Coupe. And it’s for sale.
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: img Cooper Classics Collection ::: Rolls-Royce Chinese Eye Convertible
IN the (swinging) Sixties, horn rimmed glasses were all the rage.
So, too, were fins, rockets, and a zest for the unusual. Elvis, anyone? Rolls-Royce wasn’t immune to experimentation that stuck an impertinent tongue out at the staid status quo. Hence – the 1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud “Chinese Eye” Continental Drophead Coupé.
Powered by the exceptionally long-lived V8 (powered the Bentley Arnage) and shifted by a four-speed autobox, the Chinese Eye weighed in at a rotund 4,558 lbs, every bit as stout as the Silver Cloud III saloon.
That said, in every way that the sedan’s rolling fenders conveyed a billowing ball gown, the Chinese Eye seemed a trim, lean skirt that cut tight across the lady’s legs – like some Oleg Cassini number that Jackie O. would wear.
Mulliner Park’s straight edged body gave a lightness to the DHC while the diagonal sets of sealed beam Lucases and tri-tail lamp clusters added that jolly bit of sport.
Chassis No. LCSC35B on offer by NY’s Cooper Classics Collection, lived its entire life as an East Coast ride; calling Park Ave and Easthampton home. Eighty-six thousand miles seem just right for a collectible in near-original condition that’s eclipsed the half-century mark.
That the terribly un-PC “Chinese Eye” moniker does little to restrain the $195,000 ask, stands as testament to the rare Silver Cloud’s enduring appeal. At least for some, that is. Not everyone’s a fan of horn rimmed shades.
[Linked: CCC]
No Limits: Rolls-Royce Yas Eagle Edition
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: img ADC via Autoblog ::: 2010 Rolls-Royce Phantom Yas Eagle
ROLLS-ROYCE has a storied history of bowing to the customer’s every wish. It’s part of a beautifully old school way of conducting business – namely, the customer is always right. And with no limits set to the imagination, for some that means there’s, well, no boundaries to taste either.
[Linked: Autoblog]
Maybach Lives! Forbes Reveals US Sales Figures
By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG Maybach USA
TUCKED inside yet another in-this-economy-would-you-believe? article in Forbes, reporter Hannah Elliott revealed a choice factoid about Maybach Manufactur that’s been conspicuously absent for some time.
Namely, 2009 Maybach sales figures.
Daimler, AG press releases (in)famously lump Maybach sales in with Benz S-Class and SL-Class stats; perpetuating blogosphere urban legend that snarkly suggests Maybach hasn’t actually sold any cars in some time.
Some unconfirmed reports indicated that Maybach may have sold a total of 300 units worldwide in 2008; down by 50% from the division’s initial high of around 600 following the 2002 launch.
However, if Ms. Elliott’s fact finding proves accurate, we now know that not only is Daimler’s super luxury patient very much alive… it is, in fact, breathing on its own!
The number speaks volumes:
“Daimler’s Maybach, with no new models planned for 2010, sold only 57 vehicles in the U.S. through November.”
Only fifty-seven 57s, 62s, and dictatorial Landaulets?
In the super luxury world of $340K+ chariots, that ain’t bad. If true, that would mean gross US sales of roughly $20 million.
Granted, rival Rolls-Royce sold Americans six times as many Phantoms last year. And we still must ask whether $20 million+ in North American sales is enough to float Daimler’s land yacht subsidiary…
Likely not. And lest Maybach buck its downward sales trend, 2010 could be the marque’s final year.
But eight years after Maybach’s splashy NYC-Cunard launch, and (dare I mention?) in this economy, that Maybach USA moved as many units as it did last year is quite encouraging.
Thanks, Max!
Rolls Royce Ghost: Details Waft In. Gently.
By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG RR
SOME months have passed since the Rolls-Royce Ghost’s (né 101EX, a.k.a. “Baby Rolls”) intro and we’ve heard little from Goodwood about Ghost developments.
Yours can confirm that last autumn Rolls-Royce’s small marketing team paraded the Ghost around these United States in a whirlwind tour to showcase what will be Rolls-Royce’s bread and butter “entry” model to potential and current Rolls clientele.
So far, only CAR magazine has actually reviewed the new Roller.
With production set to produce road going stock later this year, what’s left to know is just what’s available to the public on the Rolls-Royce website. The details are tantalizing, if incomplete.
Let’s delve, shall we?
Stock colo(u)r options smartly range from “Diamond Black” to “Claret”; Austrian bull hides tanned in anything from “Dark Spice” to “Moccasin”; and wood veneers as exotic as “Malabar” to “Dark Wenge”. To wit- Rolls promises slick decadence.
The Ghost’s weight curbside will be on the same scale as the much-larger Phantom – 5,445 lbs (compared to 5,798 lbs). Performance, though, will be swifter: 0-60 mph happens in 4.8 seconds (compared to 5.7 seconds).
This step up is thanks to the 563 hp V12 that takes aim at the Bentley Continental series. It also eclipses the pricier Phantom by more than 100 ponies. Still, despite this righteous power, the Ghost is classified as ULEV II.
Oddly, MPG figures have yet to be published. Not that the Rolls client would care, but us enthusiasts do.
As Rolls-Royce increases output, (1,700 Ghost inquiries worldwide, according to The Times) the bulk of new orders are likely to be Ghosts. Whether this will undermine Phantom sales (hopefully not, but probably) and, for that matter, rival Bentley Continental Flying Spur sales, remains to be seen.
Watch this space.
ADLX 00’s Reflections & 10’s Predictions
By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG Daimler, AG
RING out the old! Ring in the new!
As New Year’s approaches those of us on the East Coast, let’s reflect for a moment on the past ten and consider the next ten.
Geopolitically, it’s been a tumultous decade and indeed the same proved true for the auto industry.
For the luxury marques, apart from 2008-2009, it’s been mostly a boon – with the Germans going from strength to strength financially (despite loss in build quality for Mercedes and styling for BMW); the restoration of forgotten marques Bugatti and Maybach; the rebirth of the deluxe hatch in MINI; new heights in Italian performance with Ferrari and Lamborghini; and the rebirth of Maserati and Rolls-Royce.
Cadillac has restored some of its soul. And the 00’s will also likely be considered Aston Martin’s golden decade thanks to Dr. Bez’s leadership.
Looking forward: by 2020, automobiles will likely become roboticized – at least for highway travel in certain metro areas.
(In)famous Westcoast style car chases, for instance, will become more of a thing of the past as law enforcement will seek legislation empowering them to deactivate runaway vehicles remotely.
And, sadly, some of the great marques will fall to the wayside while upstart Korean companies like Hyundai grow stronger; forging entry into the luxury market just like Toyota, Honda, and Nissan managed 20 years ago.
Exciting times ahead, friends!
Video: Rolls-Royce Phantom Assembly
- Video showcases Rolls-Royce Phantom assembly
- Features the mechanism that raises and lowers iconic hood emblem
- Warning: film may spoil “the magic”
By Gunnar Heinrich | YouTube
PAY no attention to the man behind the curtain!
In what may amount to a spoil-the-surprise sacrilege akin to watching the elves make the toys at Santa’s shop, this clip from Discovery’s How It’s Made is a revealing glimpse into the works at Rolls-Royce’s Goodwood factory.
The segment takes us through the essential stages of a Phantom’s construction.
We see the marriage of drivetrain and chassis, the matching of wood panels, and the fitting of the emblematic grille. The mechanism that raises and lowers the Spirit of Ecstasy is really very clever, for example.
Sometimes, however, not knowing how something is made is part of its lore. If you’re at all fearful that watching such behind-the-scenes footage would spoil your concept of what makes a Rolls special, well, then cast thine eyes elsewhere. There’s a kind of bliss in not knowing.
Otherwise, it’s an enlightening 10 minute segment.
ADLX Redux: Silver Cloud Two Years On
By Gunnar Heinrich | YouTube
PERIODICALLY, people will ask me: of the cars you’ve reviewed which one’s your favorite?
This kind of question will almost always be put in a seemingly rhetorical manner as though the questioner already expects to know the answer. Rolls-Royce’s Phantom Coupe seems to be a clear contender for the top spot. As does the latest M3 (two-door). For a smaller sect – the Camaro SS.
But almost no one seems to anticipate my reply: the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud.
Overall, it’s the experience that counts. In the case of this white James Young stretched wheelbase saloon, I felt connected to the 50’s Royce in a way that seems to have been anesthetized in modern transport.
Coupled with the fact that this particular Cloud was gorgeous, especially grand, and well looked after, I was experiencing a true time capsule of post war luxury in its most rarefied form.
Would I have gotten more of a thrill from a Gullwing Mercedes, a Jaguar XK120, or a Duesenburg? Perhaps.
But for one weekend in the waning summer days of 2007, this Silver Cloud showed me a new meaning to iron clad craftsmanship and solidified the concept that quality is truly timeless.
Captured: The Process of Recreating An Icon
Ian Cameron (left), Chris Bangle (center), and team study Phantom design in early days.
By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG Rolls-Royce
REINVENTING the world’s most celebrated marque from whole cloth – or clay – must have been daunting.
Consider this photograph taken back in 1999.
Set in the wake of the VW/BMW/Bentley debacle, under a shroud of secrecy, we see the Rolls-Royce super saloon’s an early iteration of the super saloon that would dominate the luxurious 2000s. Standing left of center is a pensive Ian Cameron, ex. BMW Z8 designer, in what must have been a moment of clear tension.
He’s recasting the look of Rolls-Royce. Wearing a salmon colored tie, his hands are in his pocket and he’s waiting for feedback.
BMW Group Chief Designer Chris Bangle sits, fixated, at center stage. The action of the designers clearly revolving around his every glance; studying for possible imperfections and awaiting his verdict. His gaze appears thoughtful and heavy.
Truth to be told, in this early hour no one seems quite satisfied – and for good reason. The Rolls-Royce Phantom’s not quite there yet.
They wanted it the chariot to be big and bold. And by sheer dimension, we get a sense that it will be grand from the scaled down model.
But those bulbous front fenders channel too much of the 1950s. They practically mirror the Silver Cloud. Too retro and they clash with the tight, edginess in the rear quarter panels.
The doors, themselves, aren’t quite there either. The line of the rear door cuts too abruptly above the wheel well (like the current Bentley Mulsanne). And there’s a sense that by the exaggerated length of the front door, they may have entertained the front doors opening coach-style and having the rear doors open in the standard fashion.
The trunk isn’t nearly long enough in context with the length of the bonnet and the roof line seems a tad too short in stature.
What does appear in proportion and appropriate, but was inevitably downsized to meet EU pedestrian regulations, was a tall Spirit of Ecstasy. The current emblem, is about one third the size it should be atop that grand grille.
We see that other designs wait for consideration beneath white drapes. One of those might well have been today’s Phantom.
Rolls Royce Ghost Pics Online
Baby Rolls on parade.
By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
CASTING a lovely specter upon the automotive landscape, like an apparition the Rolls-Royce Ghost has finally made its official appearance online.
Not only is the Ghost a bold step into a higher production volume for the marque, the car’s marketing is an even edgier departure from the Royce’s stolid past. With edgy video and imagery that’s set in sunny locales (not rainy Britannia), the new Roller is aimed towards a younger demographic with cash to burn.
Evidence of this new, hipper direction is in a smaller, sportier profile that features narrow c-pillars (or is it d-pillars in this case?) which – gasp! -allow outsiders to see the lucky occupants inside and don’t obscure three lanes of following traffic.
Also, the new car is stuffed full of electronic goodies that bring comfort to a new level of penultimate.
Each corner is suspended by air, articulated by double wishbones up front and a rear multi-link axle. Electronics compute load calculations every 2.5 milliseconds, and Rolls says it can detect if a passenger moves from one side to the other and compensate accordingly. It can also raise or lower the car by an inch to help getting in and out (although we question the usefulness of 25mm adjustment) – Tim Pollard, CAR.
The sedan does feature similar attributes with the BMW 7-Series. By no means a bad thing, but the lower bolster of that rear bench is awfully familiar…
Having oggled at and sat in the 200EX – the Ghost’s almost identical concept – I can report that in touch ‘n feel, the execution is flawlessly perfectionist as any Rolls aficionado would come to expect. That said, with modernity comes some loss of tradition.
The leather (a hallmark of any true Royce) is, for all intents and purposes, supple, sweetly scented, delicate to the touch and very much what you’d find in a BMW 7er. The same is true for the glossy wood.
It’s all very Bavarian – just as the Bentley Continental Flying Spur has that inescapable Audi-feel.
But not to worry, traditionalists, the car’s design remains a beautiful step forward that keeps the marque’s overall “mission statement” well in tact.
Showing in Frankfurt, the new “baby Rolls” will waft onto the world’s boulevards in the autumn of next year.
