Straightline
Rolls-Royce
August 12, 2008
This year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is shaping up to being one heck of an event, as Straightline has reported on several very special vehicles that will be on display. Here's one more:
It's a special one-off Rolls-Royce called the Hyperion. This tiny Roller (by usual Rolls standards) was built by Pininfarina; and probably most incredible, is that it is fitted with a gun rack in the cabin!
Full story here.
Here's Inside Line's take: Pininfarina, Regrouping After Loss of CEO, To Unveil Rolls-Royce-Based Hyperion Concept at Pebble Beach
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- Posted by: Bob Holland August 12, 2008, 8:49 AM
- Categories: All Auto Shows, Classic Cars, Luxury Cars, Rolls-Royce
April 4, 2008
Manhattan Motorcars, a New York Rolls-Royce dealer, has commissioned a $200,000 "Spirit of Ecstasy" hood ornament. As a point of reference, this hood ornament costs about half of what a Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended Wheelbase sedan costs. Think about that.
So how can a silly hood ornament cost so much?..
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- Posted by: Bob Holland April 4, 2008, 4:00 AM
- Categories: Rolls-Royce
March 17, 2008
Maybach's sustainability as a brand is much in doubt. Last year they sold only 146 units worldwide, which is only 10% of what was expected. This is especially grim news when you consider the record amount of Rolls-Royces being sold. Besides the ultra-limited-edition Landaulet, there are no other new models scheduled for introduction...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland March 17, 2008, 7:14 AM
- Categories: Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce
March 4, 2008
It was a typical day at the Rolls-Royce booth in Geneva, meaning that we couldn't get anywhere near the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe until 30 minutes after the press conference. Chinese manufacturer BYD had the good fortune to have its booth right next to the Rolls stand, allowing it to pull in a healthy crowd for its own press conference immediately preceding the two-door Phantom's unveiling.
As in the past, we were immediately cowed into silence by the Roller's monstrous size -- exactly as it should be for a car of this stature. Despite its 18-foot length, this will be the sportiest of the Phantoms, as it has the stiffest chassis and the firmest suspension settings. Nevertheless, said Ian Robertson, chairman and CEO of Rolls-Royce, "that waftability that we refer to is still very much in the character of this car."
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- Posted by: Erin Riches March 4, 2008, 7:07 AM
- Categories: Coupes, Geneva Motor Show, Luxury Cars, Rolls-Royce
February 25, 2008
Desperate times call for desperate measures...
Or so the saying goes; Maybach, an automaker arguably on the ropes, is pulling out all the stops as they've given a production okay for the Landaulet. A concept study was recently shown at the Detroit auto show.
So will this save the brand?..
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January 9, 2008
Despite having an official presence in Australia, not one Aussie opted for this luxury road yacht. That's right, not one new Maybach was sold in Australia during 2007. Amazing—and especially amazing considering Rolls-Royce has a long backlog of orders with their competing Phantom, with 17 sold in Australia last year. No, not a huge number but considering the MSRP and the population of Oz, not bad I'd say...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 9, 2008, 5:00 AM
- Categories: Luxury Cars, Maybach, Rolls-Royce
October 19, 2007
In what has to be one of the oldest cars in existence, is also the oldest running Rolls-Royce. Period. End of story. The car will be auctioned off this December at Bonhams in London...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland October 19, 2007, 4:00 AM
- Categories: Classic Cars, Luxury Cars, Rolls-Royce
July 17, 2007
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has launched its first approved program for pre-owned cars. The Rolls-Royce Provenance program offers new car peace of mind and ensures that only the finest examples of the marque gain the Provenance seal of approval.
Each car has to meet exacting criteria set by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Factory-trained technicians conduct a painstaking inspection procedure, including a full road test, to ensure that every Provenance car reaches the highest standards prior to delivery...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland July 17, 2007, 9:30 AM
- Categories: Rolls-Royce
April 6, 2007
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced that a new armored version of the Phantom will be launched, offering substantial security benefits for those customers that require the highest levels of personal protection.
Engineered to VR7 level, the highest current international protection rating, the Phantom Armored is virtually indistinguishable from the standard version, inside and out. The car features high-tech fibre composites and special purpose steel to provide protection for the bodywork, while the glazed area is constructed from sheets of thickened glass. In addition, a polycarbonate layer is fitted to the inside for extra passenger protection...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland April 6, 2007, 4:00 AM
- Categories: Luxury Cars, Rolls-Royce, Trends
March 7, 2007
You may think you're looking at a Rolls-Royce Phantom with a flat black paint job, but really it's the Conquistador who's staring you down.
On display at the Rinspeed booth, this coach of the headless horseman is actually the work of a high-end German tuner called Mansory, which specializes in performance and cosmetic modifications to high-end British cars. Needless to say, Mansory's Conquistador is our unofficial staff favorite from the Geneva show.
Among its many exterior modications are its wheels: "The CONQUISTADOR is staying on mightful forged 24 inch wheels in the typical MANSORY design with tyres in dimensions of 305/35/24 in front and rear," says the Mansory press kit, evidently a hasty translation from German...</SP
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- Posted by: Erin Riches March 7, 2007, 7:22 AM
- Categories: Geneva Motor Show, Luxury Cars, Rolls-Royce, Sedans
February 20, 2007
Ever wonder what's it like selling a vehicle (motorcar!) like a Rolls-Royce? The answer may surprise you.
First off, Rolls-Royce targets customers with liquid assets of at least $30 million. "Conventional car companies tend to push cars down a pipeline and expect people to buy them," said Ian Robertson, Rolls-Royce's chairman and chief executive...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland February 20, 2007, 5:00 AM
- Categories: Rolls-Royce
January 30, 2007
Goodwood, 29 January 2007: The first Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé destined for the USA has been bought at a charity auction held during the annual Naples Winter Wine festival in Florida for $2million. More than $1.6 million will go to the Naples Children and Education Foundation, which supports charitable and educational programmes to improve the physical, emotional and educational lives of underprivileged or at-risk children.
The car was bought by a resident of Naples, who will take delivery of the car later this year. The winning bid of $2 million is the single highest price paid for any lot in the event’s seven-year history and, it is believed, makes this Phantom Drophead Coupé the most expensive new car ever sold in the USA...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 30, 2007, 8:22 AM
- Categories: Rolls-Royce
January 1, 2007
I reported on this fabulous new Rolls the other day (Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe to be displayed at NAIAS). Now, thanks to Autoblog, here is a gallery of 61 hi-res images of this new car.
Full story here. Enjoy...
December 27, 2006
Looking virtually identical to the Roller 100EX concept shown on last year's show circuit, this new production-ready Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe will be introduced at the Detroit auto show.
I gotta admit, in a market niche where "image is everything," nobody does it better than Rolls-Royce. As great as the Maybach may be, it's strictly minor league in the head-turning department, when compared to the new Phantom or this new Rolls ragtop.
Here's Inside Line's take: Revealed: Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe
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- Posted by: Bob Holland December 27, 2006, 8:25 AM
- Categories: Convertibles, Future Vehicles, Luxury Cars, Rolls-Royce
December 10, 2006
Want the latest future vehicle information, but don't have a subscription to Automotive News? No problem. We've summarized all the important stuff in this weekly update, enjoy.
-- After years of sticking with more fuel efficient V6s, Acura is finally considering a V8 for higher end models...
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October 24, 2006
Question: What does the Rolls-Royce grille, Buick portholes, and the Subaru boxer engine and AWD all have in common?
Answer: Automotive DNA—as in heritage that helps define the brand—and the success of that brand.
This is an interesting topic, in that it's often these kinds of details, that have evolved over years, that often define the identity what any given product is about. Would Rolls-Royce be the brand that it is today if it weren't for their imposing in-your-face formal upright grille? Buick seems to have found its mojo now that portholes (actually 'ventiports' is the proper term) are finding their way back onto their cars...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland October 24, 2006, 12:53 PM
- Categories: Auto Industry, Buick, Rolls-Royce, Subaru, Trends
October 16, 2006
Some might say it's shocking, sacrilegious, even ugly. While I'm not sure about some of the styling details, I find it intriguing, even stunning. It sort of reminds me of the offspring of a 350Z and a Phantom, an odd combo if ever there was one.
This one-off Roller was created by Indian coachbuilder DC Design, and has been seen in the posh neighborhoods of London...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland October 16, 2006, 4:00 AM
- Categories: Rolls-Royce
October 8, 2006
This week's issue of Automotive News was packed with plenty of stories related to future vehicles, so we'll get right to it. Mitsubishi plans to pick up where GM left off by introducing an electric based on its Concept-CT MIEV shown in Detroit earlier this year. It will use lithium ion batteries and a unique drive system which puts a motor at each wheel. No cost or timing specifics were announced, but don't expect to see it for at least another two or three years.
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- Posted by: Ed Hellwig October 8, 2006, 11:41 PM
- Categories: Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Detroit Auto Show, Ford, Future Vehicles, General Motors, Jeep, LA Auto Show, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Rolls-Royce, Toyota, Volkswagen
March 27, 2006
Rolls-Royce or Maybach? Which would you choose (assuming, of course that you could afford one)? Here's the first comparo of these two that I've seen.
Now if it were me, I'd opt for the Rolls, as it is the most imposing and in-your-face luxury liner in the world...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland March 27, 2006, 1:00 AM
- Categories: Luxury Cars, Maybach, Rolls-Royce
December 15, 2005
Rolls-Royce has given the go-ahead for the 100EX-inspired cabriolet. Not really a
surprise here, as I think most people expected the 2004 RR 100EX
concept to eventually make production.
I have to say I find the new Rolls-Royce Phantom, and this new Cabriolet,
to be absolutely stunning. Nowhere on this planet, in the Mine-is-Bigger-than-Yours market, do any of the players execute that
concept
better than the folks from Rolls-Royce...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland December 15, 2005, 7:23 AM
- Categories: Convertibles, Rolls-Royce, Spy Photos
