Detroit Preview: Rolls-Royce cabriolet
Rolls-Royce is set to take the wraps off a new convertible at the Detroit Motor Show less than two weeks from now, and have leaked a few photos to get our Spirits of Ecstasy flying. Although the name is not yet officially known, most insiders predict a revival of the Corniche nameplate for this grand cabriolet that picks up where the show-stopping 100EX concept car left off in 2004.
As can be seen from the press photos, some of the highly unique features from the show car have made it into the pre-production version. One of the most intriguing is the classic speedboat-style teak boot-lid under which the power soft-top will stow. The sinister LED headlights have also carried through, as has the stunning brushed-aluminum hood section (as unlikely as it was predicted that it would make it to production). The suicide doors are also there, granting elegant access to the world-class cabin with what looks like ample room, front and back. The trunk also has a unique split opening, one section folding down like a tailgate and another up like a conventional trunk lid.
Aside from the images, which you can check out after the jump, no details were released, but we can reasonably expect it will carry the 6.75-liter V12 and six-speed auto-box from its sister saloon the Phantom.
[Source: Rolls-Royce via AutoWeek.nl]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
lab51 7:21PM (12/27/2006)
Is it just me or do the headlights look like something out of LegoLand...?
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Jose Batalla 7:03PM (12/27/2006)
I just peed in my pants! Heading to Detroit with a friend for the show. Can't wait to see this beauty in person.
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SOhp101 1:29PM (12/27/2006)
Quite the stunning car, but I'm sure the price will stun me even more.
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mike 9:15AM (12/27/2006)
YUK!!!!
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kanadian 10:41AM (12/27/2006)
overdone but sometimes too much is nice LOL
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Droo 12:07AM (12/28/2006)
YUK? Hardly! This is a real car. talk about making a statement. Rolls Royce is back. First the Phantom and now this. I can see the FAB 1 coming to life soon if they keep this up. 20 points to anyone out there who knows what the FAB 1 is...
Happy New year!
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L. W. 11:40AM (12/27/2006)
Awesome! Reminds me of the great 1948 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet. I'll also buy the hardtop and the "small" RR sedan when they appear on the market.
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Alex 6:00PM (12/27/2006)
This car is absolutely stunning!!
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Ron 10:00AM (12/27/2006)
No kidding, yuck. That thing looks like a kit car.
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Anorexicpillow 10:27AM (12/28/2006)
Wow... what were they thinking? Especially with the head and tail lights :O
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william ballough 10:40AM (12/27/2006)
Styling stolen from Honda Elementfront, and clam shell rear. Not well executed.
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James 11:20AM (12/27/2006)
It looks like both the EX101 and EX100 according to this: http://www.sybarites.org/2006/12/27/rolls-royce-corniche-officially-announced/
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Richard Warren 12:55PM (12/27/2006)
The new Chrysler Imperial
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Jeremy Clarkson is an Idiot 12:03AM (12/28/2006)
I think it's time for Rolls to bow out. Leave it to Bentley--and I don't even like Bentleys!
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BOB 4:13PM (12/27/2006)
VERY SMART!!
They did not "bland it out" from the showcar. At this price level, the ostentation and unique features are what makes the car.
It manages to be both elegant and too much.
I hope no one seriously thinks that making it more traditional and "tasteful" would have been good business. Some still think the Rolls is for His Lordship, Duke of Anacronismia.
The customers are oil sheiks, Russian mafia, rappers, and so on, nowadays.
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BOB 7:40PM (12/27/2006)
PS -- CAN'T WAIT TO SEE DANIEL CRAIG TRIPLE FLYING ROLL ONE IN THE NEXT BOND!!!
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Jurg 7:09PM (12/27/2006)
Awesome. I loved the Phantom from the first time I saw it in a HKG showroom, and I couldn't believe it when they topped it with the EX100. Kudos to RR for pulling this through. It must be one of the greatest cars ever, and I can't wait to see on for real.
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Fabulo 10:27PM (12/27/2006)
Nice 300c convertible.
Not fan of RR anyway.
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Steve Parker 9:12PM (12/27/2006)
Is it me or ... ? I have hated this Roller since I first saw one. Those square headlights are horrible! And the car, as if it is not massive enough, uses almost every styling trick in the book to make it look even BIGGER! And now with suicide doors? How many more ridiculous (and useless) automotive cliches can the boys at Goodwood come up with? They'd better save something for future models ... Looks like the blew their wad of ideas on this one!
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Cheezedog 9:48AM (12/28/2006)
Don't like the windshield or doors... but everything else is tasteful looking...
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