Earlier this week at the Detroit show, Rolls-Royce chief Ian Robertson confirmed that the anticipated "baby Rolls", which we saw in spy shots as recently as yesterday, is slated for unveiling in 2010. Code-named RR4, Robertson also announced that the car would receive a brand new engine, presumably because the Phantom's 450-hp V12 doesn't fit. The car is expected to be based on the BMW 7-Series, which explains why the mule seen in yesterday's spy shots was accompanied by BMW's big sedan, slotting in between the Bavarian sedan and the Phantom limo.

While he was at it, Robertson also confirmed that the fixed-roof Phantom coupe previewed by the 101EX concept would begin delivery by this coming summer.

[Source: Inside Line]

Gallery: Rolls Royce RR4 - spy shots

Rolls-Royce confirms new models and new engine originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Rolls Royce RR4 - spy shots

Spy Shots: Baby Rolls nabbed originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Jan 2008 17:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Range Rover has long held the high ground in the luxury off-road segment, holding its own quite honorably against the constant onslaught of latecoming rivals from mainstream luxury carmakers.

It might have a more difficult time of it, though, if the other Double-R of British luxury automobiles were to join the fight. This jacked-up Silver Shadow shouldn't leave Land Rover's range-topper with much to worry about, though.

[Source: Automobiles De Luxe]

And you thought the Phantom was the size of a truck... originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Oct 2007 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Spy Shots: Rolls Royce fixed-head coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Oct 2007 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

BMW is expected to release its new corporate strategy later this year, and when it does, it might include expanding to swallow up some more brands. What those brands might be has not been revealed, although reports indicate that the Bavarian automaker could be looking to take over Volvo cars from Ford's rapidly disintegrating Premium Auto Group, which has also recently shed Aston Martin and may be prepared to offload Jaguar and Land Rover, as well.

Munich has had varied success with expanding its family tree. It's had seven years to recuperate from the Rover Group fiasco, and would evidently be hoping for more success along the lines of its MINI and Rolls Royce ventures.

[Source: Börsen-Zeitung via Motor Authority]

Does BMW want more babies? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Jul 2007 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Pricey Pickup: 1969 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow truck for sale originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jun 2007 11:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Think a Rolls-Royce Phantom is expensive? Well, yeah...it is. One of the most expensive on the market, as a matter of fact. (Hey, it's a Rolls-Royce. What did you expect?) But if you think the Phantom is expensive on the American market, you should take a look at what it costs elsewhere in the world.

Our new friends over at Automobiles De Luxe have compiled what they're calling "the Phantom Index", taking the example of "the Big Mac Index" from The Economist and carrying the formula through to the most bling-tastic of motor saloons.

You might be surprised that the Phantom is cheapest to buy in the United States, undercutting the equivalent price of the same automobile in the United Kingdom and in the European Union by over a hundred thousand dollars. Not that such concerns would factor into the equation for most buyers of a new Rolls-Royce, mind you... perish the thought.

[Source: Automobiles De Luxe]

Land of the Free: Americans pay least for a new Rolls-Royce originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Apr 2007 14:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

When supersonic wasn't enough, we got "hypersonic." When luxury wasn't enough, we got "ultra-luxury." If we aren't there yet, we will soon come to a time when "bling" is not enough. The first candidate for what we will call "superbling" is STRUT's line of automotive jewelry.

With offerings aimed at the Unique Whip and 300C-to-Bentley set, STRUT creates a high-end line of accessories. Triple-chromed stainless steel, crimped mesh, polished surrounds, engraved shields, and the requisite enormous wheels mix and mingle with the most expensive car bodies in the world. Its new Knightsbridge Collection has been created for the Phantom, with a delicate, polished link grill, chrome-tipped exhaust, side vents, and STRUT badges everywhere. What will it cost you to strut like that? Twenty-five thousand British pounds sterling. They don't call it strutting for nothing. If you'd like to shuffle for a bit longer instead, we will understand.

[Source: Gizmag]

STRUT your Roller originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Apr 2007 12:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click on image above to view in high-resolution

In most countries around the world, if you've got the cash and the chutzpah to be rolling in a Roller, you're an instant target for theft, carjacking, kidnapping and various forms of armed extortion. No wonder, then, that Rolls-Royce is finally launching a fully armored version of the Phantom luxury limousine.

The beefed-up Phantom starts its life as any other does at the factory in Goodwood, but is then sent to an undisclosed independent contractor for fortification. There, specialists install sheets of the latest fiber composites, steel plating, bullet-proof glass and an additional polycarbonate laminate inside the cabin. All the extra protection gives the armored Rolls-Royce the highest VR7 security rating. To cope with the extra weight, the suspension and chassis have been beefed up, but the 453-hp V12 engine carries over unchanged to pull the extra mass.

From the outside the armored Phantom is indistinguishable from its unprotected counterpart. Inside, Rolls-Royce redesigned parts of the cabin to maintain the same standard of comfort and luxury despite the thicker door panels, and customers can still customize their rides to the same degree as any other. The "Phantom Armoured" is going on sale first in Europe and the Middle East, but we doubt it'll be long before Rolls-Royce would respond if American buyers demanded the armored VIP carrier.

[Source: Rolls-Royce]

Gallery: Rolls-Royce Phantom Armoured

Rolls-Royce steel-plates the Phantom originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Apr 2007 16:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Most carmakers produce automobiles for a wide variety of customers and adjust their marketing strategies accordingly. While a Viper may be used to promote the brand, Dodge isn't trying to sell one to the same customer considering a Caliber, for instance. A handful, meanwhile, only market to the über-rich. Brands like Ferrari and Bentley may come to mind, but compared to the crème-de-la-crème marques like Bugatti and Rolls Royce, they're a dime a dozen.

Rolls Royce, as was recently revealed in the Los Angeles Times, only targets potential customers who have liquid assets in excess of $30 million. That segment wouldn't be considered a mass market, and so the way Rolls Royce sells a car is markedly different from how, say, Dodge would.

[Source: LA Times]

Continue reading The Rolls Royce of marketing strategies

The Rolls Royce of marketing strategies originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Feb 2007 18:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Is that a Grey Goose flying into a Silver Cloud? Not far off, actually. In a bit of brand synergy we can really get behind, Grey Goose, the veritable Rolls Royce of vodkas, has teamed up with Rolls Royce itself on a joint marketing and public awareness campaign.

The promotion centers around two specially-made Grey Goose edition Extended Wheelbase Phantoms. The limos got a specially-mixed French racing blue finish outside and unique upholstery inside. Naturally, the flying Grey Goose icon is embroidered and discretely emblazoned on different parts of the car.

The two special Phantoms will be used to generate publicity, raise money for charity and for a public awareness campaign that will bring them to different cities promoting responsible drinking and, of course, Grey Goose. At the end of their run, so to speak, both Phantoms will be auctioned off, with the proceeds going to charitable causes.

[Source: Grey Goose]

Continue reading Rolls Royce and Grey Goose mix up a special cocktail

Rolls Royce and Grey Goose mix up a special cocktail originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 18 Feb 2007 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Some love it, some hate it, but everyone has to admit that the Rolls Royce Phantom is one impressive car in every way. As if that weren't enough, at Detroit Rolls Royce dropped another bomb on us in the form of the pre-production Phantom Drophead Coupe, complete with brushed aluminum hood, teak boot-lid and power suicide doors. But parent company BMW isn't about to rest on its million-dollar-baby's laurels, so it's on to the next project: a smaller sedan positioned downmarket.

We brought you news of the new model in September; now reports suggest that the upcoming "baby Rolls" will actually get its own distinct platform, rather than being based on a modified BMW 7-Series platform or a shortened Phantom. The jury's still out on what engine will motivate the new luxury sedan - options include the Phantom's V12, an existing engine from the BMW range or an all-new powerplant. We can expect some components to come from the corporate parts bin, but not anywhere near the extent that Volkswagen underpins the Bentley Continental range.

Priced between $250k and $300k, the new model will be produced at the company's Goodwood facility in the UK alongside the Phantom range, effectively doubling factory output. Insiders anticipate a 2010 launch, after which we can start looking for the baby Rolls in hip-hop videos and in front of upscale hotels.

[Source: Automotive News via Motor Authority]

Upcoming "baby Rolls" to get its own platform originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Jan 2007 08:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A Rolls-Royce is, well, a Rolls-Royce. And they don't unveil many new Rolls-Royce models that often, so we've been looking forward to seeing the Phantom Drophead in motion. We have, now you can.

The folks over at Rolls-Royce, in all their ecstatic spirit, have graced the motoring public with this video. The clip gives you the chance to see the full host of automatic features - including the motorized suicide doors, the auto-deploying hood ornament, the plush folding soft roof and some dude's can in jeans - plus some nice shots of the big cabrio in motion. Check out the aluminum hood section and the speedboat-style teak bootlid, two particularly unique features from the showcar which we're stoked made it onto this pre-production version.

[Source: Motor Authority]

VIDEO: Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Jan 2007 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]

Continue reading Detroit Preview: Rolls-Royce cabriolet

Detroit Preview: Rolls-Royce cabriolet originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Dec 2006 08:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Did you think the Porsche Turbo with the camouflage paint job was strange? Then try this on for size. Japanese streetwear brand Bathing Ape (think Fubu or Marc Ecko from the land of the rising sun) seems to have a knack for taking the most expensive, exclusive high-end automobiles on the market and giving them a "different" paint job.

This repainted Veyron at least remains faithful to Bugatti's two-tone rule: the side panels get a rather unique pink and purple camo job, while the hood and rear panels are in solid Pepto pink. Just as well, 'cause you'll probably need a bottle of Pepto after seeing this, anyway.

Glutton for punishment? There's an almost as revolting image of a camouflaged Rolls Royce Phantom after the jump. Don't think the camouflage will keep it hidden with all that blingin' chrome, though.

[Source: Ed Spivak via German Car Blog]

Continue reading Pretty in Pink: Bugatti Veyron by Bathing Ape

Pretty in Pink: Bugatti Veyron by Bathing Ape originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Oct 2006 17:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ever wonder what would happen if you crossed a Nissan 350Z with a Rolls-Royce? Yeah, us neither. But Indian styling house DC Design, the same people who brought us the Cayenne coupe, seem to have a knack for crafting the answers to questions no one was asking - with considerable skill, mind you.

DC Comics gave us Batman and Bruce Wayne, but DC Design gives us the wheels that would satisfy both: a one-off custom coach-built Rolls-Royce coupe, complete with gargantuan wheels and trick Enzo-style doors that are sure to turn heads. Details aren't available, though it's rumored to be based on a Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit platform. The styling reminds us of such concept cars as the Maybach Exelero and the Peugeot 907 and 908 RC.

Rolls-Royce's own two-door may be on its way, but this one's sure to remain one of a kind - for better or for worse.

More images after the jump. (AutoExpress has a couple of shots of the car caught in the wild.)

[Source: Motor Authority]

Continue reading Bruce Wayne or Batman? DC Design Rolls-Royce coupe

Bruce Wayne or Batman? DC Design Rolls-Royce coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 Oct 2006 01:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.