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  • Video: Mutec Shows Off Armored Rolls-Royce Phantom

    Video: Mutec Shows Off Armored Rolls-Royce Phantom October 20th, 2009 By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Author, October 20th, 2009 Viknesh Vijayenthiran 2 Comments

    Video: Mutec Shows Off Armored Rolls-Royce Phantom

    As an official Rolls-Royce coachbuilder, Mutec features world class craftsmanship with modifications that look like they came straight from the factory. One of the German-based coachbuilder’s most important modified vehicles is the armored version of the Rolls-Royce Phantom.

    Engineered to VR7 level, the ‘Phantom Armored’ is virtually indistinguishable from the standard version, inside and out. The car features advanced fiber 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...

    As an official Rolls-Royce coachbuilder, Mutec features world class craftsmanship with modifications that look like they came straight from the factory. One of the German-based coachbuilder’s most important modified vehicles is the armored version of the Rolls-Royce Phantom. Engineered to VR7 level, the ‘Phantom Armored’ is virtually indistinguishable from the standard version, inside and out. The car features advanced fiber 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. To be certified for VR7 protection, the car must be independently tested to withstand armor-piercing bullets and underbody grenade resistance. The Phantom’s aluminum spaceframe chassis and suspension components have been strengthened to cope with the additional weight of the modifications. However, the powertrain remains unchanged, providing 453-horsepower and a phenomenal 531-pound-feet of torque. Rolls-Royce builds the original Phantom, which is then shipped off-site to a coachbuilder for modification. The growing Middle East market was one of the first to receive this car. This latest video shows the vigorous testing that went into developing the Phantom Armored. [Mutec]  Read More

  • Electric Rolls-Royce Phantom Rumors Revived at Goodwood Revival

    Electric Rolls-Royce Phantom Rumors Revived at Goodwood Revival September 22nd, 2009 By Nelson Ireson's avatar Nelson Ireson, Author, September 22nd, 2009 Nelson Ireson 0 Comments

    Electric Rolls-Royce Phantom Rumors Revived at Goodwood Revival

    Silently cruising in a seemingly impregnable fortress of fine leather, sensuous wood and hand-built steel and glass is the ultimate goal of the hyper-luxury carmakers like Rolls-Royce and Bentley, so it's not surprising that talk of an all-electric Rolls-Royce Phantom is once again emerging from the company.

    Captured at the Goodwood Revival by Auto Express, the talk reiterates the key points we brought you from Rolls-Royce CEO Tom Purves last October: the silent, smooth and clean power provided by electricity fits hand-in-glove with the company's mission statement of stylish, luxurious transport.

    Fitting the mass and bulk of an all-electric...

    Silently cruising in a seemingly impregnable fortress of fine leather, sensuous wood and hand-built steel and glass is the ultimate goal of the hyper-luxury carmakers like Rolls-Royce and Bentley, so it's not surprising that talk of an all-electric Rolls-Royce Phantom is once again emerging from the company. Captured at the Goodwood Revival by Auto Express, the talk reiterates the key points we brought you from Rolls-Royce CEO Tom Purves last October: the silent, smooth and clean power provided by electricity fits hand-in-glove with the company's mission statement of stylish, luxurious transport. Fitting the mass and bulk of an all-electric battery pack into the Phantom's 19.1-foot long, 5,622-pound frame should be an easy matter once you replace the 453-horsepower, 6.7-liter V-12 engine. The only question then would be supplying enough electricity to yield a useful range. Given the often short, urban nature of many Phantom trips, however, a short range might not be a serious issue for many buyers. In the event that it is, a range-extending engine could be added to the package without much difficulty. Beyond the ease of fitting the system into the Phantom and the good fit of electric power with Rolls-Royce's goals, there's the looming consideration of emissions regulations driving the decision. With Europe and the U.K., and lately, even the U.S., driving emissions requirements ever-lower, finding a way to remain relevant and viable will be key to the survival of the hyper-luxury car segment, and Rolls-Royce in particular. [Auto Week] Read More

  • Hamann tunes the Rolls-Royce Phantom for more power, less class

    Hamann tunes the Rolls-Royce Phantom for more power, less class June 3rd, 2009 ByAlex Kaufmann Alex Kaufmann, Author, June 3rd, 2009 Alex Kaufmann 3 Comments

    Hamann tunes the Rolls-Royce Phantom for more power, less class German tuner Hamann is known for its work with a number of brands, including Porsche, Mercedes Benz, BMW and Fiat, but now the company has turned its attention to an unlikely candidate for tuning work - the Rolls-Royce Phantom.

    The company is offering a number of upgrades for both the Phantom and the Phantom Drophead Coupe, but the power upgrades are likely the only one you would really want. The Phantom already develops close to 460hp (343kW) from its 6.75L engine, but Hamann can up this to a less stately figure of 535hp (399kW). Similarly, torque can be increased from the standard Phantom's 531lb-ft (720Nm) to a sportier 622lb-ft (834Nm),... German tuner Hamann is known for its work with a number of brands, including Porsche, Mercedes Benz, BMW and Fiat, but now the company has turned its attention to an unlikely candidate for tuning work - the Rolls-Royce Phantom. The company is offering a number of upgrades for both the Phantom and the Phantom Drophead Coupe, but the power upgrades are likely the only one you would really want. The Phantom already develops close to 460hp (343kW) from its 6.75L engine, but Hamann can up this to a less stately figure of 535hp (399kW). Similarly, torque can be increased from the standard Phantom's 531lb-ft (720Nm) to a sportier 622lb-ft (834Nm), and the result of this engine work is a new top speed of close to 190mph. While the merits of upping the horsepower figures for a car that’s definitely more focused on the passengers in the back rather than the driver up the front may appear dubious, Hamann figures that if certain customers want more power, they'll also want a sportier look. For this, the German tuner is offering a couple of different sets of wheel packages, including a black set and an aluminum multispoke set. Both wheel options come in a massive 23in setting, beating out the standard Phantom's 21in set. Finally, to cap off the madness, Hamann will also throw in a sports steering wheel up front, but thankfully the rest of the interior remains fairly standard. Pricing hasn't yet been announced, but expect it to be horribly expensive in line with the asking price of the Phantom.Hamann Rolls-Royce Phantom and Phantom Drophead Coupe Read More

  • Geely says Rolls Royce's copy claims are baseless

    Geely says Rolls Royce's copy claims are baseless April 24th, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, April 24th, 2009 Kenneth Hall 6 Comments

    Geely says Rolls Royce's copy claims are baseless China's car industry is infamous for its tendency to 'borrow' details from European carmakers, often to the point where the word 'clone' is used with some accuracy. The latest car to catch legal heat for the practice: Geely's GE, a remarkably obvious take on the Rolls Royce Phantom.

    But Geely doesn't see the similarity that's got Rolls Royce considering legal action. Geely spokeswoman Zhang Xiaoshu told the AFP, "they are actually different.... people may feel they are the same at the first glance, but the details are certainly different."

    Playing fast and loose with concepts like 'different' and 'copying' is a luxury of doing business in... China's car industry is infamous for its tendency to 'borrow' details from European carmakers, often to the point where the word 'clone' is used with some accuracy. The latest car to catch legal heat for the practice: Geely's GE, a remarkably obvious take on the Rolls Royce Phantom. But Geely doesn't see the similarity that's got Rolls Royce considering legal action. Geely spokeswoman Zhang Xiaoshu told the AFP, "they are actually different.... people may feel they are the same at the first glance, but the details are certainly different." Playing fast and loose with concepts like 'different' and 'copying' is a luxury of doing business in China, where the government is notoriously permissive of such infringements. Unfortunately for Geely and other China-based carmakers, however, their progress into other markets will be heavily impeded by legal action in the trademark and copyright-protective jurisdictions of Europe and the U.S. if they continue these antics. Rolls Royce understands that due to the huge price and quality disparity between the Phantom ($365,000) and the GE ($44,000), there is likely to be very little in the way of confusion or competition between the two, but it is nonetheless keeping its options open. "Our colleagues in Shanghai are taking a serious look at it," a Rolls Royce spokesman told the UK's Daily Mail. "Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is very protective of its brand image and takes seriously any attempt to imitate its products." To get more familiar with the infringing limo, check out our story on the car here. Come to think of it, with that oddball throne arrangement in the back seat, maybe Geely really does have something behind that 'different' argument.Geely GE Limousine Read More

  • One-off Hyperion Rolls-Royce by Pininfarina on sale for €4.5 million

    One-off Hyperion Rolls-Royce by Pininfarina on sale for €4.5 million April 6th, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, April 6th, 2009 Kenneth Hall 0 Comments

    One-off Hyperion Rolls-Royce by Pininfarina on sale for €4.5 million Named for a Titan in Greek mythology, the Pininfarina-etched Hyperion from 2008 was designed to evoke memories of cars from the 1930s with its long majestic bonnet, short rear overhang and low rooflines. Based on the Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe, the changes needed to create the Hyperion included the removal of the rear seats and a shift in driving position, which is now 400mm further back in the Hyperion than in the Drophead.

    If this sounds appealing to you, the bespoke one-off vehicle is actually up for sale on luxury goods website Jameslist, but before you get too excited not that pricing will set you back a cool €4,500,000. For that... Named for a Titan in Greek mythology, the Pininfarina-etched Hyperion from 2008 was designed to evoke memories of cars from the 1930s with its long majestic bonnet, short rear overhang and low rooflines. Based on the Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe, the changes needed to create the Hyperion included the removal of the rear seats and a shift in driving position, which is now 400mm further back in the Hyperion than in the Drophead. If this sounds appealing to you, the bespoke one-off vehicle is actually up for sale on luxury goods website Jameslist, but before you get too excited not that pricing will set you back a cool €4,500,000. For that kind of money, however, you’re not just buying a car, you’re actually buying a piece of history, as well as a unique Girard-Perregaux wristwatch. The Hyperion was designed by the Special Projects division of Pininfarina, which also created the one-off Ferrari P4/5 a couple of years ago for James Glickenhaus. The Hyperion was designed for Rolls-Royce collector Roland Hall, who made specific requests for the cars appearance and utility - including two compartments for small items such as hunting rifles, located in front of the windscreen. The standard Drophead coupe features a 6.75L V12 engine developing a peak output of 453hp (338kW) and 531lb-ft (720Nm) of torque, which is enough for an electronically limited top speed of 155mph and a 0-60mph sprint of just 5.6 seconds. No major mechanical changes have been installed for the Hyperion. Delivery is scheduled for September.Rolls Royce 'Hyperion' Drophead Pebble Beach Read More

  • Geely goes for the gusto with throne-equipped GE limo

    Geely goes for the gusto with throne-equipped GE limo March 30th, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, March 30th, 2009 Kenneth Hall 6 Comments

    Geely goes for the gusto with throne-equipped GE limo Building a successful hyper-luxury limousine is a tricky game. While brands like Maybach and Bentley are struggling to find success, Rolls Royce is posting year after banner year of sales improvements. Now a newcomer has entered the game, and the result is catastrophically interesting.

    Built by noted Chinese carmaker Geely, the GE is equipped with nothing short of a throne in its rear quarters. That's right, a single, ultra-opulent, center-positioned seat styled for the executive that's so important he needs 17.4 feet of sedan to haul just his ego around.

    Of course, there's room for an enormous wallet in the trunk, though despite the... Building a successful hyper-luxury limousine is a tricky game. While brands like Maybach and Bentley are struggling to find success, Rolls Royce is posting year after banner year of sales improvements. Now a newcomer has entered the game, and the result is catastrophically interesting. Built by noted Chinese carmaker Geely, the GE is equipped with nothing short of a throne in its rear quarters. That's right, a single, ultra-opulent, center-positioned seat styled for the executive that's so important he needs 17.4 feet of sedan to haul just his ego around. Of course, there's room for an enormous wallet in the trunk, though despite the obvious homage to Rolls Royce styling, the Geely is likely to cost several orders of magnitude less in its home market. Despite the knock-off exterior and the borderline-megalomaniacal seating arrangement, the car does appear to be outfitted with legitimate luxury appointments, including burlwood paneling, leather upholstery and real wool carpeting. Now all Geely needs to do is offer a 'Royalty' accessory package complete with manservant, golden crown and assassination plot, and the GE owner's life will be complete. Completely farcical, that is. Via: Autoblog.nlGeely GE Limousine Read More

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