Archive for category Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe Coming
Posted by in Rolls-Royce on July 26, 2011
Though it has an absolutely terrible name that conjures violent Genghis Khan-type imagery, the newest of the new Rolls Royces is being touted as an auto that is both a bit brash but tasteful just the same. It’s a two-door convertible, which most likely counts as the brash part. It’s very Bond. And if it isn’t, it should be. This car looks like it should be able to do all sorts of interesting spy-toy type things.
The car is still a bit of a snob, though. Looking at its photograph, you get the feeling that it actually knows it is a Rolls-Royce, because it requires you – or someone – to massage it regularly. In other words, it has a teakwood tonneau cover that requires an oil bath (linseed or Tung oil) to preserve its look at ever service stop.
The Phantom Drophead Coupe is a few inches – 10, to be precise – shorter than earlier Rolls-Royces, but it is still a big car – bigger than a Mercedes, sources say. Those same sources at Edmunds also say that the car handles well on the curvaceous roads of Italy, and that it handles speed really well.
Its 453-horsepower, V12 engine apparently shifts between gears so smoothly that it will be difficult to realize how fast you’re traveling. The car really likes to shift up. Apparently, this car loves going fast. In fact, the only criticism the test driver at Edmunds had was that the car is absolutely reluctant to downshift at all whatsoever. Read the rest of this entry »
Rolls Royce – Elegance and Style
Posted by in Rolls-Royce on July 26, 2011
Rolls Royce are a British car manufacturer and one of the few to focus on luxury as the reason for purchasing them – today the brand is synonymous with high-end luxury, a very high price tag and a no compromise attitude to comfort and style. Not for Rolls Royce is the race car pedigree though their engines are found everywhere, including in modern jet aircraft!
In 1904 Frederick Royce met the aristocratic Charles Rolls – Royce was an electrical engineer while Rolls was the son of a blue-blooded Baron, but he was also a serious car enthusiast. A partnership was formed with Royce building the luxury automobiles and Rolls responsible for selling them. The company they formed was Rolls Royce and was based upon Royce’s embryonic car business and started life at Christmas 1904.
The Silver Ghost was launched in 1907 as the first true Rolls Royce vehicle (previously they had been badged Royce designs). The Silver Ghost was powered by a 6-cylinder engine and the interior was painted a silver color (hence the name Silver Ghost). The reputation for quality was established with the Silver Ghost when one was eventually driven for more than 15,000 miles without engine failure – a notable feat in those days.
The initial success of the partnership came to a tragic end in 1910 when Rolls, an adventurer and speed freak, was killed flying a bi-plane, again a novelty sport afforded only by the very wealthy. Nevertheless, the company continued and with the advent of World War One, the Silver Ghost chassis was used as the basis for the British military car used in the conflict.
The following decade, known as the Roaring Twenties, was typified by high spending and lavish living which meant that Rolls Royce did well. The cars also got their nickname of “Roller” and despite the introduction of the Baby Roller, the trend was for bigger cars. As a result, the Phantom I and II were designed and launched which capitalized on the brand name and reputation for luxury with cost not an object. Read the rest of this entry »