Rolls-Royce Experimental

by Ross Finlay (02 Mar 04)
Rolls-Royce doesn’t follow the industry trend of building concept cars, but back in 1919 it started a run of "experimental" prototypes with the Silver Ghost-based 1EX. The last of that original series was 45EX, produced in 1958, but the theme has now been taken up again, and one of the most stunning vehicles at the Geneva Show is the Rolls-Royce 100EX.

Marek Djordjevic, the company’s chief stylist for exterior design, says of the four-seat drophead that, "The overall impression is intended to be that of an elegant motor yacht at speed."

There’s certainly something of that in the view of the flowing front-to-rear lines and the aluminium waist rail, but the yachting connection is taken further in the use of bleached teak decking. That, rather than carpeting, is the material for the passenger cabin floor as well as for the tonneau cover and the lining of the boot.

Two different coachbuilding ideas, popular in previous decades, come together at the rear of the car, where Rolls-Royce has combined tapering boat-tail styling with a "countryman" boot whose lower tailgate hinges down, to act either as a picnic table or as something on which to stand when cheering on competitors at a point-to-point or some similar event.

The two-door bodywork features the same uncompromisingly blunt front end as the Phantom, although Rolls-Royce says it has "a more progressive version" of the Phantom grille. With fingers crossed, many observers are waiting hopefully for a still more progressive version. A new fabric with fine metallic threads is used for the outer layer of the hood, which is lined with the same cashmere/wool material as the production car. Mahogany is the chosen woodwork for the interior, there’s some metallic-finish detailing, and the seats are upholstered in Dark Curzon leather.

High Technology Too

So far, so very high-class Rolls-Royce. But the 100EX is rather more than just a 21st-century super-luxury convertible. For one thing, it uses a lightweight aluminium space frame, and for another it comes with an engine like nothing Rolls-Royce has ever fitted before.

Henry Royce himself mulled over the idea of a sixteen-cylinder engine before settling on a V12 for the Phantom III of the 1930s. Now the sixteen-cylinder theme has come back, because the 100EX is powered by a nine-litre V16 engine which, understandably enough, has no need of turbocharging. Rolls-Royce’s parent BMW has obviously been enjoying itself here.

It comes as no surprise that the 100EX will not progress to production status, although various elements of the design, construction and equipment may well percolate through to showroom models of the future.

On the other hand, the car is not meant to be simply a motor show exhibit. Ready in time for the Rolls-Royce centenary, it will appear at many of the anniversary events later in the year.

 

That wood is gorgeous.

 

 

That car is gorgeous.

 

looks 1000x better than the phantom..much classier

 

Love the suicide doors and the wood!!

 

Big fuckin pimpin!

 

I like some of the ideas, like the trunk, wood cover on the vert top, suicide door, but the car doen't look sexy to me-front/rear of car and the plastic/wood dash make it look super tall, I can feel my knees hitting already.

 

I hate the headlights, but otherwise it's pretty cool. Not my type of car though

 

If they put metal on the dash above the wood it would almost be like the new mustang

 

wow, that puts the azure to shame! i might have to get one

 

Thats just insane...i love it. V16 power baby!!!...Too bad A. there not going to produce it and B. even if they did i couldnt afford it any time within the next 40 years.

 

Thats what she said.

 

damn thats really a classic car something from the 30's and 40s look but very nice

 

that wood is gorgeous. and so is the rest of the car.


but i agree w/ cusdaddy on the headlights. they look like flip up headlight doors.

 

Where's my hardtop at, bitches?

The "floating" headrests are

 

x100033012304123048102384912734

 

wow

 

beautiful

beautiful beautiful beautiful

 

i wouldnt say that, bentlys gonna have a convertible gt, why wouldnt they make this to have a new convert and to compete with bently?

 

needs new name tho, sounds like a honda

 

*Bentley




And this car is a glimpse at the next Corniche

 

Wow. But why no hardtop vert??????

 

I was wondering the same thing, but the soft top has that classic look that this concept is striving for

 

Does anyone read the articles that go along with the pics...

The second to last paragraph states "It comes as no surprise that the 100EX will not progress to production status, although various elements of the design, construction and equipment may well percolate through to showroom models of the future."

This is why i said that they wont be producing it.

 

By the way, in case they forgot to mention it........everything about this car is expensive.

 

only 20,000 EU more than the regular Phantom????? pshhh.... I sneeze on that. Just ordered mine, November 2005 delivery.

 

So you get some pens and a different paint job? Not worth it, IMO.

 

Do they offer it in pimp daddy gold?

 

That pen is $1350 ... Just so you know

 

I'm sorry, I don't care how rich I become, I'm never spending over a grand on a PEN. That is just an extravegant waste of money.

 

When you have $800M and earn $80M a year in interest, you can get the BEST of everything

I bet Paris Hilton doesn't use a Bic ink pen

 

man what a waste.. if i had all that money i would share my wealth with pooer people..

 

Thats pretty sexy.

They should have given it different wheels too.

 

Yeah I bet Paris Hilton is a dumb whore too


A Mont Blanc pen is fine for me, it's like the Cartier or Louis Vittion pens, people who think they need to show everyone they are rich buys them. Meanwhile, the guy who is rich and sure of himself buys a pen that works JUST THE SAME as the others, and stays that much richer.

 

Like anyone who buys a $325k Rolls Royce is concerned about value....get real.

 

True. I mean if I could afford a Rolls in my present state, I'd probably opt for it. But it's still a waste of money

 

they coulda done it up better on the exterior

 

Like what? Davin Spinners?

 

Let me remind everyone of this Phantom vs Maybach thread