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Rolls-Royce 100EX prototype
Rolls-Playing Games: Chauffeured In The 9.0-Liter V16 Rolls-Royce 100EX
The One-Off Rolls-Royce 100EX, a star at this years Geneva show, cost the company roughly $4 million, so there was no way we would be allowed behind the wheel. The solution: several guided laps around the 2.4-mile Goodwood Circuit near R-R headquarters, with Rolls design chief Ian Cameron as chauffeur.
Built primarily out of carbon composites on the Phantoms tank-like aluminum chassis, the 100EX weighs nearly as much as the 5500-pound Phantom. In production by 2007, the 100EX-inspired Corniche will get composite front fenders, aluminum body and steel trunk lid, and will weigh about 500 pounds less than the Phantom.
With the smaller body dimensionslength 223 inches vs. the Phantoms nearly 230 inches, height 61.5 inches vs. 64.3 inches, and four-inch shorter wheelbaseour touring experience happens with less wind resistance. There was hardly any buffeting in the cab with the roof off on a blustery West Sussex afternoon.
Designer Cameron and exterior chief stylist Marek Djordjevic say Rolls-Royce design will inject more gentleman-racer performance qualities into all future Rollers. On 100EX, raciness comes in the rear-to-front shoulder line that descends rakishly, a more visible "waftability line" etched into the length of both sides, and a smaller, inclined Pantheon grille.
All teak paneling is faux on this prototype. An artist painted the composites and alloys to effect. After close scrutiny of its finish, its still hard to believe. A cloth roof with glass rear window is under the faux teak tonneau and it operates flawlessly.
The front structural frame that holds the windshield is milled from a single chunk of aluminum that originally weighed more than a Phantom. Post milling, it is now 40 pounds. Why go to this trouble? "To establish an unmistakable feeling of substance," says Djordjevic.
Starting the 9.0-liter, 64-valve, naturally aspirated all-aluminum V16 engine, the sound is of a brilliantly machined instrument, here with 16 silky-smooth throats talking. Under hard acceleration the sound is of a stiff wind off the sea rushing through dense forest, not a roaring muscle car as we expected. How many horses? "As many as youd like," is the only answer anyone at Rolls-Royce or parent company BMW will give us. Frankly, 600 horsepower feels conservative and wed guess at a 0-to-60-mph time in the five-second neighborhood.
This monster collection of cylinders is based directly on the design of the V12 in the Phantom and, like the V16 on the Cadillac Sixteen show car, will sadly never see volume production.
Rolls-Royce 100EX prototype
Rolls-Playing Games: Chauffeured In The 9.0-Liter V16 Rolls-Royce 100EX
The One-Off Rolls-Royce 100EX, a star at this years Geneva show, cost the company roughly $4 million, so there was no way we would be allowed behind the wheel. The solution: several guided laps around the 2.4-mile Goodwood Circuit near R-R headquarters, with Rolls design chief Ian Cameron as chauffeur.
Built primarily out of carbon composites on the Phantoms tank-like aluminum chassis, the 100EX weighs nearly as much as the 5500-pound Phantom. In production by 2007, the 100EX-inspired Corniche will get composite front fenders, aluminum body and steel trunk lid, and will weigh about 500 pounds less than the Phantom.
With the smaller body dimensionslength 223 inches vs. the Phantoms nearly 230 inches, height 61.5 inches vs. 64.3 inches, and four-inch shorter wheelbaseour touring experience happens with less wind resistance. There was hardly any buffeting in the cab with the roof off on a blustery West Sussex afternoon.
Designer Cameron and exterior chief stylist Marek Djordjevic say Rolls-Royce design will inject more gentleman-racer performance qualities into all future Rollers. On 100EX, raciness comes in the rear-to-front shoulder line that descends rakishly, a more visible "waftability line" etched into the length of both sides, and a smaller, inclined Pantheon grille.
All teak paneling is faux on this prototype. An artist painted the composites and alloys to effect. After close scrutiny of its finish, its still hard to believe. A cloth roof with glass rear window is under the faux teak tonneau and it operates flawlessly.
The front structural frame that holds the windshield is milled from a single chunk of aluminum that originally weighed more than a Phantom. Post milling, it is now 40 pounds. Why go to this trouble? "To establish an unmistakable feeling of substance," says Djordjevic.
Starting the 9.0-liter, 64-valve, naturally aspirated all-aluminum V16 engine, the sound is of a brilliantly machined instrument, here with 16 silky-smooth throats talking. Under hard acceleration the sound is of a stiff wind off the sea rushing through dense forest, not a roaring muscle car as we expected. How many horses? "As many as youd like," is the only answer anyone at Rolls-Royce or parent company BMW will give us. Frankly, 600 horsepower feels conservative and wed guess at a 0-to-60-mph time in the five-second neighborhood.
This monster collection of cylinders is based directly on the design of the V12 in the Phantom and, like the V16 on the Cadillac Sixteen show car, will sadly never see volume production.
