rolls-royce phantom

2011 Geneva Motor Show: The Luxury Sedans & SUVs

Every year the Geneva Motor Show features a staggering array of new luxury sedans, estate wagons, crossovers and sport-utility vehicles on display. And this year's show, still ongoing at the Geneva Palexpo, has proven no exception.

Among the production and concept debuts in these diverse categories were new vehicles from Audi, BMW Alpina, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Saab and Volvo, as well as the return of De Tomaso. Follow the jump to see what these European automakers had in store for us this year.

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Rolls-Royce Phantom Spirit of Ecstasy Centenary Collection

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

All Rolls-Royces are special. Some, to paraphrase Orwell, are more special than others. Like this latest Centenary edition Phantom.

Created to mark 100 years of the company's mascot – the Spirit of Ecstasy – the Centenary Collection is distinguished by a number of special touches, including unique paint colors, commemorative plaques, special instruments and clock set into the dashboard and a replica statuette for owners to place on their desks or mantle. To cap it all, the glovebox lid is inscribed with the following:

"A graceful little goddess, the Spirit of Ecstasy, who has selected road travel as her supreme delight and alighted on the prow of a Rolls-Royce motor car to revel in the freshness of the air and the musical sound of her fluttering draperies." - Charles Sykes, 1911

Gallery: Rolls-Royce Phantom Spirit of Ecstasy Centenary Collection

Tags: phantom, Rolls-Royce, Rolls-Royce Phantom, Rolls-Royce Phantom Spirit of Ecstasy Centenary Collection, Spirit of Ecstasy

Dartz's Racy Take on Rolls' 'Spirit of Ecstasy'

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Irreverent Russian SUV makers Dartz have already proved themselves masters of mixing the grotesque with the extravagant – you might recall their $1.5 million gold and diamond-trimmed armored truck upholstered in whale penis leather than sent Pamela Anderson into a tizzy. Now Dartz, which also customizes ultra-luxury vehicles from other marques, has come out with a tongue-in-cheek version of Rolls-Royce's famous mascot, the Spirit of Ecstasy. The Dartz version, which is gold plated, is dubbed the Spirit of Xtasy and features a copulating couple, the male member of which bears a striking resemblance to nutty Dartz founder Leonard F. Yankelovich. Dartz is mounting the saucy statuettes on Rolls-Royce Phantoms in place of the original, along with other modifications. The folks at Rolls' UK headquarters in Goodwood will no doubt not be amused.

Tags: custom cars, Dartz, gold, luxury cars, Rolls-Royce, Rolls-Royce Phantom, Russia, SUV

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Rolls-Royce to Highlight Bespoke Design Program in Paris

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Although Rolls-Royce won't have anything new per se to show us at the Paris Auto Salon this week, it will be highlighting its extensive "bespoke design" catalog with five customized models at the Port de Versailles.

Included in the line-up will be specialized versions of the Phantom Coupe, Drophead Coupe, two Ghosts and the long-wheelbase Phantom limousine you see above. It features a special gunmetal metallic paintjob and an interior decked out with custom embroidery, mother of pearl trim and piping on the seats.

Tags: 2010 paris auto salon, 2010 paris motor show, paris, paris 2010, paris auto salon, paris motor show, rolls, rolls-royce, rolls-royce ghost, Rolls-Royce Phantom, Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe

Shiekh Wheels: Rolls-Royce Debuts Bespoke Editions for Abu Dhabi

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Wealth

A regular old Rolls-Royce? Strictly for peasants, my friend. No filthy rich oil sheikh would be caught dead in one. Hence the new bespoke Phantom editions built specially for Abu Dhabi, which as we all know has the actual cash, as opposed to Dubai which thrives on flash and debt thanks to Abu Dhabi's indulgence. Inspired by the emirate's "rich culture and landscape" emphasis on rich – the new models are of course extremely vulgar and insanely expensive. The special edition Phantom Drophead Coupe (above) is called Shaheen, after the local word for the prestigious peregrine falcon used for hunting. It features a marquise-white exterior with Tudor red lines and a red and seashell leather interior, brass falcon inlays and falcon embroidered head-rests. The Phantom sedan meanwhile is named Baynunah after Abu Dhabi's sand dune covered western region. Fittingly finished in shades of brown and tan, it features hand-crafted inlay and marquetry, some of it applied with tweezers to ensure maximum precision, and a solid gold Spirit of Ecstasy on the hood. Better bring a solid gold bucket.

Gallery: Rolls-Royce Abu Dhabi Editions

Tags: Abu Dhabi, bespoke, custom cars, Dubai, hunting, oil, Rolls Royce, Rolls-Royce, Rolls-Royce Phantom, sheikh, UAE, wealth

Rolls-Royce Custom Picnic Set Highlights Bespoke Program

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Cars & Autos

Special orders. We'd take that to mean anything out of the ordinary, off the menu, right? What if the majority of products produced by a company were "special orders"? That's what Rolls-Royce is looking at these days.

Globally last year, 75% of Phantom saloons, Coupes and Drophead Coupes were sold with some sort of Bespoke elements, be they custom colors, luggage, or anything in between. Like this picnic set, for example, crafted of aluminum, leather and wood veneers, and packing enough crystal and fine china for four to dine out wherever their chauffeur takes them.

Gallery: Rolls-Royce Bespoke Picnic Set

Tags: bespoke, custom, rolls royce, rolls-royce, Rolls-Royce Bespoke, Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collection, Rolls-Royce Bespoke Picnic, Rolls-Royce Bespoke Picnic Set, rolls-royce phantom

Lucille Ball's Rolls-Royce Up For Auction

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

Lucille Balls' Rolls Royce will hit the market later this month at a Heritage Auction Galleries event in Beverly Hills, California. The 1984 Rolls Royce Silver Spur sedan was owned and driven by the "I Love Lucy" television star and her second husband, Gary Morton. Love letters from Lucy to Gary, her address book and other personal items owned by the beloved actress will be offered on July 17, 2010. The car has a white finish with a tan vinyl hard-top and the odometer shows 21,260 miles. Other items include Ball's personal address book with listings for phone numbers for famous celebrities of the era including Steve Allen, Jack Benny, Edgar Bergen, Milton Berle, Gypsy Rose Lee, Dean Martin, Ethel Merman and Edward G. Robinson as well as her former husband, Desi Arnaz, and her television show co-stars, Vivian Vance and Gale Gordon. The items were consigned by Morton's third wife, former professional golfer Susie (McAllister) Morton who married him in 1996, seven years after Ball died.

Susie has lived with these relics of Lucy and Gary's life for more than 10 years and kept them out of respect for her late husband and Lucy's amazing legacy. Now she's ready to part with these treasures as she remodels her house to make it completely her own," said Doug Norwine of Heritage.

The Rolls has an opening bid of $25,000 and could sell for over $50,000.

Tags: gary morton, heritage auctions, i love lucy, Lucille Ball, Rolls-Royce Phantom

Phantom Couch is the Rolls-Royce of Sofas

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Luxury Cars & Autos

Sure, we'd all like to ride around town in the back of a Rolls-Royce Phantom. But who short of the wealthy elite can afford it? Thanks (whether sarcastic or genuine) to some skilled craftsman, we can at least get the feeling in our own living rooms.

This sofa has been crafted to look like the rear end of a Phantom, complete with wheels, tail lights and trunk. It'll cost you $5,500 if you want one, but that's still a few grand shy of the four hundred grand or so the actual limousine would set you back.

Gallery: Rolls-Royce Phantom sofa

Source

Tags: couch, furniture, phantom, rolls-royce, rolls-royce couch, Rolls-Royce Phantom, rolls-royce phantom couch, rolls-royce phantom sofa, rolls-royce sofa, sofa

Rolls-Royce Phantom Rumored to Remain Unchanged until 2016

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Want to get your hands on a Rolls-Royce Phantom? You may have to wait a while. The super-luxe saloon has been on the market a whopping seven years with only minor updates along the way, and according to the latest reports, it could be another six before a replacement arrives.

Not that the Phantom needs much upgrading. Nor does it have much competition, with Maybach leaving the market and only Bentley standing as its competitor. But once the Phantom is replaced with a newer model, expect new versions of the coupe and convertible versions to follow as well.

Gallery: 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom

Tags: phantom, rolls, rolls royce, rolls-royce, rolls-royce phantom

Yas Eagle Phantom by Rolls-Royce for Abu Dhabi

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

When you're the one drilling the oil, you can have all the Rolls-Royces you want. That's why the Persian Gulf has been getting what seems like an endless procession of special Phantoms, created exclusively for the sheikhs and emirs.

The latest has just made its way online. Called the Yas Eagle, it was released to commemorate the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix a few months ago. It could be ordered on either the Phantom saloon, Phantom Coupe or Drophead Coupe, and features a series of special touches: the exterior has been painted two-tone blue and white, the interior in blue with red accents and blue wood veneers. Even the hood ornament is illuminated.

If we've said it once, we've bemoaned it a thousand times: money and taste, to our eternal chagrin, don't automatically go hand in hand.

Gallery: Rolls-Royce Phantom Yas Eagle

[Source: Automotive Design Corner]

Tags: abu dhabi, AbuDhabi, persian gulf, PersianGulf, phantom, rolls-royce, rolls-royce phantom, Rolls-roycePhantom, yas eagle, YasEagle

The Lauren Berger Collection for Luxe Properties & Luxury Cars

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Luxury Cars & Autos

The Lauren Berger Collection of luxury vacation residences caters to discerning travelers who want more space and privacy than even the best hotels can offer, along with a laundry list of princely perks. LBC's eight properties include three stylish apartments in Manhattan, two of which are in the prestigious Jumeirah Essex House; two luxe residences in the Hamptons; retreats in Greenwich, Conn. and New Rochelle on the magnificent Long Island Sound; and an Eastchester townhouse with private lake access. Available amenities include a chauffeur driven Rolls-Royce Phantom or Mercedes-Benz SL550, a private 48-ft. motor yacht and crew, an in-house chef and sommelier, a personal shopper, and a bodyguard. Lauren Berger Collection clients also have access to the fleet of stylish wheels at the Classic Car Club Manhattan, which range from a 1965 Shelby Cobra to a Ferrari F430 and Bentley GTC.

Tags: Hamptons, Jumeirah Essex House, JumeirahEssexHouse, Lauren Berger Collection, LaurenBergerCollection, Manhattan, Rolls-Royce, Rolls-Royce Phantom, Rolls-roycePhantom, vacation rentals, VacationRentals

Russian Man Builds His Own Rolls-Royce Phantom

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

What to do if you can't afford a brand new Rolls-Royce Phantom? If you're a 24-year-old mechanic from Kazakhstan you simply make your own. Ruslan Mukanov, who hails from Borat's homeland, crafted the impressive looking faux Phantom above from some plaster, fiberglass and an old Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The parts cost him a grand total of about $3,000, including the only authentic item on the whole vehicle, an actual Rolls-Royce emblem. The acceleration's a bit sluggish and authorities weren't quite convinced it was roadworthy, but the Benz's 3.0-litre diesel engine gets a lot better mileage than the real deal. Young Mukanov obviously has the makings of a future oligarch.

Tags: Kazakhstan, Rolls-Royce, Rolls-Royce Phantom, Rolls-roycePhantom, Russia

Luxury Goes Green: Electric Rolls-Royce Phantom Under Development

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

Yes, an electric Rolls-Royce. And why not? The torque curve of an electric motor – making maximum pulling power right at zero RPM – would seem to suit the RR mission perfectly, as would the distinct lack of noise, vibration and harshness. Sounds like a match made in heaven, no?

Well, of course there are issues to overcome, not the least of which is sourcing a suitably large battery for the three-ton Phantom sedan. According to Auto Express in the U.K., that battery pack would feature lithium ion cells, which happens to be the same technology used by parent company BMW in its electric Mini E.

These rumors aren't exactly new – we last heard of an electric Roller about a year ago – but this time the addition of a possible range extender is mentioned for the first time. Such a configuration is featured in both the upcoming Chevy Volt and the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept BMW just showed off at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The unnamed spokesperson cited by Auto Express doesn't offer any sort of timetable as to when we might see an electric Phantom, but we're not exactly holding our breath.

[Source: Auto Express]

Source

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Rare Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin Classics to highlight RM Auction in London

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

As ironic as it may seem, the world of classic automobiles moves at break-neck speed. So while the doors have barely shut yet at Pebble Beach, notable auction house RM is already gearing up for another event in London, where it will be auctioning off a number of notable classics.

Along with a rare 1962 Chaparral 1, the only right-hand drive Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster built, a graceful 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 and a 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC Zagato, to name just a few, the Automobiles of London event will feature a rare 1928 Rolls-Royce Phantom I (pictured above) and a storied 1950 Aston Martin DB2 (pictured at right).

Nicknamed the "Jarvis Torpedo", the award-winning Phantom once belonged to the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, and has since gone on to appear at numerous prestigious concours. The Aston, in contrast, raced at Le Mans and the famous Mille Miglia and acted as personal transport to company chairman David Brown. Both are considered highly collectible and very valuable and promise to command high prices when they cross the block at the Automobiles of London event on October 28, 2009.

Gallery: 1928 Rolls-Royce Phantom I 'Jarvis Torpedo'

Gallery: 1950 Aston Martin DB2

Tags: 1928 rolls-royce phantom i, 1928Rolls-roycePhantomI, 1950 aston martin db2, 1950AstonMartinDb2, aston martin, aston martin db2, AstonMartin, AstonMartinDb2, automobiles of london, AutomobilesOfLondon, jarvis torpedo, JarvisTorpedo, rm, rm auctions, RmAuctions, rolls-royce, rolls-royce phantom, Rolls-roycePhantom

Rolls-Royce Presents Phantom Bespoke Collection for the Middle East

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

We can understand the frustration. You drop a third of a million dollars on a new Rolls-Royce and then you pull up next to one just like yours at the traffic light. Nobody wants that, especially not oil-rich sheikhs in the Persian Gulf, where spotting Rolls-Royces is as common as spotting celebrities in Hollywood. So to satisfy one of its most demanding clienteles, the luxury automaker has launched a new limited run of special edition Phantoms specifically for the Middle Eastern market.

Called the Phantom Bespoke Collection, the service allows wealthy customers in Gulf states to specify from an endless array of unique trims and colors outside the usual catalog. The example pictured here is outfitted in Arizone Sun and English White two-tone paint scheme, echoed inside with Creme Light and Saddle Tan leather together with hand-woven silk rugs and mother-of-pearl inlays. Only six examples will be made, and we don't doubt they'll all find very elaborate homes.

Gallery: Rolls-Royce Phantom Bespoke Collection