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Rolls-Royce sketching out SUV for possible 'late 2017' release

With each new story on the Rolls-Royce SUV, the Goodwood automaker comes off as more at ease with their reluctantly birthed yet necessary sport ute. Company design chief Giles Taylor told Autocar that his team is still "sketching to assess the viability of the concept," which to ours ears means they're trying to figure out if such a beast is even possible within the confines of the brand. If it is, Taylor says it will be "a shooting brake, not a crossover with a sloping roof. A proper SUV."
A different company source, unnamed, seems confident that Taylor's team will figure it out, telling the magazine it would start at 200,000 pounds ($335K US). However, that same source said the vehicle will be "a kind of Mercedes-GLK-plus-plus," which is a baffling description in several ways. More reasonable is the speculation that it will ride on Ghost, not Phantom, architecture and make its debut sometime around late 2017.
That Ghost platform is expected to take cues from the carbon, aluminum and steel bones that supported the BMW Vision Future Luxury concept shown at the Beijing Motor Show and destined for the 9 Series. Some of those tricks will also go into the next-generation Phantom, which Autocar says will come in 2017 and not 2020.

Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II introduced for 2023

Rolls-Royce sent its Phantom off to finishing school for 2023. What came back is the Series II, which Rolls itself acknowledges as a "subtle" evolution of the iconic superluxury sedan. To mark the occasion, the company commissioned a one-off model named Platino (for "platinum"), which is pictured below.  "The subtle changes we have made for the new Phantom Series II have all been minutely considered and meticulously executed. As Sir Henry Royce himself said: ‘Small things make perfection, but perfection is no small thingÂ’,” said Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos in the company's official announcement.  The Phantom Series II received what Rolls-Royce described as a "light-touch" aesthetic update. The grille is just a touch more upright and is now illuminated (a cue borrowed from the Ghost) and the headlights now feature a laser-cut pattern designed to mimic the Rolls-Royce-signature "Starlight" headliner in the Phantom's interior. Two new wheel options have been added. The first is a 3D-milled stainless wheel featuring triangular facets; the second is the 1920s-style disc available in either stainless or black lacquer finish.  Inside, nothing has really changed, but you'd be unlikely to notice one way or the other since no two Phantoms ever really look alike unless they're deliberately commissioned thusly. Rolls-Royce says the steering wheel is the only interior upgrade of note; it was made slightly thicker. The infotainment system was also updated to incorporate Rolls-Royce Connected, which talks to its digital concierge smartphone app, Whisper. That allows owners to monitor the Phantom's vitals, send destinations to the navigation system or schedule service.  The Phantom Platino (that white one above) is a perfect illustration of what we said above about no two Phantoms looking the same. Rolls-Royce's Bespoke individualization program is busy pretty much 24/7 putting together one-of-a-kind creations for its uber-wealthy customers. The Platino's fabric rear seats are a nod to the early days of Rolls-Royce, when front seats were leather-adorned but the rear were covered in upholstered cloth.  Related Video This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Rolls-Royce Wraith convertible planned, SUV rumors kicked to the curb

Seeing as it adheres to the exotic car template we've known for years, it should surprise no one that the next model from Rolls-Royce will reportedly be a convertible version of the Wraith. When the coupe is on its way to dealers at the end of this year, company CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös has told Autocar that the British luxury marque start applying itself to the convertible.
At no time will they apply themselves to an SUV, though. Still sticking to its brand-value guns, Müller-Ötvös says that an SUV wouldn't have that trademark Rolls-Royce feeling and that such a vehicle hasn't even been discussed. Having heard this before from other brands, we can't help but suspect that one day in the future we'll hear the phrase, "Oh, but this is the Rolls-Royce of SUVs."
The investment in an SUV would also mean a huge investment in the factory at Goodwood, however, since Wraith production is expected to need three shifts and raise levels to near capacity. And forget about building anything from The Spirit of Ecstasy somewhere else, Müller-Ötvös saying, "Rolls-Royces are built in Goodwood."