2004 - Rolls-royce Phantom on 2040-cars

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Rolls-Royce considering carbon coachbuilding?

There's any number of applications in which you might expect to find carbon fiber on an automobile, but a Rolls-Royce is not one of them. That could change in the near future, however, as the super-luxe auto marque is reportedly looking into using the lightweight material on a range of special models.
The idea, according to Edmunds, would be to rebody certain models in carbon fiber as a sort of in-house coachbuilding operation for discerning customers looking for something a little different from what the neighbors in the next mansion or ivory tower over have in their gold-paved driveway. While the carbon-fiber bodywork might help shave off some of the weight from a range of cars that tip the scales at 5,500 pounds or more, the principal notion here is exclusivity.
The business case for these bespoke automobiles apparently stems out of two developments. For one, the vast majority - over 90 percent - of Rolls-Royce customers opt for some manner of customization or another. For another, parent company BMW has been working hard to reduce the cost of carbon-fiber production in particular for the new i3, and that expertise could turn these premium-priced creations a greater cash cow for Rolls-Royce than the development of a sport-utility vehicle ever could.

Rolls-Royce rolls out specials at Dubai show

True to style, Rolls-Royce arrived at the Dubai Motor Show this year with some new special-edition wheels. Leading the charge was the Golf Edition of the Ghost. Ordered up specially by the local importer, the Golf edition "takes its inspiration from the fairways to appeal to discerning sportsmen, incorporating design cues and materials that evoke the history of this gentleman's sport." What that translates to in practical terms (as if a Rolls-Royce could ever be considered "practical") is a two-tone paint job of dark green and beige and a three-tone interior treatment of light cream, dark green, and deep red. The cabin is also augmented by the requisite starlight headliner, custom picnic tables, and lambswool floor mats. Tartan-lined door pockets, mahogany and persimmon wood veneers, and other special touches round out the unique treatment aimed at golf enthusiasts. The special Ghost was joined as well by the one-of-a-kind Tiger edition of the Phantom Coupe. This unique take on Goodwood's big two-door boasts a rather unsubtle paint scheme of dark and light orange, complimented by a tiger-motif coachline. Fortunately things are relatively more toned-down inside, with tan and beige leather and a proliferation of custom accents to conjure the large striped feline. The pair follow hot on the heels of the 1001 Nights edition of the Ghost that was introduced in the UAE mere weeks ago. Rolls also took the occasion to showcase the new Dawn convertible and the Wraith Inspired by Music edition at the Dubai show. Both are based on the same architecture, the former with a fabric top and the latter – revealed this past summer – with a fixed roof and trim drawn from the recording industry. Scope out the lineup in the image gallery above and the press release below. Related Video: ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS REDEFINES SUPER- LUXURY BESPOKE MOTORING AT THE DUBAI INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW Rolls-Royce Motor Cars reaffirmed its mantle as the undisputed pinnacle of Bespoke automotive luxury with the unveiling of Phantom Coupe Tiger, Ghost Golf and Wraith 'Inspired by Music' at the Dubai International Motor Show, on a day that also saw the Rolls-Royce Dawn make its first public appearance in the region.

Rolls-Royce rings up best-ever sales year

The wheeled monolith above is the 2013 Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended Wheelbase - a rolling demonstration of the real definition of "More." For that reason we can use it as a symbol of the firm's sales, which have not only achieved 'more' for the past three years but have also broken company records. Adding to its record-setting years in 2010 and 2011, the Goodwood-based carmaker moved 3,575 units, an increase of 38 over the year before.
The US retook its crown as the greatest consumers of Rolls-Royces, snagging it back from China. Other market movers were the Middle East, where sales rose 26 percent, Mainland Europe - the same place where mass-market makers are drowning in woe and inventory - that rose by 21 percent, and the Asia Pacific region and its 18-percent rise. Rolls-Royce is probably making more money on its cars, too, with bespoke uptake reaching 95 percent on the 10-year-old Phantom line and 73 percent for the Ghost line.
With a just-refreshed lineup and one or perhaps two more models coming, the indicators for more upward sales movement are strong, even if we don't know how soon the new models will arrive. For 2012, the brand that sells more cars above $200,000 than any other proved the saying that storms can't affect you when you live above the clouds. The press release below has more to say about the record year.