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Watch the other new Top Gear host rap about a Rolls-Royce

The rebooted Top Gear revealed its full slate of new co-hosts last week, complete with a lineup of names and faces we know – and one we don't. That's Rory Reid, the one new host chosen from public auditions. Though most of us many never have seen his face or heard his voice, he's not new to reviewing cars on video. In addition to hosting automotive videos for CNET and Sky television, Reid is also automotive editor for a British video series called Recombu. Most of the reviews he's done for the YouTube channel are pretty straightforward, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of whatever he's driving – from a Bentley Continental GT Speed or Range Rover Sport SVR to a Mini JCW or Peugeot 308 GTI. But when it came to the Rolls-Royce Ghost, Rory was evidently moved to take things in a different (and original) direction. Instead of simply describing the luxury sedan as most automotive journalists would, Reid rapped about it. The result is a pretty novel take on the usual car review, and no doubt helped him secure the spot on the revived BBC program alongside the likes of Chris Evans, Chris Harris, Eddie Jordan, Sabine Schmitz, Matt LeBlanc, and of course the Stig. See for yourself in the video above, and check out his other reviews in the playlist below. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. News Source: Recombu via YouTube, Carscoops TV/Movies Rolls-Royce Videos rolls-royce ghost rory reid rap rolls-royce ghost series ii

Rolls-Royce Cullinan revealed: Ultra-luxury SUV is so British, it curtsies

Why did we ever expect the Rolls-Royce Cullinan to look like anything other than a Phantom on a lift kit, minus the trunk? The Rolls-Royce of SUVs perfectly employs Phantom cues, from the raised hood to the strong shoulder line and coach doors. The English off-roader brings a bunch of brand-redefining firsts with it, including all-wheel drive, an off-road driving mode, and a suspension that actively extends the dampers to keep every wheel on the ground. All of the vehicle's innovations serve the tagline that will help sell the Cullinan to wealthy owners: "Effortless, Everywhere." View 30 Photos The Cullinan stretches 210 inches long on a 130-inch wheelbase, 17.2 inches shorter overall than a Phantom on a wheelbase 9.8 inches shorter. However, the SUV is 5.6 inches wider than the sedan and its roof stands 7.2 inches higher. Built around the same all-aluminum Architecture of Luxury as the Phantom, the extra bits that make the Cullinan ready for dirty work add just 200 pounds compared to the car, for a curb weight of 5,864 pounds. The 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 (Rolls-Royce still refers to it as a 6.75-liter) produces 563 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque, matching the Phantom's horsepower but losing 37 lb-ft of torque. However, the remaining torque comes 100 rpm sooner in the Cullinan than in the Phantom. Rolls-Royce whipped up another narrative trick to keep the Cullinan from being associated with the two-box SUV herd, calling it "the first 'three-box' offer in the SUV sector." With only two boxes visible from outside, we assume Rolls-Royce refers to the available glass partition in the cabin separating the seating area from the cargo, for Cullinans equipped with individual second-row seats. That would make for three distinct areas, and serve as a "nod to the era when luggage was mounted on the exterior of the motor-car, so the occupants did not travel with their belongings." Speaking of which, the feature we normally call a "tailgate" is called "the Clasp" on the Cullinan, a reference to when drivers put luggage on the outside of the car. The electrically operated two-piece hatch has a narrow lower section that folds down to help support the electronic drawer in the Recreation Module. The module provides custom designed storage for tools suitable to an owner's hobbies, like hawking, hunting, or drone racing, or it can stow the seats and cocktail table for the Rolls-Royce Viewing Suite. The Cullinan earns its chops in the cabin and under the skin.

Rolls-Royce Ghost getting a nip and tuck

While there isn't too much competition in the "vehicles priced more than houses" market, automakers still have to keep their products fresh, and it looks like the Rolls-Royce Ghost could be getting a slight facelift for 2014. Like the rest of the Ghost, these spy shots show that Rolls-Royce even makes exquisite body camouflage as it takes a close look to really see that any material has been added to the face.
From what we can tell, though, it looks like the Ghost might be getting a nip/tuck to the front end. This will bring its appearance closer to what we saw on the Rolls-Royce Wraith - the coupe version of the Ghost that debuted back in March at the Geneva show - reshaped headlights that feature LED running lights and also what appear to be LED turn signals. More minor changes to the Ghost include restyled door mirrors that might get some aero tweaks, as well as a smooth rear fascia devoid of visible exhaust outlets.
What we don't know is whether the Ghost will also be getting the more powerful version of the V12 found in the Wraith that produces 624 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, versus the current Ghost's 563 hp and 575 lb-ft.