12 English White 6.6l V12 Rr Sedan *theater Configuration *picnic Tables *low Mi on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Rolls-Royce's next bespoke project is a Dawn-based two-seater roadster

After the Sweptail, a customer-commissioned one-off coupe unveiled in 2017 and priced at $13 million, Rolls-Royce is transforming the Dawn into a two-seater roadster inspired by some of the opulent cars it made during the 1920s. The BMW-owned company released a quartet of early design sketches to preview the model. It's visibly based on the Dawn, which is a topless evolution of the Wraith, but it gains a tonneau cover that Rolls-Royce refers to as an Aero Cowling. Dark trim on both ends and a model-specific shade of silver add a finishing touch to the look. Although the interior images reveal little, Rolls-Royce noted every Silver Bullet will feature an open-pore carbon fiber insert and a quilted transmission tunnel whose design is inspired by leather jackets. All told, the company promised its next limited-edition car will "meld the nostalgia of the past with the sophisticated innovation of the future." Needless to say the Silver Bullet will be made almost entirely by hand in Goodwood, England. The firm made no mention of mechanical modifications. Power will likely come from the Dawn's 6.6-liter V12, which is twin-turbocharged to 563 horsepower and 605 pound-feet of torque in its standard configuration. We expect the Silver Bullet will benefit from the 593-horsepower, 620-pound-feet evolution of the V12 found in the Black Badge model, because the extra power would suit the model's touring pretensions rather well. Just 50 units of the Dawn Silver Bullet will be available worldwide. Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but keep in mind the standard model carries a base price of approximately $350,000. The company will encourage owners not to stash their roadster in a heated garage as an investment by organizing road trips they can participate in. Related Video:    

Rolls-Royce sets sales record in 2021, despite ongoing pandemic

LONDON — Luxury carmaker Rolls-Royce, a unit of Germany's BMW, said on Monday its sales soared 49% to a record high in 2021 despite the global coronavirus pandemic, as demand worldwide for luxury vehicles surged. In an online presentation, Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos said the carmaker sold 5,586 vehicles to customers in more than 50 countries, the largest number in its 117-year history despite all the volatility wrought by the pandemic. "In the luxury sector as a whole, the struggle was not so much focused on attempting to find customers, but rather producing enough product to satisfy huge customer demand," Muller-Otvos said. He said sales hit all-time records in most regions, including China and the Americas. Premium and luxury car sales have been growing more broadly in key global markets such as China and the United States as pandemic travel restrictions have left wealthy consumers with more disposable income. "Covid forced many people to ground, not to travel anymore and for that reason there is quite a lot of wealth accumulated and that is spent on luxury goods," Muller-Otvos told Reuters. "We profited from that development." He said the carmaker's British plant in Goodwood was running at close to maximum capacity and its order books were full well into the third quarter of 2022. "If you order a Rolls-Royce today, you will expect to take delivery of it about a year from now," he said. Luxury British carmaker Bentley, a unit of Volkswagen AG said last week that it had cruised to a record year in 2021 as global sales jumped 31% amid strong demand for high-end vehicles. Last week BMW said it had achieved record sales of over 2.2 million vehicles from its BMW brand in 2021, outstripping 2019 sales despite a global shortage of semiconductor chips. Muller-Otvos said that while the chip shortage was cause for concern, Rolls-Royce's parent BMW had "assured that we could take delivery of all the chips we need to build our cars, so we haven't seen any shortages." Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Rolls-Royce builds its second Boat Tail, one with a pearl theme

Last year, Rolls-Royce introduced the stunning Boat Tail custom-built convertible. Even with a rumored cost of around $30 million, the company had three buyers. The second of the three cars has been revealed, and this one is themed around pearls. Apparently the buyer's father harvested pearls, and the buyer runs the business that stemmed from it. So that's where the theme came from, and Rolls-Royce ran with it. The exterior's rosy white paint with white and bronze flake, and the contrasting hood, are based on the oyster shells the buyer provided for inspiration. The rear deck features a walnut veneer with brushed-finish rose gold pinstripes. The Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament is also rose gold-plated. The interior has leather that matches the exterior paint. The center tunnel is again covered in the same walnut veneer as the rear deck. The clock and the gauges feature mother-of-pearl in the faces, and the clock's material came from the buyer's personal collection. As with the other Boat Tail models, the car has a split-opening rear that houses dishes and flatware, as well as an umbrella. The umbrella can be attached to the rear, and fold-out chairs allow the car to be the ultimate outdoor eating location. The entire car is also hand-built with custom aluminum panels. Powertrain details weren't given, though being based on the Phantom, it probably has the same turbocharged V12, eight-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive as the mainline sedan. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.