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Aeroboat packs 1,100 seahorses of Rolls-Royce Merlin V12 power

We don't typically cover boats here - this is, after all, Autoblog and not Aquablog - but every so often something comes along that makes us want to dip our toes in the water, whether it's a Jaguar-designed speedboat, a Gulf-liveried megayacht or a Lamborghini-powered Riva Aquarama. This is another one of those occasions.
Set to be unveiled at the Salute to Style show in July at The Hurlingham Club in London, the Aeroboat is a motor yacht that seems to blend retro and furutistic lines in equal measure that would make Jules Verne proud without going Steampunk. Inspired by the Spitfire fighter plane, the Aeroboat packs aircraft-inspired switchgear and shock-mounted seats into a long, sleek form. But what really has our interests piqued is what lies beneath the stylish decks.
Each of the dozen Aeroboats to be built will pack a reconditioned, marinized, fuel-injected Rolls-Royce Merlin V12 engine - the same 27-liter powerplant that propelled the Spitfire. With 1,100 horsepower on tap, it's expected to propel the Aeroboat up to a top speed between 75 and 95 knots, or 86-109 miles per hour by landlubber standards, which is pretty damn fast on the open water.

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 Ghost Series II represents a host of subtle tweaks

It's not every day that an automaker admits in its own words that a new generation of one of its models is a "subtle redesign," but that's exactly how Rolls-Royce is describing the changes made to its Ghost Series II. Most of the bodywork has seen very light resculpting, including what the brand is calling a tapered "wake channel" that starts just behind the beloved Spirit of Ecstacy's wings evoking "the sight of a jet's vapour trail" and "hinting at the car's dynamism."
So much does Rolls-Royce want to emphasize the Ghost Series II's so-called dynamism that it uses the descriptor a total of eight times in the press release that you're welcome to read below. Looking past that all-too-current buzzword, what we see here is clearly a Rolls-Royce, clearly an ultra-luxury sedan and clearly desirable.
Rest assured, prospective buyers will see all the latest technology inside the new Ghost's interior, including a 10.25-inch high-definition screen and a Spirit of Ecstacy Rotary Controller so as not to "leave unsightly fingerprints at driver and passenger eye level." Of course, plenty of customization is available for the most discerning of buyers, and two new wood veneer options are available - Paldao and Walnut Burr Crossband.