Rolls-Royce Straightline Archives

Somewhere dark, quiet and lined with tweed and tartan, James Riswick is slowly rocking back and forth, grinning widely between sips of Earl Grey tea basking in the news that Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Casino, The Aviator, Hugo) has been tapped to work on a film about Rolls Royce.

The film, titled "Silver Ghost" is about the life of Lord John Douglas-Scott Montagu, Charles Rolls and Henry Royce -- three men crucial in not just Rolls Royce, but motoring as we know it. Montagu was a British politician who helped push motoring into the modern, civil world; he was the first member of the Road Board and started and edited "The Car Illustrated" magazine. According to Top Gear, his car was also the first car to enter the yard of the House of Commons...and he did so sidewise with full opposite lock. Oh, and he was also having an extramarital affair with Eleanor Thornton who, as we ALL know, was the model inspiration for the Spirit of Ecstasy.

The film was written by Kiera Knightley's mother, Sharman Macdonald, and Christian Bale is rumored to be Lord Montagu. If Patrick Stewart signs on in any way, we'll never see James again.

(Top Gear)

Categories: Celebrities,Rolls-Royce

We have a lot of inter-office postmortem commands and requests here. Takahashi's request is that I do a post that says "Now Hiring!" Mine previously was that someone murder Takahashi and write a "Now Hiring!" post. Now mine is that I want my corpse carried around in this, the Rolls Royce Phantom Hearse by Biemme Special Cars.

This $662,000 dream has been stretched to 276 inches (23 feet) from 229.9 inches (19 feet) and continues to use RR's 6.75-liter, 453 horsepower V12. The Phantom Hearse will be officially revealed at the Tan Expo Funeral Home Show in Bologna which takes place March 23-25.

If any car name was made to be on a hearse, it's Phatom and I want in...in a few dozen decades.

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Categories: Rolls-Royce,Tuners and Modifications,Wagons

Featuring a hand-painted gold dragon on each side, custom dragon embroidery and hand-stitched rear pillows, the 2012 Rolls-Royce Phantom Year of the Dragon Edition is big in China. How big? Despite a $1.2m price tag, the special edition is already sold out. Rolls-Royce did not reveal how many they had actually built.

In related custom-Phantom news, RR claims that deliveries of customized Phantoms to the Middle East jumped from 75 percent in 2005 to a whopping 99 percent in 2011 while U.S. sales of custom phantoms were only 84 percent. Only 56% of all Ghosts are personalized. I would wait for a personalized Phantom, but for a fancy 7-series? Nah.

High-res images after the jump.

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Categories: Rolls-Royce,Sedans,Tuners and Modifications

You know what rich people hate? Wasting time. You know what they like? Doing stuff on their phones. 

Enter the iPhone/pad app for the Rolls-Royce Phantom line.

It's a fairly standard app that gives you the same options you'd get to trick out your Rolls-Royce Phantom in whatever you want, but it has one really cool feature: You can use your iPhone's camera to create bespoke paint colors. It's a fun feature that's a good time waster on a Friday.

So far it renders a grape fairly well, and a cherry cough drop. It does not do so well, however with human skin. The rich won't like that ....

Find it on iTunes.

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Categories: Miscellaneous,Rolls-Royce

http://www.insideline.com/ford/mustang/2011/2011-ford-mustang-track-shoot-out.html

Kurt Niebuhr for Edmunds

Inside Line (and the internet come to think of it) runs thousands of photos a week of cool cars. These are our favorites.

If we missed any, let us know...

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Categories: Honda,Kia,Mazda,Renault,Rolls-Royce

http://www.insideline.com/lancia/stratos/the-story-behind-the-new-stratos.html

New Strat

Inside Line (and the internet come to think of it) runs thousands of photos a week of cool cars. These are our favorites.

If we missed any, let us know....

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Categories: BMW,Chevrolet,Dodge,Ford,Hyundai,MINI,Mercedes-Benz,Nissan,Rolls-Royce

One of the nice things about living in Southern California is that you see supercars like, all the time. All the time. I've seen more Rolls Royce Drophead Coupes than I can count. Fine, more than I want to count, but it's a lot. And you know, despite the weather and the 6.7-liter V12, I've never seen one with the top down or going more than 25 mph.

Apparently, though, George W. Schaeffer RRDHC and OPI nail care owner did both of those things. He soon found out, though, that despite carrying a base price of $443,000 and having a robust options list, there was no option for a wind deflector! Men gasped, women fainted, monacles clunked into brandy snifters.

This wrong must be righted and Schaeffer was the one to do it! Milled from a single piece of aluminum, the 43-lb RR Windscreen attachest via hex-bolts that mount to already existing interior bits of your Roller.

$15,000 for 43-lbs of aluminum attached by hex-bolts, installed by untrained RR owners (or their staff) for use on high-speed vehicles. We see no problems with this situation at all.  

Find out more at RRWindscreen.com

Categories: Rolls-Royce,Tuners and Modifications

Weddings among wealthy and connected families in the Caucasus mountain regions of the former Soviet states are no trifle affair. Guests pack heat, arrive with militia escorts, and offer lumps of gold as gifts, while the hosts keep heavy weaponry in the Rolls-Royce. Or so writes an American diplomat from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow in one of the diplomatic cables suddenly rendered not-so-classified in the latest round of WikiLeaks releases.

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Categories: Rolls-Royce

With just a couple weeks to go until the premiere of the American Top Gear, the show's marketing folks were out in full force at SEMA. These exotic "taxis" were available for anyone who wanted a ride. They wouldn't actually take you anywhere, so their useful was marginal. But hey, when was the last time you got to ride in a yellow Rolls? Or a Rolls of any shade?

Are people still excited about this show?

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Categories: Luxury Cars,Rolls-Royce,SEMA Show

Need a Bentley or Rolls-Royce factory part for your Bentley or Rolls-Royce circa 1955-2002? Happen to live in Pasadena, New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina, Texas or Florida?

You're in luck!

A team of Bentley and Rolls-Royce specialists from Crewe are on the road until the 23rd of October with over 1,000 heritage parts and accessories that have been specially shipped to the US. They've got everything from complete V8 engine blocks to US spec owner's manuals which are all in original, branded containers. All of the parts are covered by a three-year warranty.

This tour is in response to an overwhelming demand from US buyers who flooded the company in an attempt to attend last year's Parts Warehouse open day. "80 percent of all the Bentleys ever built are still in existence. They have been cherished by generations of owners and are often considered a part of the family. In many cases these classic cars are still being drive and enjoyed, rather than living in museums, and our task is to continue to provide these passionate owners and driver with the service and parts they need." says Steve O'hara, Director for after-sales, Bentley Motors Limited.

Even if you're not in the market for a new Bentley V8, it could be a fun thing to see. Full schedules and more photos of disassembled luxury cars after the jump.

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Categories: Bentley,Rolls-Royce

The fact that Nick Cage is in serious financial trouble is not new. He's been selling stuff left and right for months now. What caught our eye this time around is the fact that two of his cars, including a 1964 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III, were leased.

Turns out a company called Premier Financial Services will lease you just about any car you can find. Vintage cars, classics, brand new exotics, whatever. Who knew?

In Cage's case, he was shelling out $7,663 a month for his classic Rolls and another $3,600 for an '02 Corniche. When the money ran out he tried to just turn them back in, but PFS wasn't having it. Now they're suing him for the cost of taking the cars back early and having to sell them cheap. Poor Nick, guy can't catch a break these days. Can't make a decent movie either.  

TMZ
 

Categories: Celebrities,Classic Cars,Luxury Cars,Rolls-Royce

BimmerPost has laid out what is apparently the 2010 product plan for BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce on its 5 Series forum. The source of the information is said to be "Scott26/7," who is in turn said to be "BMW's inside man."

Said insider expects the face-lifted E92 BMW 3 Series coupe to turn up at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show in both regular and M3 form. The F10 5 Series sedan will also be there, along with a concept Active Hybrid 5 Series sedan. In addition, the production Mini crossover, previewed in Detroit's Beachcomber, is said to be on the unveil list as well.

This also seems plausible enough, as does the suggestion that a long-wheelbase 5 Series sedan will debut the following month in Shanghai.

From there, it gets a bit murkier, with the source suggesting a Motorsport 1 Series will turn up sometime this winter, taking the name 1 Series Super Sport. We've heard this rumor before, but BMW officials told us in September 2009 that there was no truth to it.

For the 2010 Paris Auto Show, the plan shows the unveiling of a "production," leasable version of the BMW Concept ActiveE, as well as a nearly production-ready coupe version of the Rolls-Royce Ghost, the 201EX concept. In late November, the source expects the world debut of second-generation 6 Series coupe.

A U.S. debut for the 2011 BMW X1 could come at the 2010 LA Auto Show, according to the source. Interestingly, the source is mum on the status of the redesigned BMW X3. Last we heard, its U.S. launch date had been pushed back, but it's still expected to hit dealers this summer.

Finally, among the assorted concepts we may see this year could be a visionary look into the third-generation Mini Cooper. The concept could be carbon fiber and is said to take the Cooper's "lightness" to new heights. The third-gen Mini Cooper will go on sale in 2013, says the source.

5Post.com

Categories: BMW,Coupes,Crossovers,Future Vehicles,Luxury Cars,MINI,Rolls-Royce,Sedans,Wagons

Curious whether the new 2010 Honda Accord has an optional neck massager? How about the tow rating on the Ford F-150? And what about those European cars, they're always adding some new totally nonessential technological "feature."

Now there's an easy way to find out. Our 2010 Buyer's Guide lists every model change from every manufacturer. From colors to options to full redesigns, it's all there.

2010 Buyer's Guide 

Categories: Acura,Aston Martin,Audi,BMW,Bentley,Bugatti,Buick,Cadillac,Chevrolet,Chrysler,Dodge,Ferrari,Fiat,Ford,GMC,General Motors,HUMMER,Honda,Hyundai,Infiniti,Jaguar,Jeep,Kia,Lamborghini,Land Rover,Lexus,Lincoln,Lotus,MINI,Maserati,Maybach,Mazda,Mercedes-Benz,Mercury,Mitsubishi,Nissan,Pontiac,Porsche,Rolls-Royce,SMART,Saab,Saturn,Scion,Subaru,Suzuki,Tesla Motors,Toyota,Volkswagen,Volvo

You may have seen some of these before. Rich guys like to show off you know. Regardless, these ultimate garages still stir the soul in a way only serious car enthusiasts can truly appreciate. There's a 25 page string on Luxury4play.com if you want to see more.

Luxury4play

Categories: Aston Martin,Bentley,Bugatti,Chevrolet,Classic Cars,Ferrari,Lamborghini,Luxury Cars,Maserati,Maybach,McLaren,Pagani,Porsche,Rolls-Royce

At the swank "Rusnak Jaguar Reveals - A Night of Luxury" event at Universal Studios back lot on Saturday, we rubbed elbows with Miss California, Natasha Henstridge (Species), some actress from Desperate Housewives (not one of the wives) and even good ol' Scott Baio of Happy Days' Chachi fame. There were complimentary cocktails from Effen Vodka and Courvoisier as well as Maddalena wines to make things interesting for the well-heeled masses as they carefully negotiated the cobblestone streets. A cigar lounge welcomed those who wanted to puff on the free stogies from Cigars by Chivas. And at the end of the night, this "California chic" attired crowd enjoyed the Kevan Hall fashion show.

Yes, a fashion show. At first, we, too, thought that this seemed an odd thing to pair with a luxury car reveal. But then it made sense. Much like designer fashions, luxury cars connote high-quality and the best there is to be had. To own these items shows the world that not only do you have a well-padded bank account but that you possess exquisite taste. So it was no wonder that after each reveal of the 2010 Jaguar XJ, Porsche Panamera and the Rolls-Royce Ghost, party guests swarmed the luxo-cars for their chance to get in the driver seat; well, except the Ghost, whose doors remained locked. It was difficult to get close enough to the cars to even sniff their sumptuous leather interior, let alone check our reflection in their windows.

In any case, it was a fun albeit surreal way to see how enthusiastic the other half gets over cars.

More pictures after the jump.

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Categories: Celebrities,Jaguar,Luxury Cars,Manufacturers,Porsche,Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce appears to have caught the same disease as Aston Martin. And that is generally a good thing.

We like to think of this ailment as The Ramones Syndrome. Named for the early punk band, the disease is characterized by pleasant repetition in all endeavors. The Ramones had essentially one song, but it was a fun song. Likewise, Rolls and Aston have essentially one stunning look each that is applied to everything both companies do.

The so-called baby Rolls is basically a less grotesquely huge version of the Phantom, with a bit less severity.

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Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show,Luxury Cars,Rolls-Royce,Sedans

As a follow-up to the video "test drive" posted in mid-August, Rolls-Royce released full specs and photos of the 2010 Ghost over the weekend. The Ghost is the new entry-level Roller, and it will be in the booth at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show next week.

Although styled like a Phantom, right down to its reverse-opening (83-degree) rear doors, the 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost is much closer in size to a BMW 750Li. It's 212.6 inches long and rides on a 129.7-inch wheelbase. Compare that to the Phantom's overall length of 229.7 inches and 140.6-inch wheelbase. The 750Li is 205.3 inches long with a 126.4-inch wheelbase.

As noted before, the Ghost uses a new and more powerful 6.6-liter V12 good for 563 horsepower and 575 pound-feet of torque, along with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Sixty mph should come up in 4.7 seconds, says Rolls-Royce, while top speed is electronically set at 155 mph.

More photos and details after the jump.

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Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show,Luxury Cars,Rolls-Royce,Sedans

The final production version of the 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost will arrive at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show next month, but this preview video produced by Rolls-Royce shows you all there is to know about this new "smaller" Rolls-Royce.

2009 Frankfurt Auto Show

Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show,Future Vehicles,Luxury Cars,Rolls-Royce,Sedans

Have you been wondering how much horsepower the new Rolls-Royce Ghost will have? How about its 0-60-mph time? Or maybe its top speed interests you?

Now you can rest easy, as Rolls-Royce has decided to let a few more details loose on its upcoming "small" sedan. Its new 6.6-liter V12 engine will produce 563 horsepower and 575 pound-feet of torque. They used to call numbers like that "ample"; now they have changed to "significant."

All that power is sent to the rear wheels through an eight-speed ZF transmission. The result is a 0-60-mph time of 4.7 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.

The final production version will be shown at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show in September, with U.S. deliveries scheduled for early next year.

2009 Shanghai Auto Show: Rolls-Royce Ghost

Categories: Concept Vehicles,Frankfurt Auto Show,Future Vehicles,Luxury Cars,Rolls-Royce,Sedans,Shanghai Auto Show

Although summer is the season of lemonade stands and classic neighborhood garage sales, you usually don't have the opportunity to buy old Bentley parts - at least where I grew up.

Bentley is changing this with its sales fair from September 26-27 at a warehouse in Cheshire, England, where the British marque will clear out its inventory of Rolls-Royce and Bentley parts. Supposedly the automaker has held over 55,000 part lines for all Bentley models from 1955 to the present, as well as parts from Rolls-Royce cars built in Crewe from 1955-2002 - adding up for a total of 7 million parts.

The September sales fair allows Bentley to make space for parts and accessories for its upcoming Continental Supersports and all-new Bentley model that's ready to debut this August in Pebble Beach.

Interested Bentley owners are encouraged to R.S.V.P. to heritage.event@bentley.co.uk by August 21.

Make the jump for the detailed press release.

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Categories: Bentley,Classic Cars,Rolls-Royce