Press Release
ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS PRESS CONFERENCE
GENEVA MOTOR SHOW 2008
IAN ROBERTSON
CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE
4 MARCH 2008
The spoken word is applicable.
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us this afternoon.
It is always a pleasure to be in Geneva and particularly when, as you can see, we have something new to unveil. You may remember it was exactly two years ago that we showed the experimental 101EX Coupé right here and so I am particularly pleased to be able to show you the production model, closely based on this car – but we will come to that in a few minutes.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars had an exceptional year in 2007. We celebrated our fifth anniversary of production at the top of the super-luxury sedan segment, with a record sales result and a promise of major developments over the next two years.
Sales were up by 25 per cent compared to 2006, with retails of over 1000 cars – 1010 to be exact - and our fourth successive sales increase since the company was launched.
North America once again remained our strongest market overall, accounting for around 40 per cent of Phantom sales with Europe second accounting for almost a quarter of our business. Within Europe, the UK was the clear leader with Russia in a solid second place and growing strongly. Further from home we saw exceptional performances in the United Arab Emirates and in Asia Pacific too, particularly China, and in emerging markets like India.
There was strong demand for all Phantom models in 2007, with an outstanding reaction to the Phantom Drophead Coupé, launched in July. The first car was sold for $2 million at a charity auction in the US and by the end of 2007 over 250 cars had been delivered to customers worldwide, far above expectations. Our order book is currently full through this year and well into 2009, with no signs of demand slowing and increasing requests for Bespoke features.
Our new model series, named RR4, is due for launch in 2010. The engineering development is now well under way and you will perhaps have seen spy shots of the engineering test cars that have been published in the past few weeks
We have recently announced that we are developing a brand new engine for this model. Phantom is already the most efficient car in the super luxury segment and the new engine will be a further substantial advance.
Building work at our manufacturing plant at Goodwood is now underway, expanding operations in readiness for our new model series, all within the footprint of the existing buildings. We are building a second assembly line and introducing new working patterns, with up to three shifts in some production areas. All departments will be expanded, including dramatic expansion of the paintshop, a new leathershop across two floors, new wood working facilities and an updated logistics operation.
A major recruitment campaign starts later this month and will continue through this year and next. We will have increased the current 700 strong workforce by several hundred by the end of next year
So in the medium term we have a vital new addition to the product line-up, but we have a more immediate one too – called the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé.
We had a fantastic reaction to its experimental predecessor,101EX, as it toured the world following its unveiling at this show two years ago and so we decided to take it to production readiness. And since we announced last year that we would build a production version, customer deposits have been flooding in and are already well into three figures. What is particularly satisfying is that two thirds of these orders have come from people who have never owned a Rolls-Royce before and so, just as Drophead expanded the appeal of our range, so too has Coupé.
The engineering of this car is based on both the Drophead and the Phantom, but this is a car with quite a different character. It has been created as a real transcontinental tourer and is the most driver orientated car we have produced to date.
We have made a number of subtle engineering changes, which, when added all together give the car quite a different feel. But this is still first and foremost a Rolls-Royce with the emphasis on silent running, seemless ride and effortless power. It is certainly not a sports car in any sense, but does feel more dynamic than our other models.
Starting with the chassis, it is incredibly stiff – in fact the stiffest Rolls-Royce chassis ever built – and that’s a great starting point. Springs and damper are slightly firmer, there are thicker anti-roll bars and steering assistance is reduced to increase feel. The brakes have been programmed to give a little more initial bite while a sport button on the steering wheel reprogrammes the gearbox with a more aggressive shift pattern.
By changing the rear structure of the car we have been able to increase both fuel and luggage capacity by 25 per cent, compared to the Drophead. This means a range of well over 600 km and the ability to carry four sets of golf clubs, if you share my passion for the game.
Chief Designer Ian Cameron and his team have done a magnificent job with this car once again. The exterior will speak for itself in a few moments, but there are some lovely details inside the car. The use of wood is exquisite and different to all our other models – and I am delighted to say that the starlight headliner from the experimental car has made it onto the production version as on option.
But I think I have said enough and its time for you to make up your own minds. Ladies and gentleman allow me to present to you the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé.
http://www.worldcarfans.com/9080305.006/rolls-royce-phantom-coupe-geneva-unveiling-video
) are on about. It is more formal-looking than the roof of the Bentley and that is entirely appropriate for a Rolls-Royce.
