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'Rolls-Royce Motor Cars' is a BMW subsidiary responsible for the manufacture of the Rolls-Royce Phantom.

Contents

History

Cars

Prototypes

Rolls-Royce cars timeline

Chrysler 300

See also

Further reading

External links

History

In 1998, owners Vickers decided to sell Rolls-Royce Motors. The most likely buyer was BMW, who already supplied engines and other components for Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars, but BMW's final offer of £340m was beaten by Volkswagen's £430m.
However Rolls-Royce plc, the aero-engine maker, decided it would license certain essential trademarks (the Rolls-Royce name and logo) not to VW but to BMW, with whom it had recently had joint business ventures. VW had bought rights to the "Spirit of Ecstasy" hood ornament and the shape of the radiator grille, but it lacked rights to the Rolls-Royce name necessary to build the cars. Likewise, BMW lacked rights to the grille and mascot. BMW bought an option on the trademarks, licensing the name and "RR" logo for £40m, a deal that many commentators thought was a bargain for possibly the most valuable property in the deal. VW claimed that it had only really wanted Bentley anyway.
BMW and VW arrived at a solution. From 1998 to 2002 BMW would continue to supply engines for the cars and would allow use of the names, but this would cease on January 1 2003. On that date, only BMW would be able to name cars "Rolls-Royce", and VW's former Rolls-Royce/Bentley division would build only cars called "Bentley". Rolls Royce's convertible, the Corniche, ceased production in 2002.

Cars

★ 2003 'Phantom' — Launched in January 2003 at Detroit's North American International Auto Show, this is the first model from 'Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited', a BMW subsidiary having no technical or corporate connection with the original Rolls-Royce company apart from the trademarks mentioned above. The car has a 6.75 L V12 engine from BMW, but most other components are unique to the car. Unlike the MINI (which is 90% engineered and manufactured in the UK) most parts are made in Germany, although the assembly and finishing is done in a new factory in Goodwood, Sussex. The cars are available in normal and extended wheelbase, and prices start at about £250,000.

★ 2007 'Phantom Drophead Coupé

★ 2007 - 2010 — Rolls Royce announced in September 2006 that it will develop a new 4-door model, using the next generation BMW 7 Series, positioned below the Phantom and with a price range between US$230,000 and US$330,000. It is also working to develop a production version of its 101EX concept. [1]

Prototypes

★ Rolls-Royce 100EX

★ Rolls-Royce 101EX

★ Rolls-Royce NGS (saloon)

Rolls-Royce cars timeline

Chrysler 300

It has been a common stand that the Chrysler 300 C is a "knock-off" of the luxury Rolls-Royce vehicle line. This is mainly because of the similar body styles.
The Chrysler 300 C has been dubbed "The Poor Man's Rolls-Royce"

See also

★ Bentley

★ Rolls-Royce of America

★ Luxury vehicles

★ Brewster

Further reading

★ Richard Feast, ''Kidnap of the Flying Lady: How Germany Captured Both Rolls Royce and Bentley'', Motorbooks, ISBN-7603-1686-4

★ John Rowland and Martin Henley, 'The Rolls-Royce Men the Story of Charles Rolls and Henry Royce,'Publisher: Lutterworth Press (1968); ASIN: B000COH9WQ

External links

★ Rolls-Royce changes gear, by Jorn Madslien, BBC News

★ Nouvelle Phantom anniversaire

★ Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

★ Rolls-Royce 101EX Prototype

★ Rolls-Royce under BMW

★ Open Directory of Rolls-Royce web sites

★ Limited Edition All Black Phantom