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Press release: ROLLS-ROYCE TO
UNVEIL 200EX AT GENEVA MOTOR SHOW
00.01 GMT Friday 20
February 2009
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will unveil its latest experimental car,
called 200EX, at the Geneva Motor Show on 3 March 2009.
The car will be revealed by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ Chairman, Ian
Robertson, at a press conference at 1.45pm CET.
200EX is a design study for a contemporary four-door saloon and
shows the direction for RR4, a new model series from Rolls-Royce due
for production in 2010.
Philosophy
Experimental models have always played a significant role in the
history of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, from the first — 1EX, built in
1919 — to the most recent — 101EX, built in 2006. Unlike a concept
car, the experimental models developed by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
have always been fully functioning vehicles, residing in a tangible
world of wood, leather and metals rather than clay and foam. EX cars
offer designers and engineers the opportunity for real-world
innovation and have been used to showcase new components and
engineering techniques as well as exterior and interior designs.
“Modern automotive engineering is a balance of creativity,
innovation and application. 200EX is an opportunity to assess these
new ideas,” explains Helmut Riedl, Director of Engineering.
100EX was the first experimental car unveiled after Rolls-Royce
Motor Cars was relaunched under BMW Group ownership in 2003.
Revealed at the Geneva motor show in 2004, the two-door, four-seat
convertible was built to mark 100 years of Rolls-Royce motor car
design and engineering. Just two years later, 101EX was presented,
which explored modern coupé design. Both of these cars inspired
production models that not only closely resemble their EX
progenitors but have also redefined luxury motoring in the modern
age.
Following on from this success, the same group of designers and
engineers has created 200EX, itself pointing the way to RR4, a new
Rolls-Royce model scheduled for production in 2010. The brief for
200EX? To create a modern, lithe and dynamic Rolls-Royce that bears
all the hallmarks of the great cars that have gone before it:
effortless performance, unparalleled refinement, exquisite quality
and confident design.
Design
“Alluring, inviting, approachable — this car captivates with each
encounter” — Chief Designer, Ian Cameron
200EX has a dynamic edge to its styling and is noticeably less
formal than previous models. Its size, style and expression broaden
the appeal of the car, making it more appropriate for a wider range
of circumstances. “200EX is a touring saloon with more than a little
panache and perhaps more bravado than one might have expected from
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars,” says Cameron. “What you see is a modern car
that is immediately recognisable as a true Rolls-Royce, even from
angles that obscure the grille and Spirit of Ecstasy. Design
elements such as the elevated prow, long bonnet, short front
overhang, sharply raked A-pillar and elegant tail give 200EX an air
of informal presence — powerful but unobtrusive.”
The exterior design is dominated by large, uninterrupted surfaces,
while finely sculptured horizontal lines add definition and
geometric precision. In combination, the upward-sweeping sill line
and low-cut roof create a powerful profile. The tapered rear is
enhanced by powerful shoulders and flanks that draw in sharply,
narrowing as they flow from the rear wings to the tail-lights.
The rear-hinged coach doors give the car a natural presence and
sense of theatre. Revived in 2003 on the Phantom, this signature
feature lends added functionality and style to the design. Opening
through a generous 83 degrees, the coach doors offer the widest rear
access in the car industry as well as providing the warmest of
welcomes to those about to step inside.
At the front, a pair of LED headlamps flank the latest evolution of
the world’s most famous grille. “We wanted this to be less
reminiscent of the traditional ‘Parthenon’ style and more like a jet
intake,” says Ian Cameron. The sides of the intake have been curved
inwards and the vanes set back into the opening. It’s a more dynamic
form that moves on from the design first seen on the Phantom
Drophead Coupé.
The exterior of 200EX is finished in Darkest Tungsten, which
contrasts with the silver satin finish applied to the bonnet and
A-pillar. Seven-spoke, 20-inch wheels complete the visual impact of
the exterior.
Within 200EX, Interior Designer Alan Sheppard has accomplished a
contemporary atmosphere, incorporating the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
principles of fine materials and peerless comfort. The space is
filled with natural light, which brings in a real sense of the
outside world. However, substantial doors and a high shoulder line
ensure that occupants feel cosseted and protected. In the rear, the
intimate ambience of the lounge seat is emphasised by its position
behind the C-pillar, heightening the sense of privacy.
Naturally, the finest materials have been used. Elegant, frosted
lamps and chrome door handles feature, while details include
traditional violin key switches, eyeball air vents, opaque dials and
refined instrumentation.
“As with any Rolls-Royce, detail is crucial,” says Alan Sheppard.
“We want the lasting impression for owners to be that their car was
made just for them by someone skilled and caring.”
The dashboard has been kept deliberately clear; it is spacious in
its design and has an intuitive layout. The controls are neatly
sculptured, with more important functions emphasised by accents of
chrome. The soft light of the instrument panel glows through the
familiar black-rimmed steering wheel, which itself incorporates a
number of violin keys as well as an ergonomic roller-ball control.
The interior of 200EX is finished in supple, natural grain Crème
Light leather, with Cornsilk carpets and cashmere blend headliner.
The featured wood veneer is Santos Palissander, chosen for its
contemporary look and striking grain.
“200EX is a modern execution of timeless Rolls-Royce elegance,
breaking with some areas of tradition but retaining the core values
that make our marque unique,” says Chief Executive Officer Tom
Purves. “We expect the more informal, agile design to broaden the
appeal of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, attracting people who appreciate
its fusion of refinement, new technology and contemporary style.”
200EX TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
No. of doors/seats: 4/5
Vehicle length: 5399mm
Vehicle width 1948mm
Vehicle height: 1550mm
Wheelbase: 3295mm
Engine: new V12
Wheel and tyre size: 20 inch, 255/45 R 20 front and 285/40 R 20 rear
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