Rolls Royce has thrown off the covers of three striking new designs inspired by the Art Deco movement. Rolls-Royce unveiled the highly bespoke Ghost, Phantom Saloon and Phantom Drophead Coupé models at the Paris Motor Show 2012 earlier this week. Continue reading
Constructed from a finger-sapping 152,455 ‘components’, weighing at 307kg, over two metres long and metre wide, Rolls Royce have built the type of engine guaranteed to bring out the child in us all.
The Derby-based company have built the complex inner workings of a Trent 1000 jet engine from Lego! Continue reading
Every Monday morning, here at VCARs, we’ll give you a quick round-up of the motoring news from the weekend papers and links to read more. That means, instead of returning from the newsagents laden with papers, you can wait until Monday morning and catch the lot! Continue reading
Every Monday morning, here at VCARs, we’ll give you a quick round-up of the stories making the news in the national motoring press. Read The latest from The Guardian, Mail, Mirror and Telegraph right here. Continue reading
Good sales results achieved by Rolls Royce, Chevrolet and Renault show that consumers still have an appetite for buying cars – good news for the used car market.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has just announced that it sold 1212 cars in 2008, a 20 per cent increase on 2007′s figure.
The four-door Phantom saloon and Extended Wheelbase models accounted for over half of all sales.
The USA enjoyed a 38 per cent share of the global Rolls Royce sales market, with the UK in second place.
Meanwhile, Chevrolet has just revealed that 2008 was its best ever sales year. It sold 18,372 new cars and saw its market share in the UK rise from 0.76 per cent in 2007 to 0.86 per cent in 2008.
This success is partly down to the company introducing the three and five-door Aveo supermini replacing the successful Kalos which is sure to be a sales winner for used Chevrolet dealers.
Chevrolet lovers are now awaiting the debut of the all-new Cruze mid-size saloon with much anticipation.
Renault is also celebrating good end of year figures for 2008. The company has had much success in pursuing a strategy of reducing sales to short-team rental companies, a policy which is boosting residual values for used vehicles.
In Europe, Renault boosted its share of the passenger car market by one per cent, no mean feat considering the economic downturn.
Ten new models were launched by the manufacturer in 2008.
Written by James Christie
The Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead has been awarded five stars by Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson in his weekly newspaper column.
Commenting on the model in his Sunday Times piece, Clarkson suggested that the design of the car makes it seem like it is something from the future.
"Everything, from the unpainted bonnet to the backwards-opening suicide doors to the rattan carpets and … even the teak Sunseeker-style decking on the back, makes it look as fresh and as futuristic as tomorrow morning’s papers," he said.
Clarkson went on to say that the car is built "to arrive" – a conclusion he came to having received a positive reception after taking the vehicle to a recent party.
In October, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announced that it was going to develop its Goodwood headquarters and manufacturing facility.
One of the reasons cited for this necessary growth was to deal with "unprecedented customer demand" for its Phantom family of cars.
A new Rolls Royce showroom has been officially opened in Ukraine, it has been reported.
The ribbon was cut by sales and marketing director of the firm Graeme Grieve and comes as the new Phantom Drophead coupe makes its debut in the country.
Worldwide, the Phantom range is the biggest-selling super luxury car in the world, with the company commenting that its sales reached new heights this year.
Mr Grieve stated that the expansion of the site was representative of the strides made by the firm on the continent.
"The new facilities reflect the growing importance of the east European region to the continued development of Rolls Royce. AWT Bavaria is now perfectly positioned to provide a true Rolls-Royce service for our clientele in Ukraine," he said.
Meanwhile, Rolls Royce workers in Merseyside who risk losing their jobs due to a plant closure will be backed by hundreds of workers in solidarity protests today.
British automaker Rolls-Royce has revealed that it is looking to expand its current headquarters in Goodwood.
Departments will be relocated, including the wood and leather shops, which will also be given a facelift under the new plans.
Scheduled to begin in 2007, the firm is hoping that the proposals will cope with the "unprecedented customer demand" it expects to receive due to its Phantom family of cars.
Chairman and chief executive of Rolls-Royce Ian Robertson commented at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show that he was "delighted" with the news of the plant’s expansion.
"These significant changes will ensure that we meet the challenge of exceptional customer demand and that we are ready for the launch of our exciting new model series," said the official.
Rolls-Royce Motors was bought by Volkswagen in 1998 after the German vehicle manufacturer fought off stiff competition from compatriot company BMW.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced to the industry that it is currently working at full capacity in order to meet increased demand.
Sales figures from the firm show that there are 22 per cent more vehicles being retailed by the company and this is expected to continue into 2008 with the unveiling of the new Phantom Drophead Coupe.
According to Ian Robertson, chairman and chief executive at the automaker, these represent "exciting times" for Rolls-Royce.
"Our challenge is to cope with exceptional customer demand. Now we look forward to significant changes for the whole organisation as we prepare for the launch of our future model series," he said.
Meanwhile, the Telegraph has reported that the firm has announced plans to expand its plant at Goodwood, Sussex to cope with the activity.
Some 300 to 400 extra workers will form a second assembly line at the site, it added.
Automobile manufacturer Rolls-Royce has revealed the details of its new convertible coupe.
The company unveiled the Phantom Drophead Coupe with its official importer Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Doha.
Featuring a stainless steel bonnet and teak decking, evoking images of the model’s development at the Goodwood factory on the south coast of England, the car is a combination of both engineering and hand-crafted construction.
Peter Schoppmann, regional director for the firm’s Middle East operations, said the vehicle is already in high demand.
He said: "We have seen exceptional customer interest in the Phantom Drophead Coupe around the world and are pleased to show the car for the first time in this region."
The Goodwood factory at which the model was built features one of Europe’s largest living roofs, according to Rolls-Royce.
Spanning over 22,500 sq m, the structure contains tens of thousands of sedum plants which change colour throughout the year.