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The Rolls-Royce Phantom is an ultra-luxury sedan that first launched as a 2003 model. It was the first Rolls-Royce car designed and built under the ownership of BMW, which acquired the company in 1998.
Despite its classic looks, the current Phantom makes use of some pretty advanced technologies. The sedan is built on an aluminum space frame, making it around 500 lbs lighter than its nearest competitor -- the Mercedes Maybach.
The pioneering Phantom - RR’s first ever electric vehicle - will be powered by the largest car battery in the world, roughly resembling the shape of the car’s original V12 engine and gearbox.
Located under the long bonnet, the Phantom will have five modules of lithium ion cells weighing 640 kg - roughly equivalent to seven or eight adults - and with enough power to deliver a range of 125 miles.
The batteries can be 'quick charged’ in around eight hours or charged more slowly - leading to a longer battery life - over 20 hours.
Rolls-Royce, which unveils the car at the Geneva Motor Show 2011 - says the battery pack will deliver prodigious amounts of power via two electric motors mounted on the rear sub-frame, and a single-speed transmission with integrated differential.
The Phantom will have a top speed of 100mph and a 0-60mph time of under eight seconds, compared with 5.7 seconds for the standard 6.75-litre V12 petrol version.
Fitting with its exotic car status, the Phantom has a number of unique features. These include reverse-hinged rear "suicide doors," pop-out umbrellas hidden in the doors, a retractable hood ornament, hydraulic motors to close the rear doors, "RR" logos that float upright on the hubs independent of the spinning wheels, and last but not least, a "power reserve dial" instead of tachometer, indicating how much of the engine's power is left available to the driver.
The leather hides used in the new Phantom come only from carefully controlled breeders. Hides are sourced from mature bulls that have been breed for their meat, producing leather as a byproduct. The animals are kept in conditions as close to their natural habitat as possible.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars uses a newly developed colouring process whereby the dye permeates through the depth of the hide. This produces a supremely soft, natural finish that will not fade or crack.
Between 15 and 18 hides are used in each motor car and each one is checked by hand for blemishes before laser equipment is used to assist in laying out the pattern pieces. The interior of the Phantom is made up of 450 pieces of leather, which are cut by a computer-guided knife.
About six times a year, the manager of the interior wood trim meets the supplier to select personally the veneers for the Phantom. This painstaking process ensures that the highest quality veneers of the correct color and grain characteristics are chosen.
PricesThe 2011 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe will go on sale at a price of $452,000.
The 2011 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe convertible luxury car still holds its design inspiration from the 100EX concept retained, but new seat design, a new steering wheel with a thick edge, and get new colors for the interior and exterior of the car.
reference:cars-zones.blogspot.com,www.leftlanenews.com,www.telegraph.co.uk
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