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With 2016 being both the 100th anniversary of the founding of the BMW car company and the end of production of the Phantom saloon, first introduced in 2003, Rolls-Royce is looking farther forward into the future than it ever previously has. Prior to today, Rolls' EX concept cars have either been clear signposts to a future production model (such as the 101EX that previewed the Phantom Coupe) or experiments using existing technology (like the 102EX electric Phantom). Now though, we're way beyond that - the Vision Next 100 103EX concept is a Rolls-Royce viewed through the prism of Blade Runner; it's deeply futuristic, if not a little fantastic.
The 103EX is a vision for what a future Phantom model could be like, and it mirrors, at 5.9 metres long, the dimensions of the current extended wheelbase Phantom. There the similarity ends... The styling is quite dramatic, with pontoon-style outrigger wheels at the front and a narrow, tall interpretation of the classic Rolls-Royce grille. The lower half of the body is finished in a colour called 'Crystal Water', which Rolls says helps to disguise and reduce the visual size of the vehicle, while the top half is a clamshell made entirely of darkened glass, so that the occupants can see out, but not be seen from without. Bisecting the two is a line of chrome, in a horseshoe shape, that extends from the feet of the 'Flying Lady' mascot all the way around the rear of the car. The dramatic shape is finished off with huge 28-inch alloy wheels, which are tall but very narrow, for improved aerodynamics.
None of which is important. What's important is what's inside. Rolls says that the 103EX was designed around four basic tenants: The Personal Vision, The Effortless Journey, The Grand Sanctuary and The Grand Arrival.
The Personal Vision means that, with the absence of a traditional drivetrain (Rolls isn't saying what the propulsion system will be other than that it's zero emissions) the customer (or 'Patron' if you prefer the Rolls-Royce nomenclature) can have even greater input into the styling and layout of their car, effectively harking back to the past when Rolls would produce a chassis and an engine, and a client would take their car off to the coachbuilder of choice to have their perfect body made and attached. "The Rolls-Royce patron will continue to be a famous figure in the future," explains R-R Director of Design Giles Taylor. "I envision that the Rolls-Royce Vision Next 100 will play a key role in these people's lives, guiding and conveying them effortlessly through their life's journey in an exquisite sanctuary where they can reflect in peace ahead of arriving in the grandest style."
The Effortless Journey refers to the fact that the 103EX is designed to be entirely autonomous. There are no driver controls inside the enormous, sumptuous cabin - just (we say 'just') a vast silk-upholstered sofa and a huge video screen dominating the front of the car. It's transparent, so it can be used as an augmented reality screen for viewing the world outside, or it can of course tune into a binge-watching session of Upstairs, Downstairs on Netflix. It may be beyond cutting edge, but of course it's surrounded by Macassar wood, a mechanical clock and hand-woven ivory-coloured carpet.
Helping the occupants to make the most of their journey is Eleanor. Eleanor is named for Eleanor Thornton, the lady who was the original model for the Spirit of Ecstasy 'Flying Lady' mascot. Here, Eleanor is the interface with the car's artificially intelligent on-board computer. She is both virtual assistant and chauffeur, managing schedules, navigation, traffic avoidance and "making suggestions to ease any anticipated impediments." God love Rolls-Royce press releases...
Incidentally, as there's no engine as such, Rolls-Royce has turned the area behind the grille into a massive luggage compartment, featuring tailor-made Grand Tourer cases, which in this case are embossed with the names CS Rolls and FH Royce. A lovely touch.
Finally, there's the Grand Arrival. No simple opening a door and hopping out here. Oh no. As the 103EX approaches the kerb, it starts to shine "an ethereal light" on the pavement. Once pulled up, the entire clamshell roof hinges back, meaning that the occupants-patrons-clients-her-majesty-whoever can stand up, but still be protected from any proletarian rain that's around. Then, the rear-hinged coach door automatically opens, a step pops out from under the car and the exterior LED system shines a projected red carpet onto the ground in front of your feet. Well, it'll certainly make picking up a KFC takeout more of an event...
"The Grand Arrival gesture of the Rolls-Royce Vision Next 100 creates a stage for our important passengers as they arrive at their ultimate destination," comments Taylor. "It is an expression of our intrinsic understanding of the possibilities for a true luxury brand and the desires of its customers."
"Today, Rolls-Royce, the world's leading luxury brand, has defined the future of luxury mobility. The Grand Arrival of the Rolls-Royce Vision Next 100 boldly points to a bright future for our marque where our patrons' individual demands for complete and authentic personalisation will be met through an exquisite fusion of technology, design and hallmark Rolls-Royce craftsmanship" said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
Don't expect much or any of this malarkey to appear on the next Phantom in this form, but as a look at the potential future of Rolls-Royce, and the direction its styling and engineering might take, it's pretty fascinating.