These daring experiments formed the Rolls-Royce of at present.
Over 20 years in the past, Rolls-Royce opened a brand new chapter in its wealthy, century-long historical past by establishing a brand new house within the historic location of Goodwood, England, which itself is hallowed within the automotive world. Since then, its lineup has outlined automotive ultra-luxury, with unimaginable design that defines each trendy excellence and traditional appeal, and as Rolls-Royce celebrates its one hundred and twentieth anniversary, the celebrated producer appears again on the previous 20 years, and particularly on the experimental ideas that impressed the trendy Rolls-Royce autos.
Using the “EX” suffix for experimental Rolls-Royce fashions in started over 105 years in the past in 1919, with the 1EX. It additionally designated the 45EX in 1958. Nonetheless, the usage of the suffix was revived within the Goodwood period of Rolls-Royce in 2004 with the creation of the 100EX. Made simply after the beginning of manufacturing for the Phantom that kicked off the Goodwood period, the 100EX featured a V16 engine as a two-door convertible. Yacht-inspired styling set the experimental mannequin aside as a machine made for ultra-luxe driving pleasure, and it will definitely turned a manufacturing mannequin because the Phantom Drophead Coupé within the late 2000s.
In 2006, Rolls-Royce unveiled the 101EX, one other experimental mannequin that featured a two-door physique just like the 100EX, besides with a set roof. That mannequin turned the Phantom Coupé, and was succeeded by the Wraith, and now the Spectre, Rolls-Royce’s first all-electric mannequin. The Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé additionally served as the premise for the Sweptail, a surprising one-off coachbuilt fee that continues to be an unimaginable masterpiece at present.
The 200EX was revealed in 2009 as a completely new imaginative and prescient for Rolls-Royce, introducing a extra trendy, driver-friendly, smaller, and casual mannequin, made for a youthful demographic. That mannequin would, in fact, be launched as a manufacturing mannequin as effectively: the Rolls-Royce Ghost. 102EX, revealed in 2011, also called the Phantom Experimental Electrical, was a one-off Phantom that sported an all-electric powertrain, envisioning a future of electrical mobility for Rolls-Royce’s ultra-luxury autos. The improvements it introduced and the information it was capable of collect was instrumental within the improvement of the eventual electrical manufacturing mannequin from Rolls-Royce: the Spectre.
103EX was unveiled in 2016 as probably the most bold and distinctive experimental autos from Rolls-Royce. Its hyper-futuristic design features a passenger cabin known as “The Grand Sanctuary,” with a settee as a substitute of conventional seats because of autonomous driving and a digital assistant throughout the automotive known as “Eleanor.” Regardless of its roots previously and its traditional rules for craftsmanship, design, luxurious, and opulence, Rolls-Royce boldly goals in direction of the longer term throughout the automotive trade, particularly with its wealthy heritage of experimental “EX” fashions.
Picture Supply: Rolls-Royce
