Hyundai Motor India Ltd, has announced that it will be launching the new Venue on June 16, 2022.

The new Hyundai Venue will feature a redesigned exterior. The facade has been designed to bring forth a wider and confident stance with the seamless integration of bold and dynamic styling elements. The rear section of the new Hyundai Venue features connecting LED tail lamps with vertical design elements. The connecting LED tail lamps stretch across the rear and compliment the overall design with a futuristic and distinctive appeal while the hexagonal cut crystal design creates a luxurious yet hi-tech appeal. The rear has been designed to give the new Hyundai Venue a distinctively tall and wide look.

Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Unsoo Kim, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd., said, “As the leading mobility solutions provider, Hyundai has been setting new benchmarks in India with the introduction of blockbuster products. Through our vision of ‘Progress for Humanity’ we have continued to elevate customer experiences and induced the rapid adoption of globally contemporary technologies. Indian customers have showcased their love and trust in Hyundai, making us the most sold SUV brand of 2020 and 2021. At Hyundai, we will continue to excite our most loved customers with unique and exciting products, and I am glad to announce the launch of the new Hyundai VENUE in June this year. I am sure, the new Hyundai VENUE will continue to thrill customers both in India as well as export markets.”

Hyundai Motor India Ltd., has announced the introduction of the Grand i10 NIOS Corporate Edition with prices starting at INR 6 28 900 (ex-showroom).

Commenting on the introduction of the GRAND i10 NIOS Corporate Edition, Mr. Tarun Garg, Director (Sales, Marketing & Service), Hyundai Motor India Ltd. said, “Hyundai conceptualized the GRAND i10 NIOS for progressive and young new age customers in India. Having witnessed a trailblazing sales run since its launch, we are glad to now introduce the Sporty and Hi-Tech focussed Corporate Edition on the GRAND i10 NIOS to induce delight and enhance the value offered to new age buyers. With unique and innovative aesthetic enhancements and technology, we are sure the Corporate Edition will captivate the aspirations of customers looking for a sporty, feature loaded and efficient hatchback.”

Grand i10 NIOS Corporate Edition has been based on the Magna trim with 5MT / AMT transmission options, mated to the fuel efficient 1.2 l Kappa Petrol engine. The exterior enhancements on Corporate Edition include:

· 175/60 R15 Gun Metal Styled Wheel

· Roof Rails

· Rear Chrome Garnish

· Corporate Emblem

· Black Painted ORVM

· Glossy Black Radiator Grill for All Body Colors

To lend a touch of sportiness and induce fun filled driving experiences, Grand i10 NIOS Corporate Edition will feature sporty all black interiors with red colour inserts (seats, AC vents and gear boot). To offer customers added hi-tech and convenience features, Corporate Edition will include:

· 17.14 cm (6.75-inch) Touch Screen Infotainment with Navigation through Smartphone Mirroring

· Electric Folding ORVM with LED Turn Indicator on Outside Mirror as standard

The first-ever BMW i4 has been launched in India at an introductory ex- showroom price of INR 69,90,000. The BMW i4 is BMW’s first purely electric model focused squarely on driving dynamics. The BMW i4 combines sporting prowess with a range that also convinces for long journeys with comfort, spaciousness and practical appeal. Deliveries will start by the beginning of July 2022.

Mr. Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “With the launch of the BMW i4, I am excited to introduce the first electric mid-size sedan in the country. BMW i4 effortlessly combines sheer driving pleasure with sustainability as never experienced before. Thanks to its unique combination of BMW eDrive technology, extremely slim and high-voltage lithium-ion battery, rear wheel drive and advanced suspension kinematics, the BMW i4 gets an outstanding sporty feel. It is India’s longest range electric vehicle. Absolute luxury with class leading ambience, generous space, and rear axle air suspension ensures maximum comfort even for longer trips. Excitingly dynamic, comfortable and powerful in equal measure, the BMW i4 provides a truly electrifying experience that exceeds all expectations – every day, every trip. BMW Group today offers the most extensive and diverse portfolio of electric cars for Indian customers”.

The BMW i4 flawlessly showcases the trailblazing union of dynamism and sustainability in a pure electric form. It has a look that will set your pulse racing. The first-ever BMW i4 wears its innovative character on its sleeve like the sporty extrovert it is.

The car’s futuristic exterior design combines athletic aesthetics with a clear surface language and progressive precision. It is the most aerodynamic electric vehicle in its class. The front is characterised by expansive closed surfaces and precise lines. The Grey inlay in the front apron and vertical side openings emphasises the functional, modern character of the vehicle. The absolute highlights are concise reinterpretation of radiator grille and the blue ring around BMW badge. Flat, strikingly contoured headlights and Frozen Grey accents in richly detailed, slender form add to the emotional flair. Thrillingly progressive, the side view is characterised by a long wheelbase, doors with frameless windows, fluid lines of the roof and short overhangs. Expansive, gently modelled surfaces with precise character lines create a modern impression that exudes elegance of a true BMW. The rear showcases a sharp vertical rear spoiler and recessed surfaces that strengthen the sporty and wide effect. The concise L-shaped rear LED lights with slender contours and horizontal lines, highlight how the BMW i4 hugs the road. Lightweight aerodynamic wheels contribute to enhance driving range. Air suspension on the rear axle with automatic self-levelling function ensures maximum comfort and enhances stability on sharp turns.

Open, luxurious and fascinating, the interior brings a driver-focused cockpit and an ambience with generous space. The BMW Curved Display adds a high-quality, modern touch to the cockpit. The interplay of high-quality materials, a multimodal, intuitive operating concept, with sport seats and sport steering wheel, separated areas for the driver and front passenger and acoustic glazing create an atmosphere that is delightful for long journeys as it is during short drives. The sport seat gives an especially elegant boost with high-quality decorative stitching. Up to three passengers can enjoy the back seat with generous head and leg room. Ambient lighting with six selectable light designs creates an atmosphere for every mood. Three-zone automatic climate control with nanofiber filter optimises air quality.

The large tailgate with automatic opening function makes loading and unloading from the 470-litre luggage compartment particularly convenient. In addition, the functional rear bench seat folds down with 40/20/40 split to provide maximum storage space and increase boot capacity up to 1290 litres.

Rear wheel drive, 50/50 weight distribution and a low centre of gravity add superlative balance, responsiveness and deliver outstanding traction and directional stability in extremely dynamic driving manoeuvres.

Fifth generation BMW eDrive technology features a highly integrated drive unit within a single housing that is powered by an electric motor, single-speed transmission and power electronics. The i4 instantly accelerates from 0 to 100 kmph in 5.7 seconds with an output of 340 hp.

Making its debut, the extremely slim (110 mm) and high-voltage lithium-ion battery integrated in the floor has a capacity of 80.7 kWh providing a range of up to 590 kms. The BMW i4 has longest range than any other electric vehicle in India.

The first-ever BMW i4 ensures fast and hassle-free charging. Charging time is:

205 kW DC Charger: 10%-80% in 31 min / 164 kms added range in 10 min
50 kW DC Charger:10%-80% in 83 min / 100 kms added range in 18 min
11 kW AC Charger: 0%-100% in about 8.25 hrs

As an introductory offer, the BMW i4 will come with a complimentary BMW Wallbox charger with installation. It can be integrated at home to enable safe and convenient charging up to 11kW.

BMW Group India aims to build one of the best charging networks in luxury segment with fast chargers at BMW dealer network in 34 cities across India. BMW dealer network across India welcomes owners of electric vehicles of all brands for fast and convenient charging at nominal rates.

A host of BMW ConnectedDrive technologies continue to break the innovation barrier. BMW Live Cockpit Professional includes the freestanding BMW Curved Display with its connection between a 12.3-inch digital information display behind the steering wheel and a 14.9-inch Control Display with Navigation. The new generation iDrive display and control / operation system with new BMW Operating System 8 extends the interaction between driver and vehicle. Occupants can operate a number of functions simply by speaking to their BMW Virtual Assistant. The smartphone holder integrated into the centre console allows inductive, Wireless Charging. Wireless Apple CarPlay / Android Auto ensure seamless smartphone connection with the car to access several functions. Harman Kardon Surround Sound System with 17 speakers conjures an engrossing treat for the ears. Parking Assistant with reverse camera makes parking in tight spots easier. The Reversing Assistant provides unmatched support in reversing out of a parking spot or narrow driveways. It records the last 50 metres driven and assists by taking over the steering.

Sustainability is in the DNA of BMW long before Sheer Driving Pleasure begins. BMW principle of Circular Economy – ‘RE:THINK, RE:DUCE, RE:USE, RE:CYCLE’ cuts down use of primary raw materials and increases secondary materials. Reduction of carbon footprint is achieved throughout the value chain and at all stages of lifecycle by making comprehensive use of natural and recyclable materials and production with 100% green electricity. Even when the battery has reached the end of its useful life after many years, it is not the end by any means. In their second life, the battery cells on an average can be used for another ten years as an energy store. After the battery cells are shredded, raw materials can be completely recycled. The lifecycle is then complete and ready to begin again.

VWCV Classic Vehicles has just finished bringing a unique 60-year-old vehicle back to mint condition: the ‘Half-track Fox’. This T1 was produced in the Hannover plant in May 1962 and then sent off to its purchaser in Austria. After a short period of life as a normal T1, it was transformed there at the hands of a resourceful Viennese Volkswagen mechanic into an Alpine specialist. Kurt Kretzner converted the Bulli into a T1 with four axles – two of them fitted with a chain drive mechanism and two steering the vehicle using double tyres. And thus he created what is probably the most off-road-capable Bulli ever to be seen on the mountain slopes of this world.

Historic sources say he was a keen skier. He noted that in the mountainous regions of Austria there was a scarcity of vans with high standard off-road capabilities: ones that were easy for anyone to drive and yet could climb up to the highest Alpine meadow. “An ideal helper for everyone: mountain hut keepers, hunters, foresters, doctors, maintenance engineers for ski-lifts, TV and radio masts, pipelines and the like,” as Kretzner later wrote in the sales literature for the Half-track Fox. “At first, I had a look around, but couldn’t find the vehicle I was dreaming of. So, I decided to build it myself.” Just as Ferry Porsche once said and did, so too did Kurt Kretzner. The inventor spent over four years designing and building his mountain climber. Two ‘Foxes’, it seems, were built in the period up to 1968, but when it came to the third, production then ceased. What has survived, however, is at least one example of the Half-track Fox.

What the Viennese mechanic planted under the orange-painted Bulli body was, at the front, a steered double axle with dual rough-tread 14-inch tyres and, at the back, another double axle with chain drive. The chains were mounted on 13-inch wheels and a construction of his own design made of aluminium elements with rubber blocks two centimetres thick to spare the asphalt. As a result of the dual front-axle steering the turning circle was less than 10 metres – so it could almost turn within its own circumference. Each wheel was fitted with a brake. An automatic limited-slip differential ensured evenly distributed forward propulsion even in deep snow. The T1 drew its power for this from its standard 25 kW / 34 PS flat engine with a cubic capacity of 1,192 cc. The Half-track Fox reached a top speed of 35 km/h and was thus only slightly slower than the animal kingdom member from which it got its name.

Kurt Kretzner wanted to build a tracked vehicle that would be very easy to steer. It was precisely for this reason that the mechanic opted not for steering via chains on every axle as is found on a bulldozer, but instead for a half-track solution (with chains only on the drive axles) and an almost standard, albeit doubled-up front-wheel steering mechanism. And that’s also how the inventor used to promote the Half-track Fox: “The new, ideal, easy-to-drive Half-track Fox that lets you safely and comfortably master all difficult terrain. Snow, sand, stony ground, mountain meadows, small streams and woods can all be driven through in this vehicle.”

Over the years, the Half-track Fox was rarely seen. In 1985, the T1 turned up for a final time in Vienna, before in the early 1990s it was bought by the Porsche Museum in Gmünd. At some point, the Half-track Fox then passed into the possession of the ‘Bullikartei e.V.’ – a society of lovers of the first Bulli generation. In 2005, they began an initial attempt to restore the special Alpine vehicle. With the society’s members spread all over the country, however, it was unfortunately not possible for logistical reasons to complete the restoration.

At the end of 2018, the Half-track Fox came into the collection of VWCV Classic Vehicles. The aim: to get the Half-track Fox up and running again. Under their guiding principle of “Erinnern. Erleben. Erhalten.” (Remember – Experience – Preserve), the classic vehicle experts began a painstaking process of restoration. The 60-year-old bodywork was, as is the case for all factory restorations in Hannover, stripped of paint, repaired, given a cathodic dip coating and repainted in the largely original shade of orange. Matt orange, in fact. The intention being back in the day that the Half-track Fox should be immediately recognisable in the countryside.

The VWCV Classic Vehicles team also got the mechanics back into as-new condition. The interior, too. The team was able to give free rein to their creativity there, as there were no onerous specifications. Wood components in beech and pine were individually adapted to the space inside the Half-track Fox, and practical tool holders installed. In February 2022, the time had then finally come – the Half-track Fox again channelled its way through the snow. And did so, indeed, with unusually good uphill capability: following the extensive restoration of the four-axle T1, the team of VWCV Classic Vehicles could see for themselves that the driver was more likely to capitulate on steep climbs than the Half-track Fox!

Bentley is celebrating 70 years since the start of production of the R-Type Continental – one of the most celebrated cars in the company’s 103-year history, and the first Bentley to wear the Continental name. With only 208 examples produced, the R-Type Continental was as rare a sight in the 1950s as it is today – but it went down in history as a benchmark Bentley, and the embodiment of the brand’s grand touring DNA. Its ethos and its exterior design were the inspiration for the first Continental GT in 2003, and it has inspired Bentley Design teams ever since.

While the first prototype R-Type Continental (known as ‘Olga’ thanks to its OLG490 registration) was on the road in August 1951, it wasn’t until May 1952 that the car went into production, with customer deliveries starting in June. At the time, it was the fastest four-seat car in the world – a mantle that was picked-up by the modern-day Continental GT in 2003. It was also the most expensive, at £6,928 – nearly four times the 1952 average UK house price.

The Iconic R-Type Continental
The brainchild of Chief Projects Engineer, Ivan Evernden and Chief Stylist, John Blatchley, the R-Type Continental was described in period by Autocar magazine as ‘a modern magic carpet which annihilates great distances.’

Two pre-war coachbuilt specials, the ‘Embiricos’ Bentley and Mk V Corniche, had shown the advantages of improved aerodynamics. In the early 1950s, Ivan Evernden took inspiration from these one-off creations to create a sleek coupé based on the R-Type Bentley saloon. The power of the 4,566cc, six-cylinder in-line engine was raised from 140 to 153 bhp, and the transmission featured a higher final drive ratio. The prototype averaged 118.75 mph over five laps (with a best lap of just under 120mph) at the banked Montlhèry track near Paris.

To keep down to the target weight, coachbuilders HJ Mulliner crafted the bodywork, window frames, windscreen surround, backlight, seat frames and bumpers in aluminium. Even at a pared-down weight, tyre choice was critical; no standard road tyre existed which could carry a two-ton car at speeds in excess of 115 mph, and Dunlop Medium Distance Track tyres were specified.

The first production model was delivered to its owner in June 1952 and by the time production ended in 1955, 208 R-Type Continentals had been made. Of these, 193 were bodied by HJ Mulliner. Others included Park Ward (four dropheads and two coupés), Franay (five), Graber (three) and Farina (one).

JAS 949
The Bentley Heritage Collection is the proud owner of R-Type Continental chassis BC16C, registration JAS 949. ‘JAS’ was built in 1953 and delivered to its first owner, Dr Rowland Guenin of Switzerland in December 1953. It was ordered in Ivory with Red interior and a manual gearbox, a specification it retains today along with the original 4.6-litre engine. Bentley Motors acquired JAS 949 in 2001 and has maintained it in excellent mechanical order while sympathetically preserving its patina. The car is driven regularly and appears frequently on display at the Bentley campus and at events around the world.

A Modern Interpretation
All three modern generations of the Continental GT have an exterior design inspired by the R-Type Continental. The elegant ‘power line’ that traces backwards from the front wheel arch, the muscular and defined rear haunch and the gracefully sloping roofline are all modern interpretations of the same features from the R-Type Continental, giving the modern Continental GT the same balance of grace, beauty and powerful stance as its forebear. Likewise, the ability of the modern Bentley to carry four adults with luggage at high speed over long distance in exceptional comfort has its roots in this now 70-year-old masterpiece. The very latest iteration, the Continental GT Speed, adds even sharper dynamic performance to the wide and unrivalled Continental blend of abilities.

German luxury car manufacturer Audi in association with their dealer partner Audi Kolkata had brought its adrenaline rushing experiential driving program – the Audi Q drive to the City of Joy.

Audi Q Drive is the most widespread program under the Audi driving experience program. Travelling across the country, the Audi Q drive is executed on a custom-built off-roading track; designed keeping in mind the key attributes and features of the Audi Q range, including especially Audi’s legendary quattro system. Customers enjoy driving on specially made off-road track and maneuver obstacles such as hill climbing, hill descend, slush, acceleration, braking, rumblers, axle twister and articulation and tilt angle.

Audi India has a team of instructors responsible for supervising the build-process of these tracks. The Audi Q Drive gives the enthusiasts a chance to drive the Audi Q range under trained supervision to understand the prowess of its advanced technology. Over 15,000 customers have participated in this program since its inception in India.

Photographs by Sourish Meryson

The new Jeep Meridian has been launched at an introductory price of INR 29.90 Lakhs (ex-showroom India). The highly anticipated all-new three-row Jeep SUV is designed to disrupt the segment. The Meridian leverages its globally proven engineering prowess coupled with Indian insights to deliver an authentic SUV experience with sophistication.

The vehicle’s design is inspired by the iconic Jeep Grand Cherokee as it aims to redefine the premium SUV segment with its many class leading features, including the fastest acceleration and highest power-to-weight ratio. The highly capable and agile SUV can go from 0-100 kmph in just 10.8 seconds and can attain a top speed of 198 kmph.

Commenting on the Jeep Meridian’s launch, Nipun J. Mahajan, Head of Jeep Brand India, said, “Brand Jeep believes it is time for Indian customers to kick-start a new adventure in the refined and capable Jeep Meridian. Our pricing reflects our intent to disrupt the segment and offer unmatched value for customers seeking a powerful, spacious, and sophisticated SUV.”

The new Jeep Meridian gets completely independent front and rear suspension setup. It comes equipped with Frequency Selective Damping (FSD) and Hydraulic Rebound Stopper (HRS) to ensure a smooth and comfortable ride on all kinds of roads and terrains.

The Jeep Meridian also promises the best steering control in the segment, thanks to the lowest parking torque of 2.2 Nm and a dynamic torque of 4.3 Nm. The low turning radius of 5.7 m further fortifies the new Jeep Meridian as an inspired choice for city driving.

The SUV’s credentials are further strengthened by the terrain-proven unibody SW platform which helps bring the authentic Jeep DNA to life and amplify the offering with the perfect blend of sophistication and performance.

Jeep Meridian is available across two trims, Limited and Limited (O). Both Limited and Limited (O) are available with the 4×2 front-wheel drive and a choice between a six-speed manual transmission and a nine-speed automatic transmission. A nine-speed automatic transmission with the 4×4 all-wheel drive is also available in the Limited (O) trim.

The Jeep Meridian is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine that generates 172 PS (170 hp) at 3,750 rpm and a maximum torque of 350 Nm available between 1,750-2,500 rpm. The Jeep Meridian claims to delivers an ARAI-ratified fuel economy of up to 16.2 kmpl.

To further ensure comfort for the car’s occupants, the SUV gets 840 mm between the first and second row, and 780 mm between the second and third row, making the Jeep Meridian the most spacious vehicle in the segment.

Jeep Meridian is a spacious three row SUV with 481-litres of boot space while seating five people and 170-litres of boot space when all seven seats are occupied. Beside its spacious interior, the cabin offers easy accessibility thanks to provisions such as the one-touch fold-and-tumble seats in the second row and the 80-degree door opening angle to help passengers get in and out with ease.

It also offers the best cooling performance in its class: the SUV claims to cools up to 30 per cent faster than competitors, thanks to the multi-zone climate control system, dedicated third-row AC-evaporator unit, and the thermo-acoustic cabin insulation.

The Jeep Meridian features Emperador Brown leather seats, third-row cooling with controls, automatic headlamps, diamond cut dual-tone 18-inch alloy wheels, and several other such attractive features.

The all-new Jeep Meridian comes equipped with UConnect5 that offers a host of connectivity and class leading infotainment features.

The Jeep Meridian Limited (O) trim additionally gets a two-tone roof, a dual-pane sunroof, a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 360-degree camera, and a powered lift-gate with programmable height and obstruction detection.

The all-new Jeep Meridian is now available for booking on Jeep India’s website (jeep-india.com) and at Jeep dealerships across India with a small down payment of INR 50,000. Deliveries will begin in June.

TVS Motor Company has announced an additional investment of £100 million in Norton Motorcycles which was acquired in April 2020. Norton recently opened its new manufacturing facility in Solihull, West Midlands, building British bikes in England using traditional hand-crafted techniques with modern-day machinery for consistently high quality.

Mr. Sudarshan Venu, Joint Managing Director, TVS Motor Company said, “TVS Motor Company is excited to announce an investment of about £100 million in Norton Motorcycle, the iconic British brand we had acquired in 2020. Some of these investments have already been made, leading to the creation of a world-class facility and the imminent launch of a re-engineered V4 SV and 961 Commando. A world-class team led by Robert Hentschel is working to bring Norton back to its rightful place. This investment will be towards electrification, cutting edge technology, world class vehicles, manufacturing, sustainability & the future of mobility. This is expected to create 250-300 direct jobs over the next 3 years and another 500-800 indirect jobs across the supply chain. The investments, spread over the next few years, will result in an exciting range of products for the global market. A brand-new facility has already been set up at Solar Park, Solihull, UK, which houses Norton’s state-of-the-art manufacturing capability and the company’s new global design and R&D hub.”

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, “Trade and investment between the UK and India is creating good jobs and sustaining livelihoods in both of our countries. I’m very pleased that TVS Motor Company has decided to join the legions of Indian companies investing in the UK, boosting our future mobility sector and driving economic growth.”

Norton Motorcycles’ new global headquarters houses state-of-the-art manufacturing capability and the company’s new global design and R&D hub. It forms a key part of Norton’s strategic growth plan on its journey to becoming a leading player in luxury and high-performance motorcycles. The manufacturing facility has been engineered to be highly sustainable and minimise waste.

This new facility is supported by the West Midlands Growth partnership, and the UK Government, and is a shining example of Anglo-Indian cooperation. Focused on bringing a renowned British motorcycle marque back to world-class levels of global business performance, Norton Motorcycles has defined its new brand approach that prepares it for an exciting and sustainable future.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars marks the 118th anniversary of the first meeting between its founders, Henry Royce and The Hon. Charles Stewart Rolls at the Midland Hotel, Manchester, England in 1904.

Through the combination of Royce’s engineering genius and Rolls’ talent for promotion, their company soon became recognised as the maker of ‘the best car in the world’ – a title that Rolls-Royce Motor Cars proudly retains more than a century later.

Today, the marque’s pinnacle product – Phantom – is the ultimate expression of Bespoke luxury designed and handmade at the Home of Rolls-Royce, Goodwood. As part of its annual reflections on its origins and unique heritage, Rolls-Royce looks back through Phantom’s lineage, exploring how its namesakes evolved over the years to remain consistently at the apex of the Rolls-Royce offering.

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars said, “As we reflect on Phantom’s remarkable heritage, I am struck by the unique place it occupies in the hearts and minds of our most demanding Rolls-Royce clients. Phantom is the beneficiary of the most ambitious forms of Rolls-Royce Bespoke, transforming into whatever our clients want it to be. Indeed, Phantom is not only the ‘best car in the world’, but the best car for them in their world.”

THE ORIGINS OF EXCELLENCE

In the automotive industry’s earliest days, luxury car makers produced only the mechanical components (engine, transmission, chassis and so on) known as a rolling chassis, which underpinned the car. The bodies were designed and constructed by independent coachbuilders to the customer’s specification.

For manufacturers, including Rolls-Royce, improvements in design and engineering were directed almost entirely towards technical aspects of the car’s performance. These included reliability, hill-climbing capability, ease of control and a set of ride quality attributes still known collectively as noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).

From the outset, Phantom earned the title ‘the best car in the world’ through the superior quality and designs of the rolling chassis – the finest platform on which coachbuilders could reach the very apex of their craft.

REDRAWING TECHNICAL BOUNDARIES

The Phantom family was born in 1925 when Rolls-Royce launched Phantom I. With its massive low-range torque, cutting-edge technology and ‘Magic Carpet Ride’, the new model immediately established the fundamental traits that would define the family for the next 100 years. Then, as now, Rolls-Royce declined to rest on its laurels, and by 1929, its successor was ready for the market.

Phantom II represented another step-change in engineering and technology. In 1930, the company unveiled the Phantom II Continental, which gave customers a choice of a more performance-orientated model for those who preferred to drive themselves. The ‘standard’ longer-wheelbase car was retained for chauffeur-driven use. This practice set the precedent for today’s Phantom and Phantom Extended.

THE NEED FOR SPEED

While the new Continental could attain speeds up to 95mph, it was still not as fast as some of its rivals. The company decided to resolve the matter once and for all. In 1934, applying its proven experience with aero engines, it developed a new 7.3-litre V12 engine, mounted on a new chassis. The resulting Phantom III, when fitted with lightweight coachwork, was capable of exceeding 100mph.

In 1939, Rolls-Royce produced an experimental car, nicknamed ‘The Scalded Cat’. In later years, this car was often loaned to influential individuals, including HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The Duke was so impressed that he persuaded Rolls-Royce to build him a more formal version; the marque obliged with the first Phantom IV, delivered in July 1950. The car remains on front-line (albeit reduced) duty at The Royal Mews, under its pre-delivery codename, Maharajah. Though originally intended as a one-off, 18 Phantom IV cars were completed: 17 were sumptuously appointed commissions for other royalty and heads of state; the other, somewhat bizarrely, was built as a pick-up truck for use by Rolls-Royce as transport and on-the-road component testing.

A FINAL FLOURISH

In 1959, the marque launched Phantom V, equipped with its most up-to-date V8 engine. In 1967, the car underwent subtle technical changes that were deemed, at the very last minute, sufficient to justify its redesignation as Phantom VI.

By 1968 the only true coachbuilder left in Britain was Rolls-Royce’s own in-house company, Mulliner Park Ward. These magnificent cars soldiered on through the mid-1980s, until production dwindled to a mere two or three cars a year, and finally ceased altogether in 1992.

BRINGING VISIONS TO LIFE

Every generation up to Phantom VI was essentially a rolling chassis. The bodies were built to the owner’s individual requirements by some of the most famous and prestigious names in British and European coachbuilding.

While this was normal practice in the luxury automotive world, Phantom stood apart through its ability – thanks to Royce’s engineering genius and the excellence of the chassis’ components and construction – to carry coachwork of the very finest quality, weight and complexity.

At every stage in Phantom’s development, owners exploited its potential to the full, creating some of the most magnificent, eye-catching and radical motor cars ever to grace the road. And since the chassis and body were separate, it was possible for a subsequent owner to change the car’s appearance to suit their own taste and requirements.

Many Phantoms took on more than one guise over their long, often globe-trotting lives: in some cases, they were merely repainted; in others, the whole car was rebuilt from the chassis upwards, taking on an entirely new form and character. And for all their extraordinary diversity, every one of the examples shown below is a true Rolls-Royce in terms of its underlying engineering, materials and construction, performance, ride quality and comfort – and, above all, in being exactly as the owner wanted it.

1930 Phantom II (62GY)
This handsome Phantom II was coachbuilt by Hooper of London with a Dual Cowl Tourer body. At the request of the owner, a wealthy timber merchant from Texas, 50 additions were specified with touring intentions. These include a larger fuel tank, louvered bonnet and radiator two inches taller than standard. The car was originally purchased for the owner’s honeymoon and went on to tour the Continent extensively until 1939. The present custodian acquired the car in 1998 and has since won prestigious awards including the Louis Vuitton Classic Parfums Givenchy Trophy pre-war tourers and Most Sporting Tourer in the Biarritz Concours.

1933 Phantom II Continental (55MW)
This ‘concealed-head boat body’ was a speciality of coachbuilder Park Ward. Its main feature was the compact folding hood that, when fully retracted, was entirely concealed under the rear deck, giving the coachwork its distinctive uninterrupted line. The original upholstery was textured pigskin.

1933 Phantom Ill (3BT103)
This rare two-door sedanca coupé was coachbuilt by HJ Mulliner for Apsley Cherry-Garrard, one of the surviving members of Captain Scott’s last, fateful expedition to the South Pole in 1912. The car was originally finished in Primrose Yellow with a dyed Vaulmol leather interior; in the late 1940s it was repainted in black. The car was briefly owned by the legendary actor Sir Ralph Richardson; it then spent time in Wales and the USA before returning to the UK in the late 70s / early 80s. It sat neglected in a barn until 2018 when it was bought by its present owner, and has now been painstakingly restored using many authentic components, including original numbered engine parts.

1937 Phantom III (3BT85)
London coachbuilder Hooper & Co built several bodies in this striking saloon-with-division style, which looks fast even when standing still thanks to its semi-razor edge styling and swooping curves. The art-deco chrome-plated flashes to the body and wings simply enhance the sense of kinetic energy.

1965 Phantom V (5VD63)
This Phantom was originally owned by Wing Commander Patrick Barthropp. In 1968, John Lennon purchased the car from Barthropp coinciding with the launch of The Beatles’ White Album. In September 1969 he sold the car to Allen Klein, an American businessman.

The car appeared in the Oscar-winning film Georgy Girl (1966), the classic Let It Be (1970), starring The Beatles, Performance (1970), featuring Mick Jagger, and then prominently featured in The Greek Tycoon (1978) starring Anthony Quinn.

In 2016 after extensive restoration, Jody Klein, a longtime Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club member brought the car to the Concurs d’Elegance, Lincolnshire, where it was awarded first place for ‘Best In Class’.

The car currently resides in the United Kingdom.

1966 Phantom VI (5LVF65)
James Young, established in 1863, is renowned for creating some of the most elegant coachwork to ever grace a motor car chassis. Perhaps the pinnacle of their achievements was realised in their PV23 design, developed especially for the Rolls-Royce Phantom V chassis, with 22 such bodies being built.

This model was usually finished in black, but for 5LVF65 the lighter shade of Ivory further enhances the classic elegance of every curve and line from the pen of its acclaimed designer, A. F. McNeil.

The interior contains a remarkably spacious rear compartment, with the finest cabinetry work below the division glass. Champagne cloth to the rear compartment is chosen for greater comfort than the similarly coloured and more resilient leather that the chauffeur would enjoy.

2015 Phantom VII (Serenity Phantom)
Rolls-Royce created this magnificent Bespoke Phantom VII Extended for its display at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. Inspired by opulent motor cars made for international royalty in the early 1900s, the rear passenger cabin is finished in a unique Smoke Green raw silk, specially handwoven and decorated with hand-embroidered and hand-painted Chinoiserie blossom motifs that took up to 600 hours to complete. The design also appears in the fascia and marquetry inlays in the rear doors; smoked cherrywood and bamboo elements, and details echoing the raked gravel in Japanese gardens complete the interior’s calm, natural ambiance. At the time, the Mother of Pearl exterior paint finish was the most complex – and expensive – the marque had ever produced.

2021 Phantom VIII (Phantom Oribe)
A unique collaboration saw the House of Rolls-Royce and the House of Hermès co-create a Bespoke Phantom for Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa. Named Phantom Oribe, the motor car features a Bespoke two-tone exterior finish, inspired by the client’s world-class collection of ancient Japanese ceramics, Oribe ware. In an unusual move, the Rolls-Royce paint was made available for use on the client’s private jet that the Phantom is paired with.

The interior is finished predominantly in Hermès Enea Green leather. The Gallery features an artwork based on a design by the celebrated French artist and illustrator Pierre Péron (1905–1988), who created many of Hermès’ iconic scarves.

AN ICON REBORN

At one minute past midnight, on January 1, 2003, the first Phantom VII was handed over to its new owner – the first motor car to be produced at the brand-new Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, West Sussex, England. A thoroughly modern interpretation of the marque’s signature lines and proportions, as first set down by Sir Henry Royce himself, it was built entirely in-house by Rolls-Royce, with monocoque bodywork to a standard design rather than coachbuilt. In one important sense, however, it retained a link with its heritage, in that every car was hand-built by a team of skilled craftspeople. Furthermore, the marque’s Bespoke programme meant Phantom was effectively a canvas upon which patrons could realise their own visions and desires.

Over its 13-year lifespan, Phantom VII cemented Rolls-Royce as the world’s pre-eminent superluxury motor manufacturer, and its own place as the marque’s pinnacle product. But just like their predecessors, Rolls-Royce’s designers and engineers understood that perfection is a moving target: that Phantom was never ‘done’.

In 2016, Rolls-Royce presented Phantom VIII. This was the first Rolls-Royce to be built on the marque’s proprietary Architecture of Luxury, an all-aluminium spaceframe designed to underpin every future motor car produced at Goodwood.

Phantom VIII was specifically designed to be the ultimate platform for Bespoke commissions. This has resulted in some of the most technically ambitious and challenging projects ever undertaken by the marque’s designers, engineers and specialist craftspeople. It is also the only Rolls-Royce model to feature the Gallery – an uninterrupted swathe of glass that runs the full width of the fascia, behind which the client can display a commissioned work of art or design.

Volvo Cars reports sales of 47,150 cars in April, down 24.8 per cent compared with the same month last year. Demand is still strong, especially for Volvo Cars’ electrified vehicles and the share of recharge models as part of total sales continues to increase.

In April Volvo Cars electrified recharge models grew 18.7 per cent compared with the same month in 2021 accounting for 38.4 per cent of total sales. The share of fully electric cars stood at 10 per cent.

For the January-April period, Volvo Cars’ sales reached 195,445 cars, down 21.3 per cent compared with the same period last year.

In April, Covid-19 lockdowns in eastern China impacted retail deliveries in China and added more challenges to already weakened global supply chains, resulting in additional loss of production.

As previously communicated at the end of the first quarter, Volvo Cars informed of a supplier shortage of a specific type of semi-conductor, which will impact production during the second quarter. The company considers this a temporary setback and expects the supply chain restraints related to semi-conductors to improve during the second half of the year.

European sales for April reached 19,822 cars, down 23.2 per cent compared with the same month last year. Volvo’s electrified Recharge sales accounted for 51.4 per cent of the total sales in the region during the month.

Volvo Cars’ US sales for the month reached 10,022 cars, down 9.2 per cent compared with April last year, with Recharge models making up 44.1 per cent of the total sales.

China sales declined 47.8 per cent in April to 8,579 cars compared to the same month last year.

Volvo’s top selling model for the month was the XC60 with sales of 14,952 cars (2021: 17,925 units), followed by the XC40 at 13,876 cars (2021: 19,833) and the XC90 at 8,208 cars (2021: 9,371 units).