Rolls-Royce to expand manufacturing plant

The Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood in West Sussex is to expand in the months ahead. The news follows significant growth in worldwide sales over the last 18 months and a greater demand from customers for highly personalised Rolls-Royce Ghost and Phantom models.

The expansion includes an increase in size by more than 2500 square metres for the Assembly Hall, completing the final phase of development from original site plans for the production area. A new extension will also increase the Surface Finish Centre by more than 640 square metres. Total investment in the project will be about £10 million.


This development follows record sales in 2010 and growing demand across all markets, both at home and internationally. The company is also expanding its dealer network, with several new dealerships recently launched in North America, Asia Pacific and Europe and more are planned in the balance of the year.

The new space, and a number of additional infrastructure changes, will allow the company’s manufacturing and Bespoke operation to expand significantly. Bespoke allows Rolls-Royce customers the luxury to commission motor cars that suit their personal lifestyles and creative desires, transforming super-luxury cars into unique hand-crafted masterpieces which are as individual as their owner’s fingerprint. This year, Rolls-Royce has seen a significant increase in demand for personalised bespoke models, and the company recently announced a doubling in the number of Bespoke experts throughout the business.

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said, “I am very pleased to announce our expansion plans. We continue to see increased demand from customers all over the world and the new facilities will allow us to increase the capacity for our hand-built, highly personalised motor cars. This investment demonstrates our confidence in this unique brand, our commitment to our Home at Goodwood - the only place in the world where Rolls-Royce motor cars are built - and signals the next phase in the development of our company.”

Mark Prisk, Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, said, “It is good news to hear that Rolls-Royce has plans for expansion at the Goodwood site. It is a further endorsement of the strength of the automotive sector in the UK. Automotive is the UK’s number one manufactured export – in 2010 the UK auto sector exported over £27 billion-worth of vehicles and parts.”

Construction is planned to commence later this year and will be completed in late 2012.

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First 100mph Rolls-Royce to lead London to Edinburgh

The first 100mph Rolls-Royce, a 1911 ‘Experimental Speed Car’ known as 1701, will lead a cavalcade of 17 historic Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts from the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, on Sunday 11 September. The historic cars, dating from 1911 to 1922, will be supported by a new Rolls-Royce Ghost, hand built at the Home of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars at Goodwood, West Sussex. The event, run by the 20-Ghost Club, will re-enact the 1911 London to Edinburgh Top Gear Trial, which cemented the Rolls-Royce reputation for superlative quality, refinement and reliability.

The 1911 RAC-observed London to Edinburgh Trial was a major test for Edwardian cars. The Trial allowed Rolls-Royce to demonstrate the performance, flexibility and economy of the Silver Ghost, particularly when compared to its arch rival, the Napier. At the same time it broadened the appeal of the car to a younger and sportier clientele, without deterring the traditional aristocratic customer that was at that time the mainstay of Rolls-Royce production. The RAC observers ensured that only top gear was used, including pulling away from standstill, quite an achievement 100 years ago before motorways and metalled roads.



No other car at the time could match this Rolls-Royce feat, with 1701 driving from London to Edinburgh and back using top gear only and averaging fuel consumption of more than 24mpg. To prove that the original chassis had a normal back axle ratio and that the car had received no mechanical alteration, the car was then driven at Brooklands, achieving over 78mph. Later, when fitted with a ‘wind-cheating’ single-seat body, 1701 recorded a speed of 101mph over the flying half-mile at Brooklands driven by E.W. Hives, eventually destined to become Chairman of the Rolls-Royce company.

The 2011 re-enactment will recreate the original trial as faithfully as possible, including gear change gates being authentically sealed to show any use of intermediate gears. The event will start at 6.00am from the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall on Sunday 11 September 2011 and will follow as much of the original route along the Great North Road as possible, taking two days to get to Edinburgh. The return journey will end at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood in West Sussex on Thursday 15 September, where the drivers will be rewarded with a Grand Afternoon Tea. On Saturday 17 September at 7.30am, the cars will line up at the Goodwood Motor Circuit Grid and then join the Revival Opening Parade lap.


Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said, “Rolls-Royce has always stood for the very best engineering combined with refinement, luxury and, of course, hand craftsmanship and human endeavour. These qualities are the same today as they were 100 years ago. We are delighted to support our friends at the 20-Ghost Club in this remarkably authentic re-enactment and look forward to welcoming them to the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood after a successful Centenary Trial.”

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Rolls-Royce presents exclusive year of the dragon collection

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars proudly presents the Year of the Dragon Collection, a commemorative offering in preparation for this festive celebration. Inspired by the legendary creature that is revered in China (the Chinese Year of the Dragon starts on January 23, 2012.), the Year of the Dragon Collection has been created to celebrate the ultimate symbol of power, prosperity and good fortune. Designed at the Home of Rolls-Royce by the Bespoke team, this exclusive collection features a suite of unique detailing and design, which includes:



On first glimpse of the car, a prominent feature is the twin coachline with a dragon, in gold colour, hand-painted to the side of each Phantom or Phantom Extended Wheelbase. In order to achieve perfect symmetry and balance, the dragon will always look forward. The hand-painted dragon coachline is inspired by the Forbidden City in Beijing and provides distinctive finishing touches to the car’s exterior.







Dragon Headrest Embroidery

The dragon also appears on the leather of every headrest, carefully hand-embroidered using a combination of four thread colours: Tan, Golden Sand, Black and White. The colours are designed to complement a palette of recommended leather colour options and the design can be finished with an additional seat piping feature.



Dragon Phantom Passenger Panel Inlay

A dragon inlay will be hand-laid to the passenger panel of every car in this unique collection. The Phantom model name is also applied in gold, the two features match together perfectly.





Embroidered Cushions with R-R Logo and Piping

The interior promises two hand-stitched cushions for the rear passengers, specified with embroidered double R-R logos and piping to carefully accentuate the chosen interior.



Illuminated Treadplates

The four door sills feature exclusive illuminated treadplates with ‘Year of the Dragon 2012’ highlighted in LED lighting.





A Celebratory Marquetry Selection

Designed at the Home of Rolls-Royce, the Year of the Dragon Collection offers a choice of either modern or traditional marquetry to match the customer’s veneer choice which - as a reflection of the Woodshop’s craftsmanship and attention to detail - is laser-cut and then hand-assembled into position in the veneer.



“At Rolls-Royce Motor Cars we delight in bringing new, exclusive designs to our customers”, said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “The Bespoke team elegantly captures the imagination with this Year of the Dragon Collection, celebrating the turning of a New Year of prosperity and good fortune with this unique creative offering.”



“The Bespoke team is privileged to commemorate the Chinese Year of the Dragon with this exciting Collection,” said Thomas G. Jefferson, Bespoke Sales Manager, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “This limited edition car embodies the synergy of craftsmanship, creativity and culture in a manner that is uniquely Rolls-Royce.”



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Rolls-Royce expands bespoke operation due to growing demand

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is expanding its Bespoke operation due to growing customer demand for bespoke items, a trademark service by the British manufacturer of super-luxury motor cars.



The Bespoke operation, based at the Home of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars at Goodwood in West Sussex, will see a surge of team members, including designers, engineers and project management staff, doubling the headcount by the end of 2011. It will bring the number of Bespoke experts throughout the business to over 50.







This year, Rolls-Royce has seen a significant increase in customer demand for personalised bespoke features, transforming the brand's super-luxury cars into unique hand-crafted masterpieces which are as individual as their owner’s fingerprints. In order to satisfy demand, the business is recruiting additional Bespoke designers as well as engineers in manufacturing and project management functions. Operational support functions will also expand in various areas including product marketing and sales.



Bespoke operations are not limited to design and development of automotive parts. Bespoke allows Rolls-Royce customers the luxury of commissioning motor cars to suit their personal lifestyles. Examples are as versatile and unique as picnic sets that are colour-matched to a car’s interior, carefully selected luxurious interior materials or the creation of seamless storage for an owner’s favourite belongings.





“The ability to bespoke one’s vehicle has always been at the heart of Rolls-Royce so it is very encouraging to see that after more than one hundred years at the very pinnacle of the automotive world, our Bespoke services are still very much in demand from customers all over the world today”, explained Member of the Board and Director, Sales and Marketing, Jolyon Nash.









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La aplicación del Rolls-Royce Phantom, ahora disponible en la App Store

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars today announced the Rolls-Royce Phantom App is now available on the App Store. The Rolls-Royce Phantom App for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch allows clients and Rolls-Royce enthusiasts to create highly bespoke virtual models, including the ability to apply unique colour and interior trim combinations. The Rolls-Royce Phantom App also features an image gallery showcasing bespoke features such as seat piping, veneer inserts, humidor and picnic sets.

Rolls-Royce prides itself on a palette of 44,000 colours for Phantom and the app lets users create the most esoteric and individual of exterior finishes. The Bespoke Colour Match feature allows limitless and unique single and two-tone paint designs. Using an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch camera, users could capture - for example - the colour of a favourite lipstick or luggage then apply it directly to the exterior of their virtual Phantom.



Nearly all Phantom buyers demand some bespoke elements for their cars and the Rolls-Royce Phantom App showcases many popular options. One example is starlight headliner, a feature where hundreds of illuminated optical fibres are woven into the roof lining of the chosen Phantom model. Users can experience this interior ambiance interactively, thanks to the app’s ability to turn up or down the degree of illumination.

The Rolls-Royce Phantom App features 360-degree exterior views and three interior angles from the front, side and rear seat. It can be used to configure Phantom, Phantom Coupé and Phantom Drophead Coupé and follows the launch of the Rolls-Royce Ghost App in March last year.

Rolls-Royce Phantom and Rolls-Royce Ghost Apps are available free of charge from the App Store on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore

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