by Ross Finlay (02 Mar 04)

Rolls-Royce doesn’t follow the industry trend of building concept cars, but back in 1919 it started a run of "experimental" prototypes with the Silver Ghost-based 1EX. The last of that original series was 45EX, produced in 1958, but the theme has now been taken up again, and one of the most stunning vehicles at the Geneva Show is the Rolls-Royce 100EX.

Marek Djordjevic, the company’s chief stylist for exterior design, says of the four-seat drophead that, "The overall impression is intended to be that of an elegant motor yacht at speed."

There’s certainly something of that in the view of the flowing front-to-rear lines and the aluminium waist rail, but the yachting connection is taken further in the use of bleached teak decking. That, rather than carpeting, is the material for the passenger cabin floor as well as for the tonneau cover and the lining of the boot.

Two different coachbuilding ideas, popular in previous decades, come together at the rear of the car, where Rolls-Royce has combined tapering boat-tail styling with a "countryman" boot whose lower tailgate hinges down, to act either as a picnic table or as something on which to stand when cheering on competitors at a point-to-point or some similar event.

The two-door bodywork features the same uncompromisingly blunt front end as the Phantom, although Rolls-Royce says it has "a more progressive version" of the Phantom grille. With fingers crossed, many observers are waiting hopefully for a still more progressive version. A new fabric with fine metallic threads is used for the outer layer of the hood, which is lined with the same cashmere/wool material as the production car. Mahogany is the chosen woodwork for the interior, there’s some metallic-finish detailing, and the seats are upholstered in Dark Curzon leather.

High Technology Too

So far, so very high-class Rolls-Royce. But the 100EX is rather more than just a 21st-century super-luxury convertible. For one thing, it uses a lightweight aluminium space frame, and for another it comes with an engine like nothing Rolls-Royce has ever fitted before. 

Henry Royce himself mulled over the idea of a sixteen-cylinder engine before settling on a V12 for the Phantom III of the 1930s. Now the sixteen-cylinder theme has come back, because the 100EX is powered by a nine-litre V16 engine which, understandably enough, has no need of turbocharging. Rolls-Royce’s parent BMW has obviously been enjoying itself here.

It comes as no surprise that the 100EX will not progress to production status, although various elements of the design, construction and equipment may well percolate through to showroom models of the future.

On the other hand, the car is not meant to be simply a motor show exhibit. Ready in time for the Rolls-Royce centenary, it will appear at many of the anniversary events later in the year.

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