Of course, it would be criminal to forget about the exterior details.
 |
| Two-toned paint should be optional. Unless you are Cruella De Ville, in which case it is a must. (Photo: Rolls Royce Motor Cars) |
This particular Rolls features a beautiful two-toned paint job, but not in the traditional upper and lower body manner. No, the Rolls' crisp bodywork is painted in Dark Tungsten, offset by a lighter gray hood, which blends into the aluminum windshield frame. Like the 100EX, the 101's snout is more rounded than the Phantom, softened by a curved radiator grille. The Rolls concept also features a different twist to its headlamps, using a combination of xenon and thin LED lamps to provide frontward illumination. Other noteworthy details include the flush-mount exhaust pipes and door handles, hewn from solid hunks of aluminum, and the 255/50 R 21 light alloy wheels up front, and the 285/45 R21 wheels and tires in back.
Though
 |
| Power is actually disclosed this time around. . . (Photo: Rolls Royce Motor Cars) |
the 100EX and the 101EX have similar noses and bodies, and feature two rear-hinged doors for interior access, they differ in one fundamental area: the engine and transmission are more down to earth. As a commemoration to Rolls-Royce's 100th Anniversary in 2004, the brand went all out in designing a 9.0-litre V16, crafted from two BMW V8s mated together. This time around, the 101EX uses the same six-and-three-quarters-litre V12 engine from the standard Phaeton. The motor, featuring BMW's innovative Valvetronic fuel management system and direct injection, produces 460 of the world's quietest ponies, and has been tweaked to deliver three-quarters of its 531 lb-ft of torque at just over 1,000 rpm. The engine is driven through a six-speed column shift automatic.
With those big, heavy doors open, it's easy to walk right into the
 |
| Narrow windows and plenty of wood and leather give 101EX a cozy cabin. (Photo: Rolls Royce Motor Cars) |
101EX and take a seat; the self-closing rear-hinge design, an idea borrowed from the Phantom's rear doors, provides interesting and practical access for those who ride in front and in back. There's nothing to write home about from the driver's seat, except the seat itself which is a slim-line design for improved style and interior access. Little else has been changed from the Phantom in terms of its layout and equipment. Instead, the 101EX's differences lie in the rear quarters; occupants sit deep inside the U-Shaped back seat, cocooned by the low roof height, the world's richest leather and American Red Oak which wraps around the entire perimeter of the cabin. Above, the Rolls' fixed metal roof features special fibre optic lighting to mimic twinkling stars in a perfectly clear night sky.
From
 |
| Could a Corniche Coupe be coming soon, to a dealer near you? (Photo: Rolls Royce Motor Cars) |
Rolls-Royce's first concept car, the 1919 1EX, based off that era's Silver Spur, to the latest 101EX, the iconic luxury brand has successfully shown the its rich pedigree and with that a desire to claim its rightful place as the world's ultimate luxury automobile.
Could you see the 101EX sitting in the Rolls-Royce range in the near future? I certainly could. With the introduction of the 100EX - AKA Corniche - expected to happen sometime within the next two years, it would only make sense for Rolls to build the accompanying two-door fixed-head (hardtop) version, making it much less of an experimental vehicle than its EX title states.
Specifications: - Body Type: 2-door coupe
- Layout: front engine, RWD
- Engine: 460 hp, 531 lb-ft of torque, 6.75L, DOHC V12
- Transmission: 6-spd auto
- Dimensions (L/W/H/WB): 5.60 / 1.99 / 1.59 / 3.32 m (220.5 / 78.3 / 62.6 / 130.7 in)
- Tires (front/rear): 255/50R 21 / 285/45R21
- Website: www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com
