The electric Rolls-Royce

[MikeDT]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12923112

BBC motoring writer Jorn Madslien is one of the first people outside Rolls-Royce to have driven the company's newly built electric car. So, is it any good?

The silence is, if not deafening, then at least spine-tingling as the 2.7 tonne Rolls-Royce Phantom effortlessly takes off down the drive of the carmaker's Goodwood factory.

When I first read this today I thought it was a BBC April fools joke, but apparently it's real.

 

[imageWIS]

The car demands the name 'Silent Ghost'.

 

[alexanduh]

ridiculous.

 

[Blackhood]

Originally Posted by alexanduh

ridiculous.

No, perfection.

Make Luxury Electric a market. Mercedes Makes an S-Class version. 10 Years down the road its in ever E/C-Class, A8/6 and 3/5 Series in Europe. No one has to own a prius ever again.

 

[Dakota rube]

Are people wealthy enough to buy this going to do it ironically?

 

[Blackhood]

They're the people who want the "first electric rolls royce". It would be like having Karl Benz's first Petrolium Automobile.

 

[imageWIS]

Originally Posted by Blackhood

They're the people who want the "first electric rolls royce". It would be like having Karl Benz's first Petrolium Automobile.

Well played.

 

[imageWIS]

Originally Posted by Dakota rube

Are people wealthy enough to buy this going to do it ironically?

It makes sense in a city like NYC or even Miami where the distances often traveled aren't very far. Thus recharge time isn't a big concern... I'm thinking this would be perfect for a hotel, they could own 2, one to be used while the other one is being charged, and they rotate.

 

[MikeDT]

Originally Posted by alexanduh

ridiculous.

I reckon in the coming decades many large cities will make electric vehicles compulsory, NO petrol, NO diesel engined vehicles allowed. Want to drive a Rolls-Royce here? Better make sure it's battery operated.

 

[gtg732w]

Originally Posted by Blackhood

No, perfection.

Make Luxury Electric a market. Mercedes Makes an S-Class version. 10 Years down the road its in ever E/C-Class, A8/6 and 3/5 Series in Europe. No one has to own a prius ever again.

I agree, the thought of my only automotive option being a Prius makes me want to hitchhike.

Audi used a similar business model with their TDI race cars, so if Rolls Royce or Porsche want to produce the next gen electric or hybrid car, it's a step in the right direction.

 

[imatlas]

I watched a Honda Insight (new version) struggling to get up a steep San Francisco street this weekend. The car was at a dead stop until the doors flew open and 4 passengers jumped out and pushed the car up the hill.

BTW what the **** happened to RR, the Phantom is one of the ugliest cars I've ever seen (yes I know about the sale etc)

 

[whnay.]

Originally Posted by imatlas

I watched a Honda Insight (new version) struggling to get up a steep San Francisco street this weekend. The car was at a dead stop until the doors flew open and 4 passengers jumped out and pushed the car up the hill.

BTW what the **** happened to RR, the Phantom is one of the ugliest cars I've ever seen (yes I know about the sale etc)

This is darwin at work.

 

[Kid Nickels]

I don't care if it runs on farts... I just want to ride around in the back seat sippin my scotch!