AN ALL- NEW HEART

Unlike the prevailing trend where even luxury car makers are sharing platforms with mass market nameplates, Rolls-Royce is doing the opposite. Based on what it calls the “Architecture of Luxury”, it is an all-aluminium spaceframe architecture, which will be the basis of all future Rolls- Royce cars. Specifically, it will not be shared with even the top-of-the line BMWs, the company that owns the iconic British brand.

“This realisation was a moment of clarity about the destiny of Rolls-Royce,” says Torsten MüllerÖtvös, Chief Executive Officer of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “Every one of our customers – each a connoisseur of luxury in the extreme – was asking for something more individual to them, not less.”

“Key to Rolls-Royce realising its vision of being the world’s leading luxury brand is an architecture that spans the entire Rolls-Royce family,” says Philip Koehn, Director of Engineering. “The Architecture of Luxury will carry every future Rolls-Royce, not just the new Phantom. Project Cullinan and eventually the next Ghost, Wraith, Dawn, will ride on this architecture, as well as future coachbuild projects.”

In effect, it will ensure that every Rolls-Royce car will be unique in a way. The new set-up is 30 per cent more rigid than the spaceframe architecture of Phantom VII and yet, thanks to the extensive use of aluminium, only a tad heavier at around 2.7 tonnes.

“Phantom VII’s spaceframe architecture was a good starting point and inspiration, but we wanted to do much more,” says Giles Taylor, Director of Design. “It gives me the canvas to protect the lineage and brand integrity of Rolls-Royce. Starting with the new Phantom, I have the framework to create a future range of true Rolls-Royces.”

Apart from the increased stiffness, it also gets a best-in-class high comfort chassis with air suspension and state-of-the-art chassis control systems, for unparalleled ride and handling. A new double-wishbone front axle and five-link rear axle deliver astounding control. The company’s Magic Carpet Ride has also improved as a result of the new lighter architecture and the latest generation of self-levelling air suspension. The suspension makes millions of calculations every second as it continuously varies the electronically controlled shock absorber system – reacting to body and wheel acceleration, steering inputs and camera information. In addition, there is a stereo camera system integrated in the windscreen to see the road ahead, adjusting suspension proactively.