Rolls-Royce Coupe to Debut in Geneva

Rolls-Royce is set to debut its new coupe at the Geneva Motor Show, and if it looks half as flattering in person as it does in these glamor shots, it should make one hell of a splash. Check out a bunch more pics and the full press release after the jump. CarScoop via Rolls-Royce

ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM COUP

INTRODUCTION
In
2006, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars unveiled 101EX, an experimental car
hand-built to explore an exciting new design direction for a modern
coup. Wrapped in a sleek, rakish body, 101EX was an engineering-led
study, showcasing the technical and architectural innovation inherent
in the quintessential modern Rolls-Royce car. Both handsome and
elegant, it encapsulated the essence of contemporary coup style.

So
positive was the worldwide reaction to 101EX that, in autumn 2007,
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announced that a series model would go into
production in the summer of 2008. This coup would complete the Phantom
family, standing alongside the Phantom, Phantom Extended Wheelbase and
Phantom Drophead Coup.

Revealed
at the Salon International de l’Automobile, Geneva in March 2008, the
Phantom Coup is the third new model from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars since
BMW Group became custodian of the marque in 1998.

The
Coup is the most driver-orientated model in the Phantom line. A number
of subtle but significant modifications have been made that change its
character. It is noticeably more dynamic, whilst still offering
incredible levels of comfort a balance not easily achieved.

The
Coup marries cutting-edge technology with a beautifully proportioned,
muscular body that exudes power and style. Utterly contemporary in
appearance, it nonetheless incorporates timeless Rolls-Royce design
cues such as the long bonnet, large-diameter wheels, short front and
long rear overhangs and the classic dynamic, rising profile.

Pleasing
to the touch and to the eye, every material used in the Phantom Coup
has been carefully selected to combine form with function. The cabin’s
sumptuous leather, rich wood grains and cool chrome accents create a
driver environment unparalleled in luxury and comfort.

Designed
to cover great distances with the minimum of fuss, the Coup is a
sublime choice for a transcontinental trip, its effortless power
provided by the Phantom’s 6.75-litre V12, producing a phenomenal 453
bhp and 720 Nm of torque. Agile, fast, long-legged and virtually
silent, the Phantom Coup allows both driver and passengers to emerge
unruffled, even after an all-day run.

DESIGN
“Rolls-Royce
has always been about pace, performance and style,” says Ian Cameron,
who led the design team. “For the Coup design we have emphasised the
dynamism. The driving dynamics of the Phantom have always come as a
surprise to customers and the Coup builds on this visually as well as
dynamically, via hard engineering changes. Its design adds drama to the
outstanding engineering and drivability that are fundamentals of
Rolls-Royce cars.

“We
could have simply bolted a hard-top roof to the Drophead in order to
make the Phantom Coup. After all, the convertible is an incredibly
well mannered car that performs impeccably. But this would not have
been the right thing to do. The Coup and the Drophead are two distinct
cars, with different personalities and specific performance
characteristics.”

EXTERIOR
The
sleek lines of the Coup suggest tremendous, effortless power. Designed
to look like a moving form even at a standstill, the Coup has the
demeanour of a muscular animal, ready to be unleashed.

The
front end, with its slim LED sidelights and larger, round driving
lamps, has a gently raked, softer-edged appearance, sweeping back over
the long bonnet to the strong line of the triangular A-frame. The front
coach-doors are rear-hinged and were newly homologated for use on the
Drophead Coup. Enabling all passengers to enter and exit more
gracefully, these doors also offer safety benefits: the rear hinging
allows an uninterrupted A-pillar, which adds significantly to the car’s
overall torsional rigidity. For ease of operation, the doors may be
closed at the simple touch of a button, housed discreetly inside the
front quarterlight.

In
classic Rolls-Royce style, the Phantom Coup has a dynamic, rising
profile, its high waistline tapering back to a contemporary take on a
boat-tail. Sleek body panels create an uninterrupted visual flow,
complemented by accents of stainless steel and aluminium.

The
picnic boot, as seen on the Drophead Coup, is a wonderfully sociable
feature. When lowered, it provides a seating platform for two, with
hinges substantial enough to hold a weight of 150 kg / 330 lb. At the
same time, it also offers easy access to the luggage compartment, which
has a volume of 395 litres / 13.9 cu ft – enough for four sets of golf
clubs.

The
mirror-like finish of the paintwork perfectly sets off the stunning
lines of the Coup. Each body receives five individual coats of paint
and lacquer, with hand-finishing between each layer. It is then
polished for five hours to create a lustre that is unsurpassed in the
automotive world. A new palette of nine standard paint colours has been
selected for the Coup, including Darkest Tungsten, Anthracite and New
Sable. However, through the Bespoke programme, customers can choose
from more than 44,000 different hues. Like the Drophead Coup, the new
model is available with a brushed steel bonnet and A-pillar surround.
These parts are machine-brushed to create a uniform grain and then
hand-polished to a unique and flawless finish.

Extraordinary
attention to detail is the hallmark of a true Rolls-Royce and this is
exemplified in the finer details of the Phantom Coup. Visible
tailpipes hint at its role as a driver’s car, as do the 21-inch wheels,
which are available in three styles, including two forged alloy
options. Indispensable to those who spend a lot of time in town is an
optional camera, nestled below the front numberplate. When pulling out
of a side road or parking, it transmits a split-screen view of the road
ahead. At the rear, another camera is fitted beneath the chrome
boot-lid handle, to aid reversing manoeuvres.

INTERIOR
An
exquisite interior, hand-built using the finest materials, supremely
comfortable and equipped with a studio-quality sound system, makes the
Phantom Coup the perfect car for all-day driving. Clean and
contemporary, the cabin uses traditional materials in a modern way to
create a tactile and visual feast: driver and passengers touch only
leather, wood or chrome.

All
the controls are intuitively and conveniently positioned, the
simplicity of the facia belying the technology beneath. An analogue
clock set in a bookmatched veneered panel hides the media screen, only
to be revealed when called upon. The multi-zone climate control has
chromed eyeball vents and traditional ‘organ stop’ controls, while
additional features are accessed using beautifully crafted ‘violin
keys’ – contemporary uses of long-established, and well loved,
Rolls-Royce design features.

The
Lexicon LOGIC7TM sound system can be controlled by just one dial.
Unique in its use in the automotive industry, the Lexicon system has 15
metal-matrix speakers to deliver an unparalleled clarity of sound,
regardless of where a passenger may be seated. A nine-channel amplifier
powers these speakers – two sub-woofers fitted beneath the seats and 13
100 mm mid-range and 44 mm tweeter arrays carefully placed around the
car – to an impressive 420 watts of sound. The Coup is available with
iPod connectivity as an alternative to the standard six-CD changer.

The
commanding driving position affords the most inspirational view in
motoring: straight down the long sweep of bonnet to the Spirit of
Ecstasy. Closer fitting than those of the Phantom, the slim-line front
seats offer outstanding comfort, ensuring that both driver and
passenger remain fresh and relaxed after a day’s drive.

The
rear of the Coup houses an inviting lounge seat, a curved sofa that
interior designer Alan Sheppard describes as, “intimate for two yet
superbly comfortable on long journeys”. Boulevard lighting creates a
gentle luminescence, an effect that can be heightened by the optional,
full-length starlight headlining, which incorporates hundreds of tiny
fibre optics to give the impression of a star-filled night sky.
Adjustable to provide a quiet glow or ample light to read by, this
beautiful lighting is complemented by discreet directional reading
lights in the C-pillars.

As
with every Rolls-Royce car, the interior of the Coup can be
personalised via the Bespoke programme, allowing for any number of
features, each tailored to the tastes of the individual.

ENGINEERING
At
the core of the Coup is a sophisticated, all-aluminium spaceframe,
first seen in the Phantom. It provides an exceptional base for the car,
offering great strength, a very high degree of torsional rigidity and
low weight, all of which benefit dynamics. Manufactured to within a
tolerance of just 0.1 mm / 0.004 in, each spaceframe is constructed by
hand and then checked by computer to ensure total accuracy. The body’s
structure, comprised of box sections of aluminium, is painstakingly
hand-welded by a team of experts. Every morning, each member of the
team performs a 300 mm test weld to ascertain atmospheric effects on
the metal with which they are working so that these can be taken into
account. In all, more than 130 metres of weld are used to create the
Coups spaceframe.

The
Phantom Coups lightweight and rigid structure, the most torsionally
stiff in the Phantom line, provides the foundation for its excellent
dynamic abilities, but it also offers safety benefits. The box sections
are exceptionally strong and offer greater dispersion of energy in the
event of a collision. Frontal impacts are absorbed by crumple zones
that direct the force into Y-shaped chassis members and the main
understructure, the strongest part of the chassis. Side impact
intrusion is minimised by the double-skinned floor construction, side
sills and integral side impact bars in each door.

The
inherent safety of the spaceframe is enhanced by other safety systems
controlled by ISIS (Intelligent Safety and Information System). This
takes readings from sensors located throughout the car and, in the
event of an impact, makes up to 4000 calculations a second to establish
its severity, deploying safety systems as necessary. These include
intelligent braking and restraint systems, such as Dynamic Stability
Control and Dynamic Traction Control, seatbelt pre-tensioners and any
of six airbags.

With
the exception of the picnic boot, steel bonnet and A-pillar surround,
all the Coups panels are created from aluminium, a material that
delivers a substantial weight saving over steel. The large,
single-piece front wings are made by a process called super plastic
forming. The alloy is heated and then formed, without stress of the
material, to the required shape and size in a process seen for the
first time in the automotive industry.

At
the heart of the Coup is the same 6.75-litre V12 engine as used by the
Phantom. Featuring advanced direct fuel injection with variable valve
lift and timing, it offers the perfect combination of power and
outstanding combustion efficiency. Designed to develop massive low-down
torque, it delivers 75 per cent of its maximum power at just 1000 rpm,
giving the smooth, unstressed performance associated with Rolls-Royce
cars. The powertrain develops 453 bhp / 338 kW of power at 5350 rpm and
720 Nm / 531 lb ft of torque at 3500 rpm – ample for even the most
enthusiastic of drivers. At 100 mph (where permissible), the Coups
power reserve dial shows that 90 per cent of the engine’s power remains
untapped.

DRIVING
The
objective of the Phantom Coup engineering team was to create a driving
experience that was entirely true to Rolls-Royce, yet noticeably more
dynamic. The resulting balance of agility and refinement, however,
surprised even those closest to the project.

Smoothness
of ride is still exceptional, yet has been made a little firmer by the
introduction of stiffer rear dampers and modified spring rates. Body
roll is reduced by fitting a thicker rear anti-roll bar and the
steering has been tuned to offer more feel – a sensation enhanced by a
slightly thicker, hand-stitched leather steering wheel.

The
suspension and chassis tune mean that the power is put down on the road
incredibly effectively. Outstanding grip means that the dynamic
stability control (DSC) is less likely to be activated under
enthusiastic cornering, making it feel more balanced when pushing on.

A
sport button on the steering wheel activates a new gearbox programme.
Each gear is held for longer, increasing the rate of acceleration.
Kick-down is also faster and accelerator pedal response has been
enhanced.

Together
these individual changes to the car’s set-up give a substantially more
dynamic feel than the Phantom and Phantom Drophead Coup. In
combination with the effortless power that is always on tap, the new
state of tune makes driving the Phantom Coup not only pleasurable but
also exhilarating. With a limited top speed of 155 mph / 250 km/h, the
Coup accelerates from 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds.

The
Coups wheelbase is 250 mm shorter than that of the Phantom, giving
greater agility. Its 49:51 weight ratio ensures that it remains
beautifully balanced through corners, while the slight rear weight bias
maximises straight-line acceleration and traction. Self-levelling air
suspension continuously adjusts to driving conditions, enabling drivers
to place the car accurately through bends. The steering has modified
Servotronic assistance to provide increased road feel.

The
extreme rigidity of the Coups chassis gives magnificent control and
precision. The front double-wishbone suspension features a hydraulic
mount to minimise vibrations through the steering wheel, while
multi-link rear suspension gives increased ride comfort, with anti-lift
and anti-dive technology for stability under heavy acceleration and
braking. This combines with the stronger rear anti-roll bar and stiffer
spring and damper settings to increase both accuracy and agility.

As
standard, the Phantom Coup has 21-inch Goodyear tyres with run-flat
capability, sitting on seven-spoke aluminium or two different styles of
forged aluminium rims. In the unfortunate event of a flat tyre, the
Coup can run for at least 100 miles / 160 km at speeds of up to 50 mph
/ 80 km/h before the tyre has to be replaced. As well as being
convenient, this run-flat technology negates the need for spare wheels
and a jack, freeing up space in the luggage compartment. The Coups
100-litre fuel tank allows for the longer drives that its character
encourages, giving a range of around 400 miles / 630 km.

Braking
is provided by massive 374 mm / 14.7 in ventilated disc brakes at the
front and 370 mm / 14.6 in at the rear. Twin piston alloy calipers at
the front and single piston calipers at the rear ensure that the Coup
is brought to a stop quickly and without drama. Naturally, the braking
system incorporates the latest in anti-lock systems and Emergency Brake
Assist is activated under heavy braking, applying full force in an
emergency stop.

CRAFTSMANSHIP
Rolls-Royce
Motor Cars has never accepted what is nearly right, only what is best.
Henry Royce’s maxim, “Strive for perfection in everything you do” is
exemplified in the extraordinary craftsmanship of the car’s interior.
Highly skilled men and women employ both traditional techniques and
cutting-edge technology to create an interior that is unsurpassed in
terms of quality and attention to detail. They work with only the
finest natural materials, including cashmere blends, wood veneers and
leather, all of which are specially selected by a team of experts
before being painstakingly prepared so that their inherent beauty is
captured.

Each
wood veneer is chosen for its complexity of grain and colour and is
selected from sources worldwide. Woods available for the Coup include
Zebrano, Elm Cluster, Mahogany Flare, Rosewood and Walnut Burr. Each
part is crafted by hand in the wood shop at Goodwood. Veneers are laid
onto a substrate part of up to 24 layers of wood and aluminium,
carefully constructed to provide strength and safety in the event of an
impact. They are then lacquered and polished to a mirror finish,
perfectly showcasing the beauty and intricacy of the wood’s grain.

The
Coups interior uses larger pieces of leather than the Phantom’s,
mainly because of the nature of the seats, and this makes the selection
of appropriate hides even more challenging. Following a unique
barrel-dyeing process, which ensures a rich, uniform pigmentation
throughout the leather, each hide is checked by hand and eye, and any
naturally occurring blemishes and imperfections are marked in
preparation for cutting. Where possible, the hide is used in such a way
that these marks are hidden rather than discarded, minimising waste and
creating a perfect finished product.

COLOUR AND TRIM
In
addition to the options above, customers can specify unique features
through the company’s Bespoke programme. For example, they may choose
from 44,000 exterior colours, specify a one-off leather colour or even
select an unusual wood to complement the interior. Our Bespoke interior
designers can also use embroidery and marquetry to personalise the
inside of the car. All manner of other technical, structural and
aesthetic detailing is possible, to meet the precise requirements of
customers.

Exterior colours

• Diamond      Black
• English      White
• New      Sable
• Madeira      Red
• Darkest      Tungsten
• Midnight      Blue
• Woodland      Green
• Jubilee      Silver
• Anthracite

Interior leather

• Black
• Smoke      Grey
• Seashell
• Navy      Blue
• Moccasin
• Cacao
• Consort      Red
• Signal      Red
• Roseleaf

Interior veneers

• Mahogany      Flare
• Rosewood
• Walnut      Burr
• Piano      Black
• Zebrano
• Elm      Cluster

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION – WORLD VERSION
Dimensions
Number of doors / seats: 2 / 4
Vehicle length: 5609 mm / 220.8 in
Vehicle width: 1987 mm / 78.2 in
Vehicle height (unladen): 1592 mm / 62.7 in
Wheelbase: 3320 mm / 130.7 in
Turning circle: 13.1 m / 43.0 ft
Track, front: 1687 mm / 66.4 in
Track, rear: 1671 mm / 65.8 in
Width at shoulder height, front: 1491 mm / 58.7 in
Width at shoulder height, rear: 1298 mm / 51.1 in
Elbow room, front: 1562 mm / 61.5 in
Elbow room, rear: 1266 mm / 49.8 in
Head room, front: 981 mm / 38.6 in
Head room, rear: 942 mm / 37.1 in
Boot volume (DIN): 395 ltr / 13.9 cu ft
Fuel tank capacity: 100 ltr / 22 Imp gal

Weight
Unladen weight (DIN): 2590 kg / 5710 lb
Axle load ratio, rear (unladen): 51.5 %
Gross vehicle weight: 3050 kg / 6724 lb
Payload: 460 kg / 1014 lb
Axle load limit, front: 1425 kg / 3142 lb
Axle load limit, rear: 1800 kg / 3968 lb

Engine & transmission
Engine / cylinders / valves: V / 12 / 48
Fuel management: Direct injection
Displacement: 6749 cc / 411.8 cu in
Stroke: 84.6 mm / 3.33 in
Bore: 92.0 mm / 3.62 in
Power output @ engine speed: 453 bhp / 460 PS (DIN) / 338 kW @ 5350 rpm

Transmission
Max torque @ engine speed: 720 Nm / 531 lb ft @ 3500 rpm
Compression ratio / fuel type: 11:1 / premium unleaded1
Transmission type: ZF 6HP32

Transmission ratios
1st / 2nd / 3rd /: 4.171 / 2.340 / 1.521 /
4th / 5th / 6th: 1.143 / 0.867 / 0.691
Reverse: 3.403
Final-drive ratio: 3.460

Steering & brakes
Steering type: Rack & pinion, speed-sensitive variable-rate power assistance
Brakes, front / diameter: Ventilated disc / 374 mm / 14.7 in
Brakes, rear / diameter: Ventilated disc / 370 mm / 14.6 in

Aerodynamics
Drag Cd: 0.36
Drag Cd x A: 0.985 m2 / 10.6 ft2

Performance2
Top speed: 155 mph / 250 km/h (governed)
Acceleration 0-60 mph: 5.6 sec
Acceleration 0-100 km/h: 5.8 sec

Fuel consumption2
Urban: 23.2 ltr/100 km / 12.2 mpg (Imp gal)
Extra urban: 11.3 ltr/100 km / 25.0 mpg (Imp gal)
Combined: 15.7 ltr/100 km / 18.0 mpg (Imp gal)
CO₂ emissions: 377 g/km

Wheels (21 in alloy)
Tyre, front: Goodyear EMT 255/50 R21 106W
Wheel size, front: 8 in x 21 in
Tyre, rear: Goodyear EMT 285/45 R21 109W
Wheel size, rear: 9.5 in x 21 in

Filling capacities
Radiator incl. heater / engine oil: 14 ltr / 8.5 ltr
Transmission fluid / final-drive fluid: Lifetime filling

Electric system
Battery capacity / installed position: 90 + 70 Ah / boot
Alternator / output rating: 2 x 180 A / 2520 W

1 The engine is designed for octane grade 98 fuel; however, it may be run on fuel with a minimum octane grade of 91.
2 Subject to final verification.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION – US VERSION
Dimensions
Number of doors / seats: 2 / 4
Vehicle length: 5609 mm / 220.8 in
Vehicle width: 1987 mm / 78.2 in
Vehicle height (unladen): 1592 mm / 62.7 in
Wheelbase: 3320 mm / 130.7 in
Turning circle: 13.1 m / 43.0 ft
Track, front: 1687 mm / 66.4 in
Track, rear: 1671 mm / 65.8 in
Width at shoulder height, front: 1491 mm / 58.7 in
Width at shoulder height, rear: 1298 mm / 51.1 in
Elbow room, front: 1562 mm / 61.5 in
Elbow room, rear: 1266 mm / 49.8 in
Head room, front: 981 mm / 38.6 in
Head room, rear: 942 mm / 37.1 in
Trunk volume (SAE): 10.5 cu ft
Fuel tank capacity: 100 ltr / 26.4 US gal

Weight2
Curb weight: 2630 kg / 5798 lb
Axle load ratio, rear (unladen): 51.7 %
Gross vehicle weight: 3050 kg / 6724 lb
Payload: 420 kg / 926 lb
Axle load limit, front: 1425 kg / 3142 lb
Axle load limit, rear: 1800 kg / 3968 lb

Engine & transmission
Engine / cylinders / valves: V / 12 / 48
Fuel management: Direct injection
Displacement: 6749 cc / 411.8 cu in
Stroke: 84.6 mm / 3.33 in
Bore: 92.0 mm / 3.62 in
Power output @ engine speed: 453 hp (SAE) @ 5350 rpm

Transmission
Max torque @ engine speed: 720 Nm / 531 lb ft @ 3500 rpm
Compression ratio / fuel type: 11:1 / premium unleaded1
Transmission type: ZF 6HP32

Transmission ratios
1st / 2nd / 3rd /: 4.171 / 2.340 / 1.521 /
4th / 5th / 6th: 1.143 / 0.867 / 0.691
Reverse: 3.403
Final-drive ratio: 3.460

Steering & brakes
Steering type: Rack & pinion, speed-sensitive variable-rate power assistance
Brakes, front / diameter: Ventilated disc / 374 mm / 14.7 in
Brakes, rear / diameter: Ventilated disc / 370 mm / 14.6 in

Aerodynamics
Drag Cd: 0.36
Drag Cd x A: 0.985 m2 / 10.6 ft2

Performance2 n lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana;">
Top speed: 155 mph (governed)
Acceleration 0-60 mph: 5.6 sec

Fuel consumption
City: To be confirmed
Highway: To be confirmed
Combined: To be confirmed
CO₂ emissions: To be confirmed

Wheels (21 in alloy)3/4
Tire, front: Goodyear EMT 255/50 R21 106W
Wheel size, front: 8 in x 21 in
Tire, rear: Goodyear EMT 285/45 R21 109W
Wheel size, rear: 9.5 in x 21 in

Filling capacities
Radiator incl. heater / engine oil: 14.8 quarts / 9 quarts
Transmission fluid / final-drive fluid: Lifetime filling

Electric system
Battery capacity / installed position: 90 + 70 Ah / trunk
Alternator / output rating: 2 x 180 A / 2520 W

1 The engine is designed for octane grade 98 fuel; however, it may be run on fuel with a minimum octane grade of 91.
2
Manufacturer’s test results. Actual results may vary depending on
specifications of the vehicle, road and environmental conditions,
testing procedures and driving styles. These results should be used for
comparison only and verification should not be attempted on public
roads. Subject to final verification.
3
With run-flat tires, you can continue for a distance of at least 100
miles at speeds up to 50 mph; however, when notified, you should check
your tire condition at the next available opportunity.
4 The Goodyear Extended Mobility Tire system (EMT) has run-flat capabilities.