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Showing posts with label Rolls Royce. Show all posts

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Rolls Royce Celebrates 100th Anniversary of the Spirit of Ecstasy with Historic Car Meet [Video]

This year marks the centenary of Rolls Royce motors’ famed figurine, the Spirit of Ecstasy and today, the company celebrated the event with a historic meeting at its Goodwood headquarters in West Sussex, UK. Read more »

Thursday, July 7, 2011

All-Time Sales Record for BMW Group in the First Half of 2011

There’s a lot to be happy about in Munich these days. That’s because the BMW Group has had not only its best month ever as far as sales are concerned, but has also achieved an all-time sales record for the first half of the year.

This June, a total of 165,855 BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce cars were delivered, an increase of 15.9% compared to the same month in 2010 (143,156 units) and also a new record for the Group. BMW sold 134,432 cars (+12.3%) and Mini 31,111 (+34.1%).

MINI Inspired by Goodwood Carries…Rolls Royce Inspired Price Tag at £41,000 or US$65,700!

Apparently, Aston Martin isn’t the only British automaker to lose contact with reality when it comes to pricing special edition models. Soon after Aston Martin slapped a €48,995 (equal to £44,100 and US$70,700 at the current exchange rates) sticker on its Colette-trimmed Toyota iQ…err… we mean Cygnet, the BMW Group division announced that its new MINI Inspired by Goodwood is priced at £41,000 (€45,600 or US$65,700). Read more »

Monday, June 27, 2011

Rolls-Royce Crafts One-Off Phantom Drophead Coupé Special with Bespoke Details

If your run of the mill Phantom Drophead Coupé is just too darn common, then you may want to take a look at this one-off special that will go on display at the Masterpiece London 2011, which is held in the South Grounds of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea, UK, from Saturday 30 June to Friday 5 July 2011. Read more »

Monday, May 23, 2011

Rolls Royce Loses Patent Infringement Suit Against Pratt & Whitney

Rolls Royce

Summary

A patent infringement lawsuit by Rolls Royce against Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies regarding fan blade design for the GP7200 engine used on the Airbus A380 and the forthcoming PW GTF series of engines was decided in favor of Pratt & Whitney. This decision clears the way for PW to continue to move forward with its GTF engine program.

Analysis

Rolls Royce, PLC and Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies, partners in International Aero Engines, who make the V2500 engine for the Airbus A320, have seen their relationship deteriorate recently. Pratt & Whitney, after discussions with Rolls Royce, determined that it would market its GTF engine itself, rather than through IAE, and with the Rolls Royce RB285 design gaining no traction with aircraft manufacturers, Rolls Royce now appears to be left out of the narrow body market, with the CFM Leap-X and PW1000G the engines of choice for the next generation of aircraft.

As the relationship hardened, Rolls Royce took legal action against Pratt & Whitney for alleged patent infringement regarding the design of engine fan blades. That case, which would have had major financial implications for each firm, has been decided on summary judgment in favor of Pratt & Whitney.

The infringement suit focused on the GP7200 and forthcoming GTF designs. Rolls Royce had patented a design that had three different sweeps in different direction to minimize airflow turbulence caused by the fan inside the engine. Pratt & Whitney, in developing the fan for the GP7200 engine produced by a joint venture of Pratt & Whitney and GE Aircraft Engines for the A380, also utilizes a sweep design, but in four directions. The court has decided that the differences in the blades are such that no infringement has occurred, and decided the case on summary judgment in favor of Pratt & Whitney.

As a part of the settlement for this case, PW also agreed to a voluntary injunction not to utilize a three sweep blade on the forthcoming GTF engine series. Since it does not utilize such a design anyway, this injunction will ensures that the GTF program will not be slowed by any potential appeal of that litigation.

The implications are significant. PW is clear to move ahead aggressively with its GTF program without the threat of lawsuit, and can also continue to aggressively compete with Rolls Royce on the A380 series. This is a huge win that corresponds to the changing competitive dynamics in the industry - PW is regaining its market at the expense of its competitors, and has sidestepped a potential roadblock its competitor tried to throw in the way.

Monday, December 21, 2009

ROLLS-ROYCE 200EX pictures

Experimental models have always played a significant role in the history of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, from the first - 1EX, built in 1919 - to the most recent - Rolls-Royce 101EX, built in 2006. Rolls-Royce 100EX was the first experimental car unveiled after Rolls-Royce Motor Cars was relaunched under BMW Group ownership in 2003. Revealed at the Geneva motor show in 2004, the two-door, four-seat convertible was built to mark 100 years of Rolls-Royce motor car design and engineering. Just two years later, 101EX was presented, which explored modern coupé design. Both of these cars inspired production models that not only closely resemble their EX progenitors but have also redefined luxury motoring in the modern age.
Following on from this success, the same group of designers and engineers has created Rolls-Royce 200EX, itself pointing the way to Rolls-Royce RR4, a new model which is the smallest Rolls-Royce model after the Rolls-Royce 100 EX. It was presented in the Geneva motor show which was held in March 2009.

Rolls-Royce 200EX has a dynamic edge to its styling and is noticeably less formal than previous models. Its size, style and expression broaden the appeal of the car, making it more appropriate for a wider range of circumstances. “Rolls-Royce 200EX is a touring saloon with more than a little panache and perhaps more bravado than one might have expected from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars,” says Cameron. “What you see is a modern car that is immediately recognisable as a true Rolls-Royce, even from angles that obscure the grille and Spirit of Ecstasy. Design elements such as the elevated prow, long bonnet, short front overhang, sharply raked A-pillar and elegant tail give Rolls-Royce 200EX an air of informal presence - powerful but unobtrusive.”

The Rolls-Royce 200 EX which is 18 inches shorter than Rolls-Royce Phantom is 5.3 meter long. The V 12 Engine gives power to the stuff. The wheelbase is 3.3m.
The exterior of Rolls-Royce 200EX is finished in Darkest Tungsten, which contrasts with the silver satin finish applied to the bonnet and A-pillar. Seven-spoke, 20-inch wheels complete the visual impact of the exterior.