ROLLS-ROYCE UPDATES ITS 2009 MODELS

The fact that two Arab cities, namely Abu Dhabi and Dubai, are among the top five dealers of an automotive manufacturer makes any Arab motoring journalist quite proud. When this manufacturer is Rolls Royce, then this is even more impressive.

That’s why we wanted to be the first Arab motoring magazine and website to announce the �facelift’ and product update of the 2009 model year Phantom and Phantom Extended Wheelbase.
Building on a successful sales year in 2008, the phased introduction of a number of subtle model year enhancements will, according to Rolls Royce, reinforce Phantom’s position as the pinnacle product of the super luxury segment.

Harmonising the front appearance of the car with that of the beautiful Phantom Drophead Coup?© and Phantom Coup?©, a new streamlined front bumper has been designed and integrated with a shallower grille, finished in stainless steel.

Other new exterior features include LED door handle illumination and the fitting of 21-inch cast aluminum wheels as standard. Two further wheel options exist, both manufactured in forged alloy and available in either painted or part polished finishes.

Inside, rear passengers will benefit from a new RCA component input which provides auxiliary audio and visual connectivity to the 12-inch monitors mounted within the picnic tables. Further features include new front and rear door cappings with integrated grab handles and new bi-directional double reading lights in the C-pillar provide additional illumination. Rear climate control, volume control and electric window switches are now conveniently repositioned, housed in a wood veneer panel in the door.

It is worth mentioning that 1212 Phantom series cars were retailed around the world in 2008, marking five years of continued growth under BMW Group ownership and the highest Rolls-Royce sales figures for 18 years.

In addition to that Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has recently invested a further ?£40million into its UK based manufacturing and head office facility at Goodwood in preparation for production of a new model that will sit alongside the current Phantom range.

A new Rolls-Royce model, codenamed RR4, will begin production in the UK in 2010.
The RR4, nick-named in the automotive scene as the �Baby-Phantom’, will use parts from BMW’s long-wheelbase 7-series but utilize an engine that’s uniquely Rolls-Royce.

Rolls Royce expects to sell around 800 units per year of the Baby-Phantom when it hits the show-rooms in 2010, at a price-tag between €200,000 and €300,000. This relatively �low’ price tag will surely lead a lot of Mercedes S-Class, Maserati Quattroporte, Audi A8, BMW 7 series and Porsche Panamera customer in the Middle East region to over-think their private or company car fleet.

It is expected that Rolls Royce will release some kind of �images’ or �teasers’ of the RR4 at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show next month.

The Rolls-Royce 2008 top five worldwide dealers, which we mentioned at the beginning of the article, are the following in alphabetical order: Abu Dhabi, Beijing, Beverly Hills, Dubai, London.

The production of the updated 2009 Phantom models will commence at Goodwood in the spring.
So, we hope to be able to test-drive the new 2009 models this spring in order to show our readers and more potential customers in the region how good these cars are and why they are among the best-selling top luxury cars in the Middle East.