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Rolls-Royce sketching out SUV for possible 'late 2017' release

With each new story on the Rolls-Royce SUV, the Goodwood automaker comes off as more at ease with their reluctantly birthed yet necessary sport ute. Company design chief Giles Taylor told Autocar that his team is still "sketching to assess the viability of the concept," which to ours ears means they're trying to figure out if such a beast is even possible within the confines of the brand. If it is, Taylor says it will be "a shooting brake, not a crossover with a sloping roof. A proper SUV."
A different company source, unnamed, seems confident that Taylor's team will figure it out, telling the magazine it would start at 200,000 pounds ($335K US). However, that same source said the vehicle will be "a kind of Mercedes-GLK-plus-plus," which is a baffling description in several ways. More reasonable is the speculation that it will ride on Ghost, not Phantom, architecture and make its debut sometime around late 2017.
That Ghost platform is expected to take cues from the carbon, aluminum and steel bones that supported the BMW Vision Future Luxury concept shown at the Beijing Motor Show and destined for the 9 Series. Some of those tricks will also go into the next-generation Phantom, which Autocar says will come in 2017 and not 2020.

BMW says X5 xDrive40e PHEV will get 55 MPGe

This is one vehicle that Sammy Hagar can actually drive 55. Miles on the equivalent of a gallon of gas, that is. BMW has starting talking about details of its first-ever production plug-in hybrid CUV, and the latest are centered on the model's projected miles per gallon-equivalent figure. Bimmer is now saying the its X5 xDrive40e PHEV will get a robust 55 MPGe on the US EPA scale (on the European scale, the vehicle's expected 77 or 78 grams of CO2 per kilometer would translate to around 70 mpg). The model, which pairs 2.0-liter twin-turbo four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, will be able to go as far as 13 miles on electricity alone, and also hit 75 miles per hour using just the battery. BMW first unveiled the model at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2013. The CUV, which will have full-time all-wheel drive, will have some guts, too. The model will deliver 308 horsepower, including 111 from the electric motor alone. As a result, the X5 xDrive40e will be able to scoot from 0-60 miles per hour in 6.5 seconds. Not exactly Tesla Model S quick, but peppy nevertheless. US and European sales for the model-year 2016 version will start this fall. The model will be produced at the company's plant in Spartanburg, SC. Take a look at BMW's press release below. Show full PR text The BMW X5 xDrive40e Launches the Next Chapter of EfficientDynamics with its First Ever Plug-in Hybrid Sports Activity Vehicle The new BMW X5 xDrive40e. The first plug-in hybrid BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Up to 13 miles of zero-tailpipe-emission pure electric driving Preliminary fuel economy estimates up to 55 MPGe 0-60 mph in just 6.5 seconds Woodcliff Lake, N.J. – March 17, 2015 ... The BMW X5 xDrive40e, the company's first plug-in hybrid Sports Activity Vehicle, charts the next chapter of BMW's ongoing EfficientDynamics initiative. Benefitting from the groundbreaking work by BMW i on electromobility, the X5 xDrive40e combines the company's award-winning 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, powered by a lithium-ion battery, integrated into its 8-speed automatic transmission. This newest BMW SAV can travel approximately 13 miles on pure electric power, ideally suited to short commutes and quick trips around town. Working in concert, the gasoline engine and electric motor puts out 308 horsepower and produces 332 lb-ft, enough to propel the X5 xDrive40e from 0-60mph in just 6.5 seconds.

2016 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance: It's all in the details

It's no secret that Pebble Beach is an ode to gorgeous, and mostly, classic cars. The car show may be a place for automakers to showcase extremely expensive cars to wealthy buyers, but it's also one of the go-to places for enthusiasts that love automobiles and culture. While it's easy to be overwhelmed by the overall beauty of a car, the real magic often needs closer inspection to be realized. Every car at Pebble Beach is a work of art, but the true beauty of the vehicles lies in the details. And Autoblog's photographer, Drew Phillips, managed to capture the details on some gorgeous cars. From the Lamborghini Miura's exquisite steering wheel to Rolls-Royce's Spirit of Ecstasy, it's all at Pebble Beach. We think the details on some of the cars are prettier than the cars themselves, but don't take our word for it. Check out the beautiful gallery above and enjoy the tiny bits and pieces behind some of the prettiest cars in the world. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2016 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Details View 75 Photos Image Credit: Copyright 2016 Drew Phillips / Autoblog Misc. Auto Shows Aston Martin BMW Ferrari Lamborghini Rolls-Royce Pebble Beach