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Rolls-Royce developing new convertible

Rolls-Royce is not a company that makes a lot of different vehicles, but of the ones it does, it tends to offer several versions. That's how we end up with sedan, long-wheelbase, coupe and (in the former's case) convertible versions of the Phantom and Ghost. And now Goodwood has confirmed development of another model.
Although details in the press release below are few and far between, it does promise to "deliver effortless, open-top touring... with an engaging and exhilarating driving experience." CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös added: "We are currently developing an exciting and thoroughly contemporary interpretation of a pinnacle drophead tourer which will introduce even more discerning men and women to Rolls-Royce ownership."
What that tells us is that the new model - set to reach showrooms "by mid-2016" - will be a convertible that's exciting to drive and more youthful than the Phantom Drophead Coupe. In other words, and in all likelihood, we're looking at the convertible version of the Ghost-based Wraith fastback (like the one we recently spotted undergoing testing, pictured above). Expect it, then, to carry the same 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12, but with the added rush of wind in your hair.

Bespoke Rolls-Royce auction is a chance to support the fight against AIDS

Rolls-Royce is showing off a new bespoke Phantom at Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida, and its special red exterior highlights its bigger purpose: charity. In collaboration with artist Mickalene Thomas, Rolls-Royce will auction the car, a unique wrap, and a one-off art work as a fundraiser for the fight against AIDS. The red Phantom has a bespoke Magma Red paint job overlaid with a layer with tiny particles of crystal. Inside, the Phantom has Brilliant Arctic White bespoke leather with Mugello Red piping and accents. A Mugello Red headliner is a unique take on the Shooting Starlight headliner, which debuted in the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge, and R-R has dubbed the dashboard design, 'Red Regatta Sails.' It features layered Mugello Red leather behind a piece of glass across the instrument panel. Final touches include a door scuff plate that denotes "115 Years of Rolls-Royce" and "Special Commission."   Interestingly, the Phantom is technically a starting point. R-R paired up with contemporary artist Thomas to add an even more exclusive and unique touch. Thomas will create 'an original work of art inspired by the Red Phantom for the collector' and a custom wrap for the exterior of the Phantom based on the artwork.  The car will be globally unveiled at a gala this week and will be open for bidding between December 4–13 at Sothebys.com. All proceeds, after auction fees and costs, will go to (RED), which was created by Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2006 to fund the fight against AIDS. The contributions go to a program in Africa that specifically focuses on countries where there is a high concentration of mother-to-child HIV transmission. This is not the first time a Rolls-Royce has helped support an AIDS charity. In 2007, a Phantom Drophead Coupe raised more than $1.6 million for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. 

Rolls-Royce might 'enter into fuel cells'

Rolls-Royce released its first series-produced EV, the Spectre, in 2022, and the brand plans to launch additional battery-powered models in the coming years. It's not closing the door to other powertrains, however, and it's notably open to experimenting with hydrogen fuel cells. "Why not? I would say so when the time is right for us, and when the technology is so much advanced, that it is definitely something we would pursue as Rolls-Royce. Why not? We might exit batteries, and we might enter into fuel cells," company boss Torsten Muller-Otvos told British magazine Autocar. He stopped short of revealing whether engineers are currently testing hydrogen fuel cell-powered prototypes. It's too early to tell whether Rolls-Royce would develop a hydrogen fuel cell on its own or whether it would source some of the drivetrain's parts from parent company BMW, which has dabbled in this technology for decades. BMW notably began building an X5-based, hydrogen-powered prototype called iX5 in 2023, and it plans to ultimately funnel the feedback it gathers by testing the model into a production car. Muller-Otvos has already ruled out building a car powered by a hydrogen-burning engine, however. "I think a hydrogen combustion engine is nothing I would in any way look into, because that was tested already years ago. This is not the most efficient way to use hydrogen. If hydrogen will be used in the future, then it's fuel cells. And fuel cells are nothing different from a battery. It is just how you get the energy," he told Autocar, referring to the hydrogen-burning 7 Series prototype tested by BMW in the 2000s. Rolls-Royce, like nearly every brand looking at hydrogen technology, warns that the infrastructure needs to improve before the fuel cell can merge into the mainstream. "You can't obviously have hydrogen charging at home, whereas [with EVs] you have one big advantage, and all of our clients have big garages. There is lots of space at home and there is lots of space in office buildings to install charging," the CEO said. As it stands, Rolls-Royce wants to sell only electric cars by the end of 2030, and it hasn't announced plans to launch a series-produced hydrogen-electric model. It's not unreasonable to assume that this outlook could change during the second half of the 2020s, however.