The new Rolls Royce Wraith has Adaptive Power Control. It uses GPS to work out which gear it should change to.
Well, that's all very lovely, and you can read about it on their website - which is as near as I shall ever get to being in one. I note from a related article this week it was suggested that the Bentley Continental is a rival, which was gently dismissed by Rolls. Their feelings were that whilst a Bentley is a fine motor car, at a mere £130000 it's not really in the same price bracket as a proper car, isnt actually very luxurious, but it matters not as many of Rolls's clients have five or six cars, so if there's a Bentley in the stable as well it's not really a problem.
What a world to inhabit.
I wonder how long it will be before it becomes as socially unacceptable to own something like this as it is in some circles to own a 4WD at the moment? Never, I hope. Although I do have to say that for me, it's not a thing of beauty by any means, and I have no aspirations for it, lottery or no.
www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com/wraith/
Last edited by: Crankcase on Fri 8 Mar 13 at 08:26
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Pft! Audi has had that for a few years now...
"Optional A8 features include a driver assistance system networked using FlexRay technology. The GPS navigation system coordinates input to the adaptive headlights, gearbox, cruise control and electronic stability control."
- but I am pleased RR is embracing leading-edge technology as well as plutonic build and exquisite materials. A few years ago, I wouldn't have entertained a RR, but now I seriously would if my wife's Lotto numbers came up trumps. The design has been toned-down and deblinged a bit and they seem a bit more up-to-date with the technology.
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>> I have no aspirations for it, lottery or no.
It's too much. Old ones are nicer.
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I knew someone once who had a 1926 Silver Ghost in his garage. I suspect it would have been lovely - but it was in carrier bags and boxes, ready to be rebuilt as a project.
He never did rebuild it.
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I recall as a student in Aberdeen seeing a 1922(?) Silver Ghost in a Garage in Aberdeen. Looked in good nick - little rust - but needed an engine rebuild.
I gave up on that and turned down a 1935 Bentley 4.25 saloon for £50.. Just as well as the next time I saw it for sale the engine was swimming in black oil.
I bought a 1946 Rover 16 instead for £75: near immaculate.
I really quite fancy a Silver Shadow 2 with handling kit...
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Phantom, Ghost, Wraith - what's with RR naming their cars after dead stuff?
Anyone care to hazard what their next model will be. The Rolls Royce Fat Bloated Rotting Corpse, perhaps?
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Because very few people will get the chance to own a Rolls Royce in their mortal lives.
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At that price you'd expect to get the bodywork of your choice, made at a specialist coachbuilder, not have to put up with the same monstrosity as everyone else.
Something like this:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:1947-rolls-royce-archives.jpg
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Citroen DS21 decapotable would do for me. Nothing finer looking, and coach-built too. tinyurl.com/bxpw97j Lottery win territory for a good one I think.
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Coincidentally I did actually win on the Lottery this week, which was very exciting for a heartbeat. Turned out to be ten pounds.
I don't know yet what I shall spend it on, but you can rest assured it won't all be spent at once.
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What's an engine rebuild? It's depreciation over time that really affects running costs:
1922 Silver Ghost, now upwards of 150,000 quid.
1935 Bentley 4.25, now upwards of 55,000.
1946 Rover 16, around 8,000.
You don't say what the price of the Ghost was, but your Rover has depreciated by -7,925 pounds, while the Bentley has lost -54,950. Even factoring in an engine rebuild, that's a win for the Bentley financially.
Then again it doesn't matter what the Royce was on for, it still wins.
Negative depreciation. The only way to go for cheap motoring...;-)
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Negative depreciation. The only way to go for cheap motoring...;-)"
Trouble is : the above are undriveable in modern traffic. Unless you bodybuild.
Last edited by: madf on Fri 8 Mar 13 at 15:12
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I just watched the promotional film in the OP link. It's like a scent ad. No doubt BMW knows what it's doing, but what it's doing remains very obscure to me.
I do like that front-opening door though, with a button to close it and (no doubt) a device to ensure that the car can't be driven unless it is properly closed and locked. I wonder what happens when the car's electronics crash or melt? Driver may have to smash the window - no mean task one assumes - and climb out through it to stagger away to an AA box in his tattered Armani whistle. A mildly cheering thought.
Last edited by: Armel Coussine on Fri 8 Mar 13 at 16:20
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Rolls Royce were going to name one of their models the "silver mist",until they discovered the german translation...
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The new Wraith - Shiny
