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Rolls-Royce Vision Next 100 Arrives in North America
The Rolls-Royce VISION NEXT 100, codenamed 103EX, has made its North American debut at the historic Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California.
One of four visionary creations announced by the BMW Group in Munich earlier this year as it launched its centenary celebrations, the 103EX is the marque’s first ever pure ‘Vision Vehicle’. Its intriguing and aesthetically dynamic vision is being billed as defining the future of luxury mobility
103EX is the vision of the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars design team, led by Director of Design, Giles Taylor. In the spirit of the great coach-built cars of the past, Rolls Royce will create the chassis of the future, hand-built from the most advanced materials and powered by a zero emissions powertrain.
The so-called ‘Voice of Eleanor’ inhabits 103EX, delivering the dream of an effortless future to her owners. Digitally connected to every aspect of her owners’ lives and her surrounding environment, ‘Eleanor’ becomes their virtual assistant and chauffeur, freeing them of all effort and encumbrance. Ever vigilant, ‘Eleanor’ safely delivers her passengers to their destination, having already predicted the situation and surroundings that await them.
As one would expect from a Rolls-Royce, the environment of the Grand Sanctuary is crafted from the most precious and contemporary of materials. What is unexpected is the feeling of lightness and simplicity, an effortless elegance. The centrepiece of the cabin is the beautiful sofa. The best seat in the house, it is an exquisite, futuristic interpretation of modern furniture design. Clothed in the most opulent fabrics, it gives the impression of floating within the cocoon of the cabin thanks to the artful use of lighting and modern materials.
The very size of 103EX announces the importance of its precious cargo. At 5.9 metres long and 1.6 metres high, it mirrors the perfect dimensions of today’s Phantom Extended Wheelbase, whilst the ever constant Spirit of Ecstasy grows in stature, harking back to the regal Phantoms of the 1920s. Hand-crafted by the finest European glassmakers of today, she lights the way to the future of luxury.