Rolls-Royce cars

Rolls Royce Hyperion Up For Sale At Abu Dhabi Dealership

Whether you like it or not, most high end automotive manufacturers are driven by the promise of higher profits. In fact, if you have enough money to splash, you could pretty much enter any exotic car headquarters and ask for a completely custom car to be built specifically to your liking.

This has been seen numerous times with the Pagani Zonda, and back in 2008, Rolls Royce even got on board the one-off bandwagon when British collector Roland Hall commissioned a custom Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe dubbed the Hyperion.

Rolls Royce went all out on this extraordinary piece of art, even getting legendary designer Jason Castriota to head the design team. When it was all said and done, a Rolls Royce constructed solely out of carbon fiber (with the exception of the wooden doors) was created but for some unknown reason, the car was put up for sale just one year later for roughly $6 million.

Since that time, the Hyperion disappeared into the unknown until it recently reappeared for sale at an Abu Dhabi dealership. The asking price is currently being kept secret, but if the car has been treated well over the last few years, then the Hyperion will likely set any prospecting buyers back at least $7 million.

Although we adore the styling of the car, we really cannot see why anyone would pay that much for this relatively simple car. Sure the exterior styling is completely different to stock, but when you’re driving the car, it’ll feel just like any other Phantom Drophead costing less than one-seventh the price.

Nevertheless, we wish the dealership well in finding a new home for this piece of contemporary automotive art.

2012 Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe Mirage

At the 2012 Geneva Motor Show Rolls Royce delighted us with a refreshed Phantom line-up, and now they have created another very cool Phantom Coupe. Their special edition is a one-off Phantom Coupe Mirage edition inspired by one of the 20th century’s most iconic Arabian horses: stallions.

This unique Phantom was conceptualized by Kadhim Al Helli, Rolls Royce’s Brand Manager at Abu Dhabi Motors and then hand-built by Rolls Royce in Goodwood, England. It is painted in a very cool matte black finish combined with a mugello red and black interior. The passenger display panel set features a stallion head with a silver inlay, with the same motif embroidered on the front and rear headrests. The car also features a silver rope inlay in the door capping and on the front Fascia, while the Glove box is embroidered with the personalized message: "Mirage motif - one of one."

"The synergies between the Arabian horse and the Rolls-Royce brand are hard to ignore," explains Kadhim Al Helli, Rolls Royce Brand Manager at Abu Dhabi Motors. "Arabian Horses are one of the oldest equine breeds in existence, renowned for their refined physical attributes, fine temperament and strong bloodline; just as Rolls-Royce is synonymous with exquisite design, flawless performance and pioneering heritage. This car celebrates those shared qualities by embodying the spirit of a true champion, Mirage, the perfect example of a Classic Arabian Horse."

The Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe Mirage will be presented in the United Arab Emirates.

Rolls Royce Phantom Hearse: Now That’s Making a Statement

My parents always told me that there are only two things that are certain in life: death and taxes. Well, at least you can handle the former in style. Yeah, sure, there are Mercedes and Cadillac hearses available, but nothing says “style” quite like cruising to your final resting place in a modified circa-$400,000 Rolls-Royce Phantom.

Well, this ultra-luxurious death-mobile is due to become a reality, as Biemme Special Cars did the unthinkable and strapped a hearse backside to this pricey machine. The Phantom B12, which Biemme dubbed it, will make its debut at the 2012 Tanexpo Funeral and Cemetery Trade Show, which is like the New York Auto Show for undertakers. No, not the Undertaker you once saw pseudo-fighting people in a ring, the real undertakers that take care of deceased people.

With the exception of the decked out coffin area in the rear, its massive 23-foot length and a self-leveling air-ride suspension, the Phantom is the same as one you may see in a dealership. It features a 460-horsepower, 6.5-liter V-12 engine and a six-speed automatic transmission, which assures that you’ll never live up to the “late to your own funeral” expression.

This beast is rumored to cost somewhere in the vicinity of $660,000, so it’s doubtful that you’re going to see it at your local funeral parlor any time soon, unless you live in Beverly Hills of course. Regardless, if you want to go out in style, there is nothing quite like one final ride in one of the most luxurious cars available today. Now, if there was just a cool way to handle taxes, life would be perfect.

2012 Rolls Royce Ghost Edition by Kahn Design

Kahn Design are famous for their tuning kits for Land Rover models. However lately they have also updated two Ferrari models: California and 458 Italia. And now the tuner comes with an impressive tuning package based on the Rolls Royce Ghost. As usual their packages include exterior and interior changes, but nothing has been updated under the hood.

The new Kahn Ghost Edition is dressed in a shadow line finish combined with a dazzling styling package consisting of clear side light repeaters, shadow line finish, head light surrounds, window surrounds, rear light surrounds and under floor lighting. The car sits on 22" Kahn Silver Mist Rolls Royce wheels in a meticulous diamond polish. As an option Kahn is also offering bullet resistant glass - as part of Kahn high security product range.

And as usual, for the interior Kahn is offering you the possibility to opt for any color or material you may think of. For example you can get a single sofa bench instead of the rear seats and you can have it paint in the same shade as your living room.

2012 Rolls Royce Ghost EWB Year of the Dragon

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and in the case of one enterprising dealer from Southern California, that imitation involves commissioning Rolls-Royce to build themselves a limited number of Rolls-Royce Ghost EWB Year of the Dragon Edition models.

In late 2011, Rolls-Royce celebrated the Year of the Dragon by releasing a limited edition Phantom exclusive to China that promptly sold out in a little less than two months. With the demand for the car stretching internationally, Rusnak Rolls-Royce has taken the ingenious step of commissioning the special edition Ghost Year of the Dragon, complete with all the custom embroidery work and gold-painted dragons found on the limited edition Phantom.

The luxury limo will also be powered by a 6.6 liter twin turbocharged V12 engine that delivers a total of 563 horsepower and 575 lbs/ft of torque with a 0-60 mph time of just five seconds, despite carrying the extra dimensions.

Rusnak Rolls-Royce will be the only dealership in the world selling the Ghost EWB Year of the Dragon, which pretty much puts these guys in some rarified territory of having to deal with all the customer demand for the limited run British luxury car.

Here’s to hoping that they’ve got the personnel to handle all the incoming calls.

2012 Rolls-Royce Ghost "Paris Purple" by Fenice Milano

Out of the enormous shadows of the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, Italian tuner Fenice Milano is preparing a sick program for the Rolls-Royce Ghost. And if there’s one thing we know about these dudes, the word "bland" is not part of their vocabulary.

Fenice Milano actually dropped the renderings for this particular Ghost called "Paris Purple" with the intent of getting somebody to dig into their pockets and order the custom luxury car. And now that a "very exclusive client" has given the green light to have it ordered, Fenice Milano is set to work on what can only be described as a pretty radical Ghost.

The unique purple paint finish is the first of many eye-catching things you’ll notice on the car, hence the name "Paris Purple." The car is also set to carry carbon wheel rims and 24-karat gold on the bonnet, the window frames, the radiator cowling, and the exhaust pipes. Yep, 24-karat gold on a car. That’s just how Fenice Milano rolls.

And, by the way, that’s just the exterior of the car. Inside, the Ghost also gets a significant make-over, thanks to plenty of leather, carbon, and gold details that we expect will be just as extravagant as that outside.

So who exactly is the celebrity that signed off on this project? Fenice Milano is keeping that a secret for now, but rest assured, we’ll find out who it is sooner rather than later.

2012 Rolls Royce Ghost Geneva Editions

While the entire Rolls Royce Phantom line-up has been refreshed for the Geneva Motor Show, the other model in the company’s line-up - the Ghost - has just received a series of two special editions. The two editions are offering a two-tone color combination - a first for the Ghost - a decision that has been inspired by the popularity of two-tone Phantom models.

The first version is has been painted in Infinity Black, with a Cassiopeia Silver upper two-tone. The interior is featuring the same two-tone theme: seashell headlining and sumptuous black leather frames black stained ash veneer into which steel pinstripes have been carefully crafted. And as a final touch Rolls Royce has also added lambswool floor mats that will help you relax your feet.

The second version has been built for a client in Middle East - and you may have expected is a little bit more wild. It combines Baynunah Brown, with Arizona Sun for the ca’’s bonnet, window surrounds, roof and luggage compartment. A gold-plated Spirit of Ecstasy and double coach-line in gold finish the design.

2013 Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe Series II

The Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe Series II was unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, right alongside the Phantom Sedan. Just like the sedan version, the coupe has also received a few cosmetic updates, as well as a series of engine updates to help improve fuel economy.

This is the first update the Phantom Coupe has received ever since its official launch back in 2007. The model has made such an impression on the market, Rolls Royce decided to keep the car’s essence and only make a few changes here and there. Exterior changes include a single piece grille surround, presenting a smoother, more contemporary front end that arch into sculpted front wings, the usual redesigned bumpers, and a new set of full LED headlights.

Powering this luxurious coupe is the same 6.75-liter V12 that produces 453 HP, however, fuel consumption has been improved by 10%.

UPDATE 03/08/2012: This review has been updated with the official details and images of the Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe Series II.

Hit the jump to read more about the new Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe Series II.

2013 Roll Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe Series II

Next to the Roll Royce Phantom sedan and Phantom Coupe, the Drophead version was also officially updated for the 2013 model year. The first Drophead model was unveiled in 2007 at the Detroit Auto Show and five years later the Series II model made its debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

Just like the other two models in the line-up, the Drophead version has received a few cosmetic updates and new cutting-edge technology. Rolls Royce has also made improvements to the engine which now delivers a 10% improvement in fuel economy.

A distinctive feature for the Drophead version is the addition of a new single piece grille surround and color coded grille surround offered as an option. Three new sets of wheels are available for the entire range. The interior received a larger control center display and a fully updated satellite navigation system featuring 3D map display and landscape topography.

Hit the jump to read more about the 2013 Roll Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe Series II</b>.