Rolling with Purpose

Rolls-Royce has been threading the fine line between fuddy duddy luxury and outright performance for years now without firmly stamping down in either direction. Their heritage has been based on building the best luxury cars without compromising on comfort, and to many people, this has relegated Rolls-Royce to the brand favoured by sedate middle aged millionaires. Yes we know that they are big and powerful cars, but how many of them are actually being constantly pushed to their limits? It is hard to take a boxy Rolls-Royce as a serious performance car next to the purposeful poise of a Lamborghini.

In a move to blend the classic Rolls-Royce shape with that of a purposeful coupe, Rolls-Royce have come up with the 101EX. A modern interpretation of the Rolls-Royce brand in a coupe form, the car was on an exclusive one-day display at the Red Dot Design Museum on May 8. Singapore was the first stop for the experimental car, which was sent next to Hong Kong and Tokyo. This made Singapore the first country outside Europe to host the
coupe concept car after its debut at the 76th Geneva Motor Show in February this year.

Experimental manufacture of motorcars and engines has long been a Rolls-Royce tradition since 1919, when the 1EX was produced based on a Silver Ghost chassis. It was the first in a long line of EX cars that spanned almost 40 years, ending with the 45EX in 1958. The 101EX follows in this tradition. Rolls-Royce explain that 101EX was hand-built to explore a potential design direction for a future coupe model from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and uses the same lightweight aluminium construction that was developed for the Phantom (although the body is shorter by 240mm). A full four-seat coupe with twin coach doors marks the car’s main design signature.

“The 101EX experimental car explores a sportier design element, while continuing to maintain an exclusive reputation for elegance and performance,” explained Mr Collin Kelly, Regional Director, Asia Pacific, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

101EX is powered by the same 6.75-litre engine as the Phantom. Using advanced direct fuel injection with variable valve lift and timing, the V12 is designed to develop massive low-down torque. It delivers 75 per cent of its maximum pulling power at just 1000 rpm, giving the smooth, unstressed performance associated with Rolls-Royce’.

As befitting the sporty approach, the roofline of the 101EX is lower than the current Phantom’s, with a shallower glass area. Additional streamlined styling appears at the front with the famous grille discreetly reclined, and extends back across a brushed aluminium bonnet and windscreen surround. The rest of the bodywork is finished in dark tungsten. New 21-inch forged aluminium wheels complete the exterior look. How you look at it, it still looks very Rolls Royce, which can be both a good and bad thing. Good because all the traditional elements you’d expect from a Rolls are there. Bad because, well, it still looks a traditional Rolls, albeit slightly lowered and shortened.

The cosseting interior has been designed for elegance and maximum comfort for all four occupants. Machined aluminium, fine leather and rosewood and red oak veneers are used throughout. The Slim-line bucket seats do really offer outstanding comfort for front passengers while the rather spacious rear seat delivers intimate comfort for two. Sweeping C-pillars ensures passenger privacy, but increases the driver’s rear blind spots.

The car also features an amazing ‘starlight headliner’ made up of hundreds of fibre optic cables to give the impression of a star filled night sky.

Currently there are no plans to develop the 101EX, although Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will be keen to gauge enthusiasts’ reactions.

Credits: Lionel Kong