End of the line for a Rolls-Royce icon, a sporty little number from MINI and a facelift to a popular Volvo
ROLLS-ROYCE has announced that it is bringing the curtain down on one of its most illustrious models.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars chief executive, Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes, has announced that the current Phantom will enter the last stages of its celebrated life in 2016.
The move follows the recent announcement by the BMW-owned company that it has as begun testing its all-new aluminium architecture, which will eventually underpin every future Rolls-Royce arriving on the market from early 2018.
He has also announced that the Phantom Coupé and Drophead Coupé models will not be renewed in the future.
The two magnificent Phantom models will end their lives as part of a special collection of just 50 cars, dubbed Phantom Zenith.
The current seventh generation of Phantom started production in Goodwood over 13 years ago and quickly became the foundation upon which the renaissance of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars was built.
The epitome of grace and power, the production run will finally come to an end in November when the last Phantom Coupé and Drophead Coupé roll off the line at the Goodwood factory.
The company has confirmed the models will not be replaced.
Mr Müller-Ötvös, said: “I am proud and excited to announce that a new Phantom is on the way – a contemporary and beautiful Phantom enhanced with cutting-edge technologies and design innovations. Any new Phantom is an historic and important moment in automotive history and we are working hard on perfecting the Phantom VIII.”
New MINI raises the roof
AT the other end of the BMW Group, the German firm is excited about the launch of another drophead, only this one is a little smaller.
MINI has been slowly repopulating its range following the launch of the new three-door standard two years ago.
The latest model to get a revamp is the MINI Convertible, which the group claims is more dynamic, stylish, practical and refined than ever before.
The four-car line-up comprises: MINI Cooper Convertible, MINI Cooper D Convertible, MINI Cooper S Convertible and MINI John Cooper Works Convertible.
The cars will go on sale from next month with prices starting at £18,475 OTR.
Capitalising on the various personalisation options, the company says the bespoke MINI Yours Union Jack woven fabric roof can be specified as an option.
There is a lot riding on the new car; 29,415 versions of the previous MINI Convertible were sold between 2011 and 2015, making it the best-selling convertible in the UK.
Volvo gives facelift to V40 bestsellers
VOLVO is giving its bestselling V40 and V40 Cross Country a facelift for 2017, with trim updates across the range.
Central to the updates are new LED ‘Thor’s Hammer’ headlights, already standard on the new XC90, S90 and V90.
The exterior update includes the addition of eight new wheels across the V40 and V40 Cross Country models, and five new colours to the V40 range, including the completely new Amazon Blue and Denim Blue, as well as three colours already used by other models in the Volvo Car UK portfolio: Bursting Blue, Mussel Blue and Luminous Sand.
Continuing its innovative approach to powertrain engineering, Volvo has succeeded in reducing CO2 emissions on its popular D2 manual powertrain to just 89 g/km in all trim level and wheel options.
