Rolls-Royce has announced that it’s going to build a new car that will go everywhere. Although the term SUV is not used by the luxury car-maker, the new model will be high-bodied and will cross any terrain. In an open letter signed by the Chairman Peter Schwarzenbauer and Chief Executive Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes, the new development is described as “another seminal moment in Rolls-Royce’s 111-year journey”.
Without giving too many details about the new model and when will move into production, they say the car will offer the luxury of a Rolls-Royce in a vehicle that can cross any terrain and that will meet their customers’ highly mobile, contemporary lifestyle expectations. They also promise effortless luxury in a high-bodied car, with an all-new aluminum architecture and “unique new motor car worthy of carrying the Spirit of Ecstasy into the future”.
“This car will embody all the values and capabilities that drove our two Founding Fathers to secure Rolls-Royce’s reputation, early last century, by taking top honours in rigorous overland adventures such as the Scottish Reliability Trials, the London to Edinburgh event and the Alpine Trials.”
“Many discerning customers have urged us to develop this new car – and we have listened”, it is also noted in the announcement.
Rolls-Royce is not the only luxury brand that “have listened” to this demand. The decision comes as rival Bentley revealed details about their own SUV, after teasing the market with a concept for several years. The two car-makers will fill the luxury gap in the SUV market, which is now represented at the top end by Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Lexus, Porsche and Cadillac. Also, the market is also waiting for a Ferrari SUV, after Sergio Marchionne, the new boss of the brand, said he wants to sell 3,000 more vehicles each year.
The BMW-owned company currently builds three cars, the Phantom sedan, the smaller Ghost and the Wraith fastback.