Rolls to unveil all-electric ‘Phantom’ at Geneva
21 Feb 2011
The first electric-powered Rolls-Royce car will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show on 1 March, the luxury vehicle maker announced on Sunday.
The one-off Phantom 102EX, to be fully electric-powered, will then go on a global tour taking in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America, according to the Goodwood, England-based company. However, it did not say when the car would go into production.
Rolls-Royce said the prototype would be based on its top-end "Phantom" model, and will be put through various tests throughout 2011.
The normal Phantom is powered by a 6.75-litre 12-cylinder engine, at least three to four times the size of the engine on a typical family sedan, and consumes about one litre of fuel for ever six kilometres travelled.
''We have engineered the world's first battery electric vehicle for the ultra-luxury segment,'' chief executive Torsten Muller-Otvos said. ''With this vehicle, we begin an exploration into alternative drive-trains, seeking clarity on which alternative technologies may be suitable to drive Rolls-Royce motor cars of the future.''
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars said it wants to test opinions and reactions from owners, enthusiasts, members of the public and the media.
.jpg "RBI keeps repo rate unchanged as focus remains on inflation")
.jpg "Indian Oil, Panasonic team up for lithium-ion cell production in India")
