Thank you for the information Tine ...it is much appreciated.

I was surprized when Bentley based the new Azure on the Arnage because the previous Corniche was also based on the same (Silver Seraph) body. The Azure is a completely redesigned car though, and is a much more successful adaption I think.

2000 Rolls-Royce Corniche


You are right, Bentley design is definately moving away from Rolls-Royce as much as it can.

But this is precisely how we have expected it would look for over two years now -- that grille is almost the same as the one presented on the 100EX Concept in 2004.

No surprises at all really.

I guess I expected RR to have been more conservative and revert to the standard grille like on the Phantom - I hope it would happen and it didn't.

If I can recall you loved the 100EX.

I just have a hard time believe these photos are the finished car. The rear seats look to conceptish to me, they're flat as boards.

M

Yes, I did really like it ...and I really like this production version too. I do however, share your thoughts about the new 'integrated' grille -- I too, would have preferred to have seen them use the traditional Rolls-Royce grille.

I am also very happy this is a Phantom rather than a Corniche ...because it is obviously going to cost more than the Phantom saloon. This is also a return to the tradition of offering a series of body-types for the same model.

This is a Phantom III DHC from 1936 -- this new model has got the character and style of Rolls-Royces from many decades ago.

Pardon my ignorance Rob, but can you explain to me your second paragraph?

Sure, and you most certainly are not ignorant James .

As Eni announced earlier, this new model will be called the Phantom Drophead. Many of us believed this convertible model would be the new Corniche. However, the Phantom has always been the designation reserved for the most prestigious Rolls-Royce models ...and this new car is obviously the most prestigious model Rolls-Royce now make. In the past (I am talking before WW2) the Rolls-Royce Phantoms were built in several different body styles: LWB limousines, Phaeton, Saloon/Sedan, Sedanca-de-Ville, Coupé, Landaulette, and Cabriolet/Drophead Coupé.

Thanks for the input Rob. So the Corniche in a way is in a lower price bracket than the Phantom range (Phantom, Drophead)?

Yes -- the old Phantom and old Corniche (the one based on the Silver Shadow) were both built by Mulliner Park Ward in London. Production of both cars ceased in 1992 when the Mulliner workshop (or perhaps that should be Atelier) was closed down. The Corniche was considerably more expensive than the Rolls-Royce Sliver Spur or Bentley Turbo R. However, the Phantom VI was priced in a different league altogether -- it was much more expensive, even, than the current Phantom and was entirely hand built. We will never see cars like the Phantom VI ever again.

Rolls-Royce Phantom VI, 1968-1992.
The cost of the entirely hand-bulit Phantom VI makes the current Phantom look like a bargain.

Thank you again - much appreciated.