I agree with the why it is there because a Rolls would look out of place with a fat sports car type steering wheel. I guess I need to actually drive one and see if would bother me.

M

okay i get that roberto..but the thin steering wheel feels more at home in the phantom..where you might be driven..
but in this cab RR..wich clearly is made for driving it should have been diffrent..
but thats just my opinion..

Yes, you are making a good point there Artist. Maybe Rolls-Royce will make a very small compromise there, making the steering wheel just a little bit thicker .....not too much though, they must keep the integrity of the whole Rolls-Royce "milieu".

I've tried to reserve an opinion on the 100EX and Phantom. I hoped that the look would grow on me, but it hasn't. The 100EX looks like hell in my opinion. It's too big and bulky. With its top down, I think it looks like a bathtub.

Why can't they do something that looks closer to a Camargue? I thought the Camargue was a fine car and the most original Rolls-Royce. It was hideously expensive, some £29,000 when it was released in 1975. I believe the Silver Shadow I cost £16,000 at that time!

It might be my poor eyesight, but the Camarague doesn't look that big (see pic below), certainly not massively bulky. I thought the Camargue was a smaller, mid-sized Rolls-Royce, but it's not. The Camargue was built on the same 120-in wheelbase as the Silver Shadow. It is the same length, roughly 203-in, but it is a wider car than the Silver Shadow by a good 4-1/2 inches. The Camarague is a bigger car, but I never thought it was because it was designed with sleek, angular lines that masked its size. I knew it was big for a coupe, but it was also elegant. I don't really see that with the Phantom or 100EX.

Funny thing is 450SEL 6.9, I have never liked the Camargue much at all ....it was designed by Pininfarina and, as you said, it was very expensive. I have seen a few Camargues (but they are rare), they are quite impressive ....but I still don't find them very attractive.

I think the Corniche was much more appealing.

That's one of later model Corniches, Rob. I like the earlier Corniche cars and especially the Silver Shadow Mulliner Park Ward Convertible better. If I'm looking at late-1980s, early-1990s Corniche, I'd prefer the limited edition Corniche S with the turbocharged engine. I think only 25 were made.

I've seen a champagne/gold coloured Corniche just once. It is strange looking, but I like it because it is deceptively big. I'm certain I've told you that I love box-shaped cars done by Pininfarina. I wonder why the Camargue doesn't keep value as well. I've only seen a few for sale and they seem in good condition, but even the 1985 models go for £25,000 or less. I'm sure I can find some going for more than that though.

Interestingly, there's only one original Bentley Camargue. I wonder who owns it. I've seen pictures of cars built as RR Camargues rebadged as a Bentley Camargue.

LOL ...well I think it is true to say that Rolls-Royce has changed with the times Ray. They might not have that genuine old-world charm the old cars had ..but in reality, the cars built in the 1980's and 90's were really not particularly great. BMW has turned the situation around ..Rolls-Royce is actually cool these days; people who never looked twice at the old Rolls-Royces really like the Phantom.

From cheif designer Ian Cameron on the design of the 101ex

"We wanted to give the Rolls the elegance of the past but the technology of tomorrow, he says. It certainally isn`t a retrocar nor is it old-fashion in it`s style, but we wanted that timeless look.. Thats important for a Rolls."
From the 2006 August issue of MoterTrend magazine.

To call the Rolls Old-School in it`s design is pretty safe logic imo.

Well the quote you just posted completely backs up my opinion ...what's your point?

There is a lot of "Old-School" influence in this design so as I stated above
it`s quit logical to call this design so... It`s all in the eye of the beholder.

Btw, has Rolls given this 101EX the green light yet, I`ve been way too busy to find out. If so thay will indeed have a winner on their hands. This is indeed a wonderfully designed automobile thats fit for a king!