Royaume-Uni
Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce was born in England from a now-legendary meeting: in May 1904, in Manchester, aristocrat and automobile pioneer Charles Stewart Rolls met engineer Henry Royce, a perfectionist renowned for the exacting standards of his work. Their business agreement led to the creation of Rolls-Royce Limited in 1906. The marque's reputation was established by the end of the decade with the 40/50 H.P., nicknamed the "Silver Ghost," whose performances in the great endurance trials of the era earned Rolls-Royce the description of builder of "the best car in the world," a phrase attributed to Autocar magazine in 1907. Chassis production moved from Manchester to Derby in 1908, and a factory then opened in Springfield, Massachusetts, which assembled Rolls-Royce cars from 1921 to 1926 for the North American market. Over the course of the 20th century, the automobile business passed from Rolls-Royce Limited to Rolls-Royce Motors (from 1973 onward), separate from the aerospace business. The major turning point came at the end of the 1990s: in 1998, the BMW Group secured the rights to the Rolls-Royce name and logo. BMW created a new company, built a brand-new factory at Goodwood, in West Sussex, and launched an entirely new car. On January 1, 2003, at 12:01 a.m., the first Phantom of this modern era was handed over to its owner, marking the official start of production at Goodwood. Since then, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of BMW AG and remains the only manufacturer authorized to build Rolls-Royce-branded automobiles. The North American presence today relies on a network of dealers in the United States and Canada, with North America among the marque's most important markets, but no production takes place there: all the cars are assembled at Goodwood.
ActiveLuxePerformanceÉlectrique / hybrideEuropéennes
History
History of Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce was born in England from a now-legendary meeting: in May 1904, in Manchester, aristocrat and automobile pioneer Charles Stewart Rolls met engineer Henry Royce, a perfectionist renowned for the exacting standards of his work. Their business agreement led to the creation of Rolls-Royce Limited in 1906. The marque's reputation was established by the end of the decade with the 40/50 H.P., nicknamed the "Silver Ghost," whose performances in the great endurance trials of the era earned Rolls-Royce the description of builder of "the best car in the world," a phrase attributed to Autocar magazine in 1907. Chassis production moved from Manchester to Derby in 1908, and a factory then opened in Springfield, Massachusetts, which assembled Rolls-Royce cars from 1921 to 1926 for the North American market. Over the course of the 20th century, the automobile business passed from Rolls-Royce Limited to Rolls-Royce Motors (from 1973 onward), separate from the aerospace business. The major turning point came at the end of the 1990s: in 1998, the BMW Group secured the rights to the Rolls-Royce name and logo. BMW created a new company, built a brand-new factory at Goodwood, in West Sussex, and launched an entirely new car. On January 1, 2003, at 12:01 a.m., the first Phantom of this modern era was handed over to its owner, marking the official start of production at Goodwood. Since then, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of BMW AG and remains the only manufacturer authorized to build Rolls-Royce-branded automobiles. The North American presence today relies on a network of dealers in the United States and Canada, with North America among the marque's most important markets, but no production takes place there: all the cars are assembled at Goodwood.
Public founding or origin of Rolls-Royce.
Cullinan: launch or first listed period.
Ghost: launch or first listed period.
Phantom: launch or first listed period.
Silver Ghost: launch or first listed period.
Spectre: launch or first listed period.
Technologies
Technologies, innovations and platforms
The modern Rolls-Royce is built on the "Architecture of Luxury," a modular aluminum spaceframe chassis designed specifically for the marque and shared by the Phantom, Ghost, Cullinan, and Spectre. The internal-combustion models receive a 6.75 L twin-turbo V12 (derived from BMW blocks, calibrated specifically) paired with a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission. Several technologies aim for absolute comfort: "Planar" suspension with active damping, road anticipation, four-wheel steering, all-wheel drive depending on the model, and extensive sound insulation. With the Spectre, the first 100% electric Rolls-Royce, the marque begins its shift toward a fully electric lineup by the end of 2030; the battery, integrated into the structure, stiffens the body and serves as additional acoustic insulation.
Brand image
Identity, reputation, strengths and weaknesses
Positioning
The world's pinnacle of handcrafted automotive luxury: exclusivity, silence, and Bespoke personalization taken to the extreme.
Reputation
Rolls-Royce embodies the summit of automotive luxury: build quality, ride quietness, and nearly unlimited "Bespoke" personalization are widely praised by the specialized press. Rarity and desirability support a residual value that is generally stronger than the market average over the first few years, with the Cullinan, for example, retaining an appreciable share of its value after three to five years according to resale analyses. Reliability benefits from BMW engineering, but the costs of maintenance, insurance, tires, and brakes (notably carbon-ceramic) remain very high, in keeping with the positioning.
Strengths
Refinement and build quality at the highest level, remarkable ride quietness, exceptional suspension comfort, virtually limitless Bespoke personalization, unrivaled image and exclusivity, resale value often above average thanks to rarity, and engineering strength inherited from the BMW Group.
Points to watch
Extreme purchase price and operating costs: very expensive insurance, maintenance, brakes, and tires. The large size and heavy weight complicate city driving and parking. High fuel consumption of the internal-combustion V12s, still-significant depreciation in absolute terms, limited availability, and a sparse service network. No production or industrial presence in North America.
Models
Rolls-Royce models
Current or active models by market
Cullinan 2018 - actif SUV luxe Ghost 2009 - actif berline luxe Phantom 1925 - actif limousine luxe Spectre 2023 - actif EV luxe
Notable past models
Production and compatibility
Plants, tires and wheels
Production
The industrial heart of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is the Goodwood plant, in West Sussex, England, opened in 2003 and the marque's global headquarters; it is there that all current automobiles (Phantom, Ghost, Cullinan, Spectre) are assembled by hand. Historically, chassis were produced in Manchester and then Derby, and an American plant in Springfield, Massachusetts, assembled Rolls-Royce cars from 1921 to 1926. Today, there is no production in North America: the presence there is strictly commercial, through a network of dealers in the United States and Canada that handles sales, delivery, service, and personalization programs.
Tires and wheels
Modern Rolls-Royces run on large wheels, typically 21 to 23 inches, and even 24 inches on the Cullinan, with low-profile, high-speed-rated tires, often with a specific front/rear fitment (for example, 255 sections at the front and 285 to 295 at the rear depending on the diameter). The bolt pattern is generally 5x120, inherited from the BMW base. In Québec, winter tires certified for the cold season are mandatory: it is common to plan for a second set, sometimes on slightly smaller-diameter wheels, to preserve comfort and to find suitable winter sizes. Always confirm the exact size, load and speed ratings, and certification for the model and year.