Rolls-Royce’s futuristic Vision Next 100 concept car, codenamed 103EX, has made its North American debut at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California.
The 103EX is what the British manufacturer is calling its first ever ‘Vision Vehicle’, and showcases the future of luxury mobility.
It is intended to present a completely personal, effortless and autonomous Rolls-Royce experience. Its cabin has been dubbed a ‘grand sanctuary’, while the vehicle itself has been designed to allow its occupants to make a ‘grand arrival’.
“The grand arrival of the Rolls-Royce Vision Next 100 boldly points to a bright future for our marque,” Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said. “Our patrons’ individual demands for complete and authentic personalisation will be met through an exquisite fusion of technology, design and hallmark Rolls-Royce craftsmanship.”
The virtual assistant and chauffeur is connected to all aspects of its owners’ lives
The 103EX’s interior is fashioned from the “most precious and contemporary of materials”. Its centrepiece is the sofa, which “gives the impression of floating within the cocoon of the cabin thanks to the artful use of lighting and modern materials”.
The voice of Eleanor also features in the cabin of the 103EX. Rolls-Royce says the virtual assistant and chauffeur is connected to all aspects of its owners’ lives as well as its surrounding environment.
The 103EX measures 5.9 metres in length, and 1.6 metres in height – mirroring the dimensions of the Phantom Extended Wheelbase. The iconic Spirit of Ecstasy has grown in size, and sits atop a re-imagined Pantheon grille.
First announced by the BMW Group in March, along with three other Vision Next 100 vehicles, the 103EX was designed as part of its centenary celebrations.
Not only does 2016 mark the centenary of the BMW Group, it is also the last year the seventh-generation Rolls-Royce Phantom will be produced.
According to the manufacturer, this signifies the end of the first chapter of Rolls-Royce’s renaissance under BMW Group custodianship. The 103EX is an example of how Rolls-Royce will strive to create the chassis of the future, hand-built from the most advanced materials and powered by a zero-emissions powertrain.