Jun 20, 2016 | By Alec
Last week, the Roundhouse in London hosted a spectacular event for car lovers everywhere. There, Rolls-Royce – the car manufacturer that is synonymous with quality and luxury – unveiled their vision of the future with the Rolls-Royce Vision next 100 concept car, codenamed 103EX. Part of BMW Group’s centenary celebrations that looks to the next century, it provides a glimpse of what luxury mobility could mean in the future, and heavily relies on 3D printing to provide a completely bespoke and luxurious (automated) ride.
This remarkable car was completely designed by the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars design team, led by Giles Taylor. As he revealed, they asked themselves the questions: “How can we recast luxury for the next 100 years?”, “What will a Rolls-Royce owner expect of his or her Rolls-Royce in the coming decades?” and “How do we at Rolls-Royce today envision how we meet those expectations?”. Effectively, this meant completely turning the Rolls-Royce concept upside down, and combining its coachbuilding origins with the most up-to-date technologies of the age of mass-production.
For starters, this means that the Vision 100 is conceived as being an all-electric luxury car. As CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös revealed, it will actually feature two 250-kilowatt motors at the front and rear of the vehicle. While Rolls-Royce doesn’t actually use electric engines yet, the CEO added that he believes that this is probably the first element of the Vision 100 to end up in production.
What’s more, the car will obviously be autonomous to provide what they call an ‘Effortless Journey’. Featuring no front seats, the Vision 100 is a luxurious coach with spacious seating and a virtual chauffeur/voice-activated assistant. Named Eleanor (after the model hood ornament), it provides all possible digital services you can imagine – while keeping an eye on the road. “Imbued with her own artificial intelligence, she works intuitively to advise her owners on itineraries, schedules and options before they leave their residence, reminding about appointments and tasks and making suggestions to ease any anticipated impediments,” they say. “She ‘brings’ the car around when her passengers are ready to travel and, whilst conveying her charges to their next destination, helpfully but discreetly makes suggestions and recommendations, briefing them ahead of their arrival so they are ready to ‘perform’.”
But most importantly, the company wants to stay completely dedicated to the hallmarks of Rolls-Royce, which they believe are the key to their future. “The Rolls-Royce patron will continue to be a famous figure in the future,” explains Taylor. “I envision that the Rolls-Royce Vision Next 100 will play a key role in these people’s lives, guiding and conveying them effortlessly through their life’s journey in an exquisite sanctuary where they can reflect in peace ahead of arriving in the grandest style.”
To give weight to that dedication, the car’s design is strongly based on consultations with current patrons, who rejected notions of anonymous, utilitarian and bland future modes of mobility. The design therefore reflects keywords such as effortlessness, autonomy, space, luxury mobility and individuality. The result is eccentric and revolutionary, and combines timelessness with an almost steampunk design. But it is very recognizably still a Rolls-Royce. “The Grand Arrival of the Rolls-Royce Vision Next 100 boldly points to a bright future for our marque where our patrons’ individual demands for complete and authentic personalization will be met through an exquisite fusion of technology, design and hallmark Rolls-Royce craftsmanship,” Müller-Ötvös said.
This is also reflected by the interior – which is based on the notion of the ‘Grand Sanctuary’. “Entering the Grand Sanctuary, our passengers step in unbowed, with consummate grace and dignity, as with the state carriages of old, taking their place on the best seat in the house. Cocooned in the futuristic but handcrafted lounge atmosphere, the coach door and clamshell canopy glide closed to envelop them in uninterrupted silence and luxury,” they say.
But perhaps most remarkable is that this interior can be anything the owner wants it to be, as part of what they call ‘The Personal Vision’. In a nutshell, it refers to the notion that this concept car is just one example of what the Rolls-Royces of the future can look like, as any client wishing for an emotional attachment to the car can have a say in customizing the design – as they would for a classic coach. “Advanced manufacturing technologies will enable customers to involve themselves even more in the design of the shape, size and silhouette of their personal Rolls-Royce vision. The future customer will commission his or her own concept. Rolls-Royce will design and manufacture this personal vision of each customer and make every Rolls-Royce a unique Bespoke masterpiece,” the company revealed.
Director of Design Giles Taylor therefore believes that 3D printing, for instance for the interior panels and accessories, will become an integral part of production. This would all contribute to a completely bespoke interior and completely unique cars for each and every buyer. Taylor further mentioned that they are already exploring partnerships with 3D printing companies that could possibly supply such services.
Over the next century, each and every Rolls-Royce could thus become a unique work of art that is clearly part of the iconic brand but, thanks to 3D printing, completely yours as well. “Shape, size and silhouette – you will be able to craft your vision entirely from the wheels up,” they say. “A personalized icon for the future, providing a sanctuary of calm in an ever-faster world.” But then again, with the need for individuality greater than ever before, can the same not be expected of all cars? Time will tell.
Posted in 3D Printer Company
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Jaw dropping! do I really have to wait 100 years for it?
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