Rolls-Royce boasts “your chariot awaits” with new VISION vehicle
Staff
General Automotive autonomous vehicle concept car Rolls-RoyceBMW’s VISION 100 initiative combines traditional Rolls-Royce luxury with futuristic design.
Rolls-Royce boasts that it has thought of everything with its latest vehicle, VISION NEXT 100. As part of the automaker’s 100 year anniversary, Rolls Royce has explored historic design features and the vision of the future for vehicles and believes that its latest vehicle exceeds all expectations.
This Vision Vehicle is one of four announced by the BMW Group in Munich on 7 March 2016, as it launched its centenary celebrations.
The Rolls-Royce VISION NEXT 100 offers occupants effortless, autonomous, spacious and beautiful luxury mobility, as personal as each individual customer, boasts the automaker.
The design team, led by Director of Design Giles Taylor, hopes to revolutionize luxury vehicles with its new design that is centered on providing customers with a fully autonomous, yet highly personalized experience.
“Based on the needs and desires of our customers, the designers proposed a no-compromise, fully autonomous, coachbuilt, personalised vision to those customers who wish for an emotional attachment to their car,” explained the automaker.
When it comes to the vehicle itself, there are so many unique and futuristic features all wrapped up in one sleek exterior.
The chassis is hand-built from the most advanced materials and powered by a zero emissions powertrain. Yet, customers will have the ability to commission their own concept and Rolls-Royce will design and manufacture to customers personal visions.
This fully autonomous vehicle goes beyond the traditional driverless mode. According to the automaker, the “voice of Eleanor” offers customers a complete digital connection to every aspect of their lives. “Eleanor” becomes a virtual assistant and chauffeur. The system is complete with its own artificial intelligence and works intuitively to advise owners on itineraries, schedules and options before they leave their residence, reminding about appointments and tasks and making suggestions to ease any anticipated impediments.
When customers plan to head out, Eleanor “brings” the car around. Once ready to go, the system is able to provide suggestions, recommendations and briefings about their intended destination.
The automaker likens this to a “magic carpet ride” experience. The rider is delivered through a blend of a futuristic, powerful, zero-emission drivetrain and advanced suspension.
The vehicle itself is 5.9 meters long and 1.6 metres high. The company explains that the design vision was to allow the vehicle to appear as if it were floating across the roadway. The 28-inch tall but narrow wheels are each hand-built from 65 individual pieces of aluminium, and enclosed to deliver the impression of a futuristic catamaran.
Due to new propulsion and coach-build technologies, the design team was able to add unique features. For example, where an engine would once have occupied the entire under-bonnet area of the car, a luggage compartment is positioned just aft of the front wheels, which opens automatically following arrival/disembarkation.
The interior is as sleek as the exterior of the vehicle and presents a lounge-like atmosphere with a coach door and clamshell canopy that glides open to allow passengers to comfortable enter and exit the vehicle. Hinged on the left of the vehicle, the glass canopy lifts to allow the occupant to stand whilst providing shelter from above and behind. Then, in one effortless movement, the single coach door sweeps open and a step emerges from below the running board. As a final embellishment, a red light is projected, carpet-like, from the underside of the step as a welcome.
The centerpiece of the cabin is the beautiful sofa, Rolls-Royce boasts.
The conventional cockpit/steering wheel view is no longer necessary with this autonomous vehicle. Passengers have a sweeping view of a transparent OLED screen that dominates the front wall of the cabin. You can choose to view the road ahead or Eleanor can take cues to provide information about the journey and destination. The screen even allows for riders to watch their favorite movie or show.
Rolls-Royce designed the VISION 100 vehicle so that passengers are provided with everything they could possible need and want while still keeping some of the traditional Rolls-Royce luxury.
