The Future of Rolls-Royce Is … Well, It’s Something, Alright

“Magic carpet” concept unveiled in London

June 17, 2016 9:00 am

When BMW began celebrating its 100th birthday earlier this year by unveiling some new concept cars, they didn’t forget their prodigal subsidiary son, Rolls-Royce … they just made it wait.

But now the day has finally arrived.

To mark a century of BMW, Rolls-Royce just unveiled a concept car that stares firmly into the future while celebrating the four main tenets of its venerable past: personal experience, effortless travel, a relaxing sanctuary and a grand arrival.

Codenamed 103EX, the autonomously driven concept coupe features a lightweight composite body that’s powered by a zero-emission electric drivetrain and comes equipped with futuristic touches like a roof that glides open like a clamshell, a curved cabin made of black glass and 28-inch enclosed wheels built from 65 individual pieces of aluminium.

The “magic carpet” design that makes the car appear as if it’s floating may alarm some purists, but fear not. Despite the next-gen tech, the car is instantly recognizable as a Rolls-Royce thanks to the brand’s iconic Pantheon grille sitting front and center.

The Tron-esque fun isn’t restricted to the exterior, though, as evidenced by a lounge-like wood-paneled cabin with a deep-pile carpet, a wool-and-silk sofa an OLED screen for work and play and a live-in virtual assistant named Eleanor.

Consider us attached at the chassis.

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