After years sitting atop the throne as the king of luxury vehicles, Rolls-Royce has finally taken on board a smart car concept. But given the luxury brand’s penchant for constructing vehicles hors-norme, this isn’t any ordinary Rolls Royce. The idea is to visualize the next 100 years in the evolution of the Rolls-Royce brand.
The 103EX jumps from the page of a sci-fi novel. Its wheels uniquely shielded in a shell give the impression that it is actually floating on air. In fact, each of the wheels is hand built from 65 pieces of aluminum. And the sleek metallic body resembles a hardcore cross between the most recent incarnations of the batmobile and a luxury vehicle from the Fifth Element.
The Rolls Royce 103ex features hand-built wheels and driverless action. Photo courtesy of Rolls-Royce.
The Rolls Royce Vision Next 100 or the 103EX prides itself as anticipating the next 100 years of luxury automobiles. Here in its concept form, it provides a true red carpet effect for its passengers with an interior kitted out with plush comfort. The driverless vehicle even announces its arrival to its passengers, taking the VIP approach to the next level of luxury.
The door and roof, animated with a hinged system based off a clamshell design, raises in order to allow passengers to step directly into the vehicle without bending over. Then once inside, passengers will truly have the feeling of sitting in their favorite lounge chair.
Rolls Royce 103ex has features a lounge interior built for ultimate comfort.
As for horsepower and firepower for that matter, much has changed while the look still pays homage to the classic Pantheon grill. All the engine room normally relegated to the front of the vehicle has been replaced with luggage storage. Going the way of the smart car that takes up less hardware real estate and leaves a much more discreet carbon footprint, the 103EX really has endeavored to even outdo the most impressive of luxury smart concept cars.
The pièce de resistance, the radiator mascot, has been reimagined in crystal rather than metal. So gone are the days of the hood ornament looking like a shiny clunky piece of metal announcing how big Rolls Royce’s balls are. Instead, they’ve imagined the famous silhouette of a woman leaning forward in a crystal form.
Rolls Royce 103ex boasts a door and roof that allow for passengers to step directly inside the vehicle.
A part of a larger quartet of concept cars for the future imagined by BMW that includes the BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce, the 103EX cuts a head-turning silhouette with an eye on the future.
