Rolls Royce 103EX Concept Makes A Grand Arrival To The US

Rolls Royce have brought their autonomous 103EX concept to Santa Monica, California for its North American debut.

Apart from the brand’s first pure concept, it is also their take on the Vision 100 concept series that were created to celebrate BMW‘s centenary.

Created to display how Rolls envisions their future, the 103EX concept is an autonomous pod for the ultra-rich, inspired by the brand’s historic coach-built models of the past.

“With the Rolls-Royce VISION NEXT 100 we were mindful not to dwell on the past,” said Giles Taylor, Director of Design, Rolls-Royce. “We wanted to be as innovative as possible and at the same time transcend the design history of the marque.”

The concept incorporates the ‘Voice of Eleanor’, which is the owner’s virtual assistant and chauffeur. Eleanor is connected to every aspect of the owners’ lives and its surrounding environment, delivering its passengers safely to their destination and with the situation and surroundings that await them already predicted.

The cabin is called the ‘Grand Sanctuary’ and is hand-crafted as you would expect from the most precious and special materials. The simple and elegant atmosphere helps into making the interior into the perfect cocoon, where the occupants can relax and enjoy their trip.

The glass canopy over the cabin can open high enough to allow passengers to stand and provide shelter while a red light is projected to provide a carpet-like feel. Rolls Royce calls it the ‘Grand Arrival’.

“The Grand Arrival gesture of the Rolls-Royce VISION NEXT 100 creates a stage for our important passengers as they arrive at their ultimate destination,” says Taylor. “It is an expression of our intrinsic understanding of the possibilities for a true luxury brand and the desires of its customers.”

The concept is fittingly powered by a zero-emissions powertrain as it’s highly unlikely that big V12 engines will make it into the future.