Rolls-Royce accelerates towards its future engineering vision

Posted on 6 Jan 2016 by The Manufacturer, Jonny Williamson

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced that it has begun testing an "all-new aluminium space-frame architecture" set to underpin all of the manufacturer's future vehicles.

In February 2015, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announced the development of an all-new aluminium space-frame architecture that will underpin all future Rolls-Royce models arriving in market from early 2018.

The company has now announced that it has begun the testing phase of this new architecture, with early preparatory activity seeing new engineering mules being assessed on public roads in various locations around the world.

According to the company, the current testing phase aims to ensure that the new space-frame structure perfectly delivers Rolls-Royce’s trademark ‘magic-carpet ride’ on a variety of surfaces, and that it is resilient to extreme weather conditions.

The assessment of the new proprietary architecture is the first stage of a development programme that will reportedly see a “new generation” of Rolls-Royce motor cars.

CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Torsten Müller-Ötvös commented: “Since 2003 and the commissioning of the new Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has reset the benchmark for luxury motoring.

“Now it is time to take the next step in the luxury journey. This is why I am announcing that on-road testing of our all-new proprietary architecture is beginning. This new architecture of pure luxury represents considerable investment in the future of our great brand.”