Rolls-Royce Gets Another Big Buy
Not much analysis here, but it is always interesting to see “special” Rolls-Royce orders, including that of the world famous Peninsula. We reported before that the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong had bought the world’s largest order – and now maintains – the largest fleet of Rolls-Royce motorcars in the world.
From Rolls-Royce:
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will hand over two Phantom Extended Wheelbase cars to The Peninsula Tokyo on 31 August, just before the official opening of the hotel in Marunouchi, Tokyo on 1 September 2007.
These two Phantoms bring the total number in The Peninsula Hotels’ fleet to 16. In December 2006 the largest ever single order of 14 Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended Wheelbase cars was delivered to The Peninsula Hong Kong. The two new Phantom Extended Wheelbase cars are finished in The Peninsula Hotels’ corporate colour, Peninsula Green, matching the paintwork of the 14 cars at The Peninsula Hong Kong. On both sides of the body, The Peninsula Tokyo logo and single gold coachline are hand applied by skilled craftsmen. The interior features walnut veneers and tan leather, with a spacious lounge seat arrangement in the rear compartment. The two cars have a number of special features built under Rolls-Royce’s “Bespoke” programme to ensure they meet the exacting needs of the hotel. The Bespoke options include a cool box for chilled hand towels, used towel storage, bespoke tread plates with the inscription “THE PENINSULA TOKYO” and a new, larger luggage compartment. The cars’ detailed design also features a boulevard lighting system to provide maximum illumination for passengers when entering or exiting the cars. Various modifications were made to create the interior space to provide guests with the utmost comfort while in the car, as a natural extension of the hotel’s services.
Some 18 leather hides for each Phantom were used to trim the seats, doors and roof-lining, and in a process unique to Rolls-Royce, each hide is tumble-dyed, resulting in a natural finish that is sumptuously soft and requires no protective top coat. Each Phantom is finished with veneer taken from a single tree to ensure that the colour and grain match perfectly across the interior.
The Peninsula Tokyo’s guests enjoy in-car entertainment supplied via a Lexicon sound system employing 15 speakers and nine-channel amplification delivering 420 watts. Studio-grade components, unique to the Phantom, ensure a sound quality unrivalled in the marketplace. DVDs can be viewed on twin 12-inch screens housed in the rear fold-down picnic tables. The Phantom is the most successful super-luxury car in the world, built using cutting edge technology and lightweight materials. The Phantom offers significantly more space for passengers.
The Peninsula and Rolls-Royce, which share a long-term partnership that stretches for almost 40 years, are synonymous for excellence and attention to detail. The relationship began with the hotel’s first order for seven Silver Shadows in 1970. Over the years, The Peninsula has set new records with each successive order for Rolls-Royces.
On the introduction of the car, The Honourable Sir Michael Kadoorie, Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited said, “For almost 40 years The Peninsula Hotels have used Rolls-Royce cars, and the new fleet of Phantoms is the most impressive of their cars built to date. Rarely are my expectations exceeded, but on this occasion they have been – the cars, like the hotels, must exemplify quality and the service requirements have also mirrored these high standards.”