If you look at the sheer number of exotic car models out there, then estimate the sales of those models ranging from a few dozen per year produced by a company like Bugatti to ten thousand a year produced by sister company Bentley, you might be forgiven for assuming that the global economic downturn never existed.

McLaren, of Formula and McLaren F1 supercar fame, is back with a new car to be launched in early 2011. The new car is the McLaren MP4-12C. It was borne out of the dissolution of the longstanding relationship between Mercedes-Benz and McLaren. The cooperative produced such fabled cars at the Mercedes-Benz SLR and SLC. It will reach 124 mph in fewer than 10 seconds, but will be able to stop in less than half that amount. From the moment the first example is rolled off the production line, it will be an instant hit and a sure-footed supercar. Much cheaper than the original F1, the car should run about £175,000, with both cheaper and more expensive models to follow-up in subsequent years.

For more than a quarter of a million dollars, you might think that such a car would have a very limited following, yet McLaren has just announced that they already have 2700 interested buyers. That is more than two years worth of production. That figure is astounding when you consider the number of people out of work in the US and the EU – the likely primary markets for these cars.

Yet, the figure may not be an anomaly. Rolls-Royce, a unit of BMW Group, has announced record monthly sales since its relaunch in 2003. The company produced 300 hand-made vehicles from its Goodwood facility in June 2010. Sales were up 400 per cent, with strong growth in Asia-Pacific, particularly China. This may cause some to ponder whether the Chinese really are communist!

But that’s not all. Mercedes-Benz also has reported a record June sales month. 113,200 vehicles were moved with strong results from the high-end E-class and S-class models. Interestingly, on the low end of the totem pole, the über-cheap Smart ForTwo has seen a continued slump in sales, even in the new U.S. market. Smart hopes to turn around their sales decline by launching an updated Smart later this summer.

Sources:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/251307

http://www.leftlanenews.com/rolls-royce-bucks-economic-downturn-sells-out.html

http://www.autonews.com/article/20100705/ANE/307059932/1131

Rolls-Royce

It looks like Rolls-Royce finally has a new name for their “cheaper” new model. It’s going to be called the Ghost. Read on!

20.04.2009

Press Release:

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced the name for its new model series which until now has been known as RR4. The name was announced by CEO, Tom Purves at a press conference held at the Shanghai motor show.

The new car will be called the Rolls-Royce Ghost and production will begin at the company’s Goodwood manufacturing facility on the south coast of England later in 2009.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars CEO, Tom Purves, said, “We are delighted to formally announce the Rolls-Royce Ghost. It is one of the most revered names in the automotive industry, evoking images of adventure and technical innovation. The name reflects this new model’s breadth of abilities. The first cars to bear the Ghost name were known not only for impressive dependability and refinement but also great flair and style. This car will be the first in a new generation of models to carry this evocative name and will give us two pinnacle product lines – Phantom and Ghost.

The Rolls-Royce Ghost will be built on its own dedicated production line at Goodwood but will share paint, wood and leather workshops with the Phantom series of cars. Rolls-Royce has expanded all areas of its manufacturing facility over the last 18 months to prepare for the introduction of the Ghost model.

Oh the life of a journalist… imagine taking a tour of a factory (in this case BMW) and finding a not so journalist-friendly staff. Specifically, this writer had to resort to crayon drawings when his camera was banned.

Ok, it’s a bit silly but an enjoyable read, it’s weekend entertainment after all!

Visit Hyperleggera: A Trip to BMW Werk Dingolfing

Paranoia und Verschwörung in Bayern

Excerpt:

Intermission

“Agnes, how do you do! I’ve heard you’ll drop in by our Münich head quar ters tomorrow.”

Even as heard through a cell phone’s tinny speaker, the voice of Man fred von Schaden­freude is impos ing. Agnes, head of BMW Hungary’s PR, is respon si ble for han dling the jour­nal ists from Hun gary. She is talk ing on her cell phone a few feet away from the jour nal ists, who—drunk on Rolls–Royce—do not pay any atten tion to her conversation.

“Look, Agnes, you’re a smart woman. Obvi ously, you will want to visit us tomor row as an employee, not as a guest.”

“Of course, Herr Ingenieur.”

“Oh please! Call me Manny.”

“All right…Manny.”

“See? Easy as pie! So go and take that lanky kid’s camera. Alex is a dullard, he does not have the sense to use our BR–2491 Excuse Gen er a tor with style, but you have no need for such prim i tive tools. I see you’re on good terms with the boy. You surely can figure out how to handle this.”

“Herr Ing…I mean, Manny, trust me I can handle him.”

“All right then. Soon there will be an open ing in upper man age ment here at com pany HQ. But I’ll tell you all about that tomor row! Do not let me down.”

The tele phone goes silent. Agnes rejoins the jour nal ists. Stand ing nearby, Alex is fid dling with the button on the BR–2491 Excuse Generator.

A Rolls-Royce: in Crayon

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.

(more…)

It was only a few months ago that Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and the Peninsula Hotel Hong Kong unveiled the largest ever single order for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars: 14 Bespoke Rolls-Royce Phantoms in “Peninsula Green”.

We’ve take some footage provided by Rolls-Royce and edited to make an interesting an concise video about the event and the process of making the cars. The video provides some insight into the bespoke car business.

Check out the press release and vehicle details here:
http://hongkong.peninsula.com/phk/pdfs/rolls_royce_press_release.pdf

See our video here:

Yes, it’s that time of the year, the picks for the best cars as of Winter 2007.

Which European cars are by matter of fact, “the best”? Find out below:

Best Supercar over $500,000: Bugatti Veyron 16.4

Best Supercar under $500,000: Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder

Best Ultra Luxury Convertible: Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé

Best Ultra Luxury Sedan: Rolls-Royce Phantom

Best Ultra Luxury Coupé: Bentley GT

Best Hot Hatchback: VW GTI

Best Hot Sedan: Audi S8

Best sound: (tie) Ferrari 599 GTB/Ferrari F430

Best sports car under $100,000: Porsche 911 Carrera S

Best sports car over $100,000: Aston Martin DB9 Volante

Best new sports car: Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Best Small Car: Mini Cooper S (John Cooper Works Edition)

Best Old Car Experience: Caterham Lotus 7 SV

Most economical and fun sports car: Lotus Elise

Mid-sized Sedan: BMW M5

Best Car for Old People Who Don’t Give a Damn: Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG

Best SUV: Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG

Best minivan/mpv (yes, I’m ACTUALLY including this category): Mercedes-Benz R63 AMG

The Financial Times reported next week that the Chinese will become the third largest buyer of Rolls-Royce Phantoms taking the spot from Japan. Rolls-Royce plans to sell 70 Phantoms in China and 50 in Japan according to the article.

The cost of a Rolls-Royce Phantom starts at about US$400,000 in the Chinese mainland. Most orders are in Hong Kong, which has the world’s highest number of Rolls-Royce motorcars per capita. After taxes, the price is nearly doubled because the Chinese heavily taxes imported cars. As a reference point, Thailand taxes imports so heavily the final price can be 4 times what it would be without taxation. Of course, no company knows customisation like Rolls-Royce, and this is the reason one Chinese developer recently paid US$2,000,000 to import a highly customised version recently.

Of course, taken in the grand scheme of it all, Chinese imports of 70 cars pales in comparison to California, which will import twice as many for the rich, and possibly, famous.

For the BTKM analysis, we view this all as a sign that with the significant increase in the number of Chinese millionaires, Rolls-Royce can expect to see increase demand and thus increased revenue generated in Asia. Therefore, R-R will need to consider a strong marketing and supply channel push in the country in the coming year. At current rates, Rolls-Royce could expect to import more cars than California in less than five years.

Of course the implication here is that other European carmakers will also prosper. Rolls-Royce former amalgamate, Bentley, would lead us to believe that the Crewe, England-based automaker will also see much increased sales, especially considering a lower, yet exclusive price point.

Editors note: Here at Beyond the KM, we would buy a Phantom, but still need to find the money and the driver … so feel free to click the ads to generate a little loving revenue!