Facing the reality that the brand’s hedonistic V-12 eventually could be rendered unviable by efficiency regulations, Rolls-Royce recently explored the idea of electrification with its fully electric, Phantom-based 102EX concept car. It debuted at the 2011 Geneva auto show in March, and we took a turn behind its thin-rimmed wheel a month later. Besides us media plebes, Rolls has also been floating the idea to its paying customers. Rumor has it the idea of the 102EX has been sinking more than anything, however, with the upper crust turning up their noses at the thought of a heavier, slower Phantom that’s limited to 120-odd miles between multiple-hour juice-ups.
When asked about the scuttlebutt, Rolls-Royce predictably kept a stiff upper lip. Spokeswoman Karen Vonder Meulen cited "tremendous" press reaction (our own Don Sherman said that it indeed seems ready for prime time) but warned that there have been "only a few customer events" in Europe, so it’s "too soon to know what the overall feeling is about the 102EX."
The 102EX is still on tour, and it will visit various U.S. markets by the end of this year. "We still look forward to having the car in the U.S. at Pebble Beach and then again in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami," she said. "The car is not scheduled to go into production. The point of the 102EX tour is to see if the customer wants it. Having said all that, the initial response from the customers to date has been somewhere in the middle." Sounds like the rumors may have some veracity.
Steve Siler 17 Jun, 2011--
Source: http://blog.caranddriver.com/rolls-royce-customers-apparently-not-too-charged-about-electric-roller/
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