Rolls-Royce Corniche (2000)

The Rolls-Royce Corniche is a large, high end, two-door, four-seater luxury convertible car, made in the United Kingdom from 2000 to 2002.

Its debut in January 2000 made it Rolls-Royce's first new model in the 21st century, as well as the first largely new model to bear the Corniche name, after four series derived from the Silver Shadow. It was the most louche of Rolls-Royce's contemporary models.

Nevertheless, despite all-new sheetmetal, bearing a strong resemblance to the Silver Seraph, it had instead been derived from the pre-BMW era Bentley Azure, thus continuing the use of the traditional Rolls-Royce 6.75l V8 engine-block, in common with its predecessors, albeit significantly modernized, and with much better performance, thanks to the Bentley-borrowed turbocharger - a first for a series Corniche.

Released after a five-year hiatus, this fifth Corniche was Rolls-Royce's most expensive model and flagship car, with a base price of US$359,900. From 2003, Rolls-Royce motor car production was handed over to BMW, who did not prolong the production of any of the existing models, but instead reintroduced the brand with an all-new Phantom (VII), costing $300,000 in 2003, even when Pound Sterling was stronger to the US dollar and the dollar was weaker to US consumer prices. Or, in 2003, the all-new model Bentley Continental GT 6L W12 twin-turbo costed just $150,000. Though when the Bentley Continental T model was new 4 years earlier, it seems to have costed $390,000 even in stronger dollars. Aston Martin DB7 MSRP in year 2000 was $143,000.https://www.autoblog.com/buy/2001-Aston+Martin-DB7+Vantage/specs/

The Corniche (V) was the only new Rolls-Royce model launched under Volkswagen holding ownership; the last Rolls-Royce Corniche to date, and with just 374 units built, it remains one of the brand's most exclusive modern series production models.

Description

The 2000-2002 Corniche is powered by a 325 hp (240 kW) 6.75 L turbocharged Rolls-Royce V8. The Corniche's engine is capable of providing 738 N·m (544 lb·ft) of torque at 2,100 rpm. The car is operated via a four-speed automatic transmission. It has a top speed of 135 mph (215 km/h) and a 0-60 mph (97 km/h) acceleration time of 8 seconds. The convertible, weighing 6,836 lb (3,101 kg), was built more for comfort than for speed.

The Corniche came outfitted with every luxury and refinement characteristic of a Rolls-Royce. The car has a Connolly Leather interior, Wilton wool carpets, chrome gauges and a wide choice of exotic wood trims. Dual automatic temperature control, a six-disc CD changer, automatic headlamps and automatic ride control are standard.

Styling cues were taken from the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph sedan, but it shares little mechanically with that BMW-engined car. Instead, the Corniche's body was set onto the older platform used for the Bentley Azure, making it the first and only Rolls-Royce developed from a Bentley rather than the other way around, (notwithstanding the fact that the Bentley Azure was of course developed on a Rolls-Royce platform to begin with.

The Corniche was the only new Rolls-Royce developed under Volkswagen's ownership, before the marque was sold in 2003. All Corniches were completely hand-built. The car was considered a slightly softer, more exclusive version of the Azure.

The last Rolls-Royce Corniche was manufactured on 30 August 2002. This was the last Rolls-Royce to be made at the Crewe plant before it was turned over entirely to the production of Bentley models. Only 374 fifth-generation Corniches were ever built.

''*stated by Pininfarina production records''

''**From 2 varying documents, newer data used''

See also

* Rolls-Royce Corniche

References

External links

Rolls-Royce Corniche (2000–2002)

{{Rolls-Royce

Corniche
Cars introduced in 2000
Convertibles
Flagship vehicles