So you’re going to build an SUV – Rolls-Royce takes uber luxury off-road

There’s been rumour and speculation for some time, but last week that was all put to bed with Rolls-Royce’s Chairman and CEO sending an Open Letter to confirm that work had begun on building an SUV

To be precise, the words used by Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes are “A car that offers the luxury of a Rolls–Royce in a vehicle that can cross any terrain”, which by no means suggests we’re going to get a JEEP, nor does it mean a Porsche style entry into the market.

This vehicle will be everything Rolls, everything exclusive and everything Luxury.

Why announce it now when there is essentially – other than the above “nothing to announce”?

Well that’s easy – to stop the questions.  Even at a lunch I attended with the Rolls-Royce CEO recently he was asked about it, so this means his response can be more along the lines of “we’re working on that now as we’ve announced” while not sharing any further details.

We expect a more glamorous reveal at a fancy motor show some time in the future – until then, unleash your best sketch artists to create an impression of what a Rolls Royce off-roader might look like.

If you’re interested – here’s the letter republished in full:

An Open Letter from the Chairman and the Chief Executive of Rolls–Royce Motor Cars on the subject of a new Rolls–Royce

The launch of Phantom in 2003 marked the beginning of the renaissance of Rolls–Royce Motor Cars. Since then, we have set a new benchmark for what a super-luxury car should be – unique, hand-crafted, beautiful and rare. Often imitated, Phantom has never been equalled and continues to be hailed as ‘The Best Car in the World’ by our customers and media alike.

Twelve years later, after the introduction of successful new models like Ghost and Wraith, Rolls–Royce stands proudly at the pinnacle of British luxury manufacturing, confirming our custodianship of this precious marque.

Now we have reached another seminal moment in Rolls–Royce’s 111-year journey.

Today we confirm that we are developing an all-new Rolls–Royce with exceptional presence, elegance and purpose:

• A car that offers the luxury of a Rolls–Royce in a vehicle that can cross any terrain.
• A car that meets our customers’ highly mobile, contemporary lifestyle expectations.
• A Rolls–Royce that is as much about the pioneering, adventurous spirit of Charles Rolls as it is about Sir Henry Royce’s dedication to engineering and innovation.
• A car that appropriately reflects Rolls–Royce’s brand promise of effortless luxury.
• A high-bodied car, with an all-new aluminium architecture.
• A unique new motor car worthy of carrying the Spirit of Ecstasy into the future.

This new Rolls–Royce will be Effortless …. Everywhere.

Many of our discerning customers have urged us to develop this new car – and we have listened. At Rolls–Royce Motor Cars we are uniquely focused on the desires of our customers and are driven by our own thirst to innovate. So we challenged our engineers and design team, led by Director of Design Giles Taylor, to create a different and exceptional new car.

This car will embody all the values and capabilities that drove our two Founding Fathers to secure Rolls–Royce’s reputation, early last century, by taking top honours in rigorous overland adventures such as the Scottish Reliability Trials, the London to Edinburgh event and the Alpine Trials.

Rolls–Royces conveyed pioneers and adventurers like Lawrence of Arabia across the vastness of unexplored deserts and over mountain ranges. In other parts of the world including Australia, India and the Americas, Rolls–Royces carried their owners over challenging terrain with absolute reliability and comfort.

History sets our precedent and our future calls us to action.

This new journey begins now. We will take our time in developing and perfecting this new concept in luxury. We will include our customers, enthusiasts and media along the way and will keep you informed of our progress.

Until then, rest assured, we are creating a motor car in the greatest traditions of our marque.

Sir Henry Royce famously said: “When it does not exist, design it”.

We are doing just that.