Designworks has a approach of quietly shaping a few of BMW’s largest victories. Repeatedly, the California studio has influenced vehicles that went on to redefine whole segments. Whereas the Designworks-BMW X5 historical past is arguably most well-known, the studio’s most astonishing win might have come from an excellent greater perch. Earlier than the reborn Rolls-Royce Phantom shocked the luxurious world, design commenced in a small California studio — not, as you may think, in wet Goodwood or Munich. There, a designer named Marek Djordjevic sketched the inspiration for a very powerful Rolls-Royce of the trendy period.
Designworks, The place Good Design is a Behavior
As with the E46’s California design historical past, we sadly can’t present you sketches that Designworks representatives shared with us. So that you’ll should take our phrase for it. Equally to the fateful 3 Collection design, the Rolls-Royce Phantom’s preliminary framework got here by means of a company-wide and worldwide design contest. In response to the Designworks spokesperson, each the sedan and convertible (Drophead) Phantom designs originated from the California studio. Images shared confirmed an preliminary prototype mannequin carrying BMW wheels, as apparently wheels within the right dimension didn’t but exist. The automobile was “too new,” in accordance with the spokesperson.
It’s no less than debatable that Designworks profitable the design bid for the Rolls-Royce Phantom is an excellent higher accomplishment than the E46 BMW 3 Collection or the now ubiquitous X5. In spite of everything, the Phantom sits on the pinnacle of each the Rolls and BMW portfolio. Extra importantly, this explicit Phantom was, in fact, the primary one designed after BMW took over the reigns for Rolls-Royce. The reinvented Phantom of the early 2000s merely needed to be good to ensure that BMW’s acquisition to make sense. After all, contemplating the truth that BMW had been after Rolls-Royce for nearly a decade earlier than lastly acquiring it, there was nearly zero probability the model wouldn’t have come ready for the upward battle of righting the stagnating model.
BMW’s Battle for Rolls-Royce Began With the Phantom VII
After all, they’d little selection however to begin from scratch. When BMW picked up Rolls-Royce, it had its work reduce out for it. Since Volkswagen retained a lot of the rights to bodily attributes surrounding the Rolls-Royce model, BMW wanted to design a automobile with out nearly any carryover from the Silver Seraph, the model’s former flagship. A brand new Pantheon grille and Spirit of Ecstasy had been simply among the essential particulars that ended up getting ironed out as the brand new Phantom — in any other case generally known as the Phantom VII — got here to life.
The automobile grew considerably relative to the final range-topper, and that was for good purpose. Actually magnificent proportions had been required for a automobile as essential and costly because the Phantom; it was over a foot longer than the Silver Seraph, and grew in each different facet too. A bigger 6.75-liter V12 engine was positioned underneath the hood and late-model Phantom VIIs even received an eight-speed computerized transmission. Most significantly, the automobile is essentially credited with bringing Rolls again to the forefront of top-tier luxurious vehicles. Maybe a credit score to its superior reception, the Phantom remained in manufacturing for nearly fifteen years, with the final fashions leaving the manufacturing facility in 2017. And none of it will’ve been potential with no little design studio in Southern California.
