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The Rolls-Royce 103EX Envisions the Brand’s Next 100 Years

07.13.16 | By
The Rolls-Royce 103EX Envisions the Brand’s Next 100 Years

British heritage brand Rolls-Royce is entering the autonomous vehicle fray with a stunning futuristic unveiling – the Rolls-Royce 103EX – a concept embodiment of the luxury company’s vision of what the next 100 years of road travel will look like.

Harkening back to the days when the very well-heeled relied upon the service of a driver, the futuristic Rolls-Royce is one giant cabin comprised of two soft wool seats (calling them “rear seats” is completely unnecessary, as there are no front seats at all), offering what the designers call an automotive equivalent of haute couture. The elaborate and luxe interior caters to every whim of the 21st technocrat with leg room to spare: smartphone integration, automation options, and most curiously, an artificial intelligence feature named Eleanor.

Eleanor is designed as a digital chauffeur, one capable of determining the occupant’s mood and changing the drive style, ambiance, climate, and music according to continual monitoring. All this bespoke service happens while rolling upon enormous 28-inch wheels and powered by a zero-emission electric powertrain.

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The bold profile is the work of Rolls-Royce Director of Design, Giles Taylor.

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As you can see – our past has indeed inspired our future. Over the decades, Rolls-Royce has produced many experimental cars – all striving to live up to the cachet to be the best car in the world. Today, we take that experimental tradition one step further. – Giles Taylor, Director of Design at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

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“The interior space is designed to be a retreat from the world – evoking a feeling of privacy, warmth and ultimate relaxation.”

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Interior details include an expansive OLED touch-screen, Macassar wood paneling, deep-pile ivory wool carpet, and a silky wool sofa. A luggage compartment is hidden near the front wheels.

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Eleanor, the artificial intelligence system, was inspired by the Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament on the front of every Rolls.

The Rolls-Royce 103EX and its ghost in the machine Eleanor are purely conceptual explorations at the moment. But it’s quite evident the Double R is looking ahead to redefine the luxury automotive experience with an artificial intelligence designed to diligently wear the hats of both driver and personal assistant while carting the wealthy from point A to point B.

Gregory Han is a Senior Editor at Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com.