5:27 am, April 1, 2010
ROLLS-ROYCE has refused to rule out a diesel or hybrid model could appear in its range at some stage.
David Archibald, regional director for Europe and South Africa, said that Rolls-Royce was well set up to ‘piggy-back’ on the technology pioneered by owners BMW.
‘One of the benefits of being part of the BMW Group is that we will be able to accept whatever they’re doing in terms of power trains if it’s right for Rolls-Royce,’ he said.
‘There are no fixed plans at the moment but whatever is there we’ll be able to piggy-back on and utilise that in our own range.’
Asked if that meant there could one day be a diesel powered Phantom or Ghost, Archibald added: ‘Nothing has been ruled out at this stage. We never say never so it’s a case of watch this space!’
BMW has been at the forefront of green technology and already has a working Hydrogen powered 7-Series. Its diesel engines are also class-leading and would be a good fit for Rolls-Royce, offering the instantaneous low-down torque its car buyers’ crave.
by JAMES BAGGOTT
