Sunday, Oct 24, 2005 1:43:00 pm
Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi’s latest luxury seven-star hotel is the newest UAE-based
fleet customer for BMW Group’s Rolls-Royce Phantom and BMW 7 Series
sedans, taking delivery of 18 of the premium models for its VIP chauffeur drive
service.
The deluxe hotel, that cost more than US $2 billion to construct, has taken
delivery of two Rolls-Royce Phantoms and 16 BMW 745Li cars, supplied by Abu
Dhabi Motors, the exclusive BMW Group importer in Abu Dhabi.
The contract includes after sales service and intensive driver training intended
to familiarize Emirates Palace personnel with the state-of-the-art features and
specifications of both models.
“No other car can offer the combination of performance and effortless power,
with the ultimate in refinement, quietness and luxury, which the Phantom
provides,” said Arno Husselmann, General Manager, Abu Dhabi Motors. “Meanwhile,
the 7 Series has set a new benchmark in the luxury sedan market, delivering
superior performance, unmatched technology and uncompromising comfort.
“Emirates Palace’s decision to select both the Rolls-Royce Phantom and the BMW 7
Series, as the cars of choice for its clients who want to travel in unrivalled
opulence, underlines BMW Group’s market leading position in the luxury car
segment.”
The Middle East has traditionally been a strong market for Rolls-Royce, and this
trend is continuing with the Phantom that has seen strong interest from
customers in the region. Rolls-Royce has said that it intends to sell an average
of 1000 cars per year worldwide, over the lifecycle of the car. Of these it is
anticipated that around 15 per cent will be sold in the Middle East.
Entirely new from the ground up, the Rolls-Royce Phantom captures the essence of
the world’s most famous car brand, interpreted in an utterly modern way.
Influenced by the guiding principles of Sir Henry Royce, “Strive for perfection
in everything you do. Take the best that exists and make it better. When it does
not exist, design it,” the design and engineering teams began with a blank sheet
of paper.
The result is a motor car which incorporates cutting edge engineering
technology, unparalleled quality and the finest in hand-built craftsmanship. The
Phantom has a light-weight aluminium space frame body, a V12 engine which
develops tremendous power and torque and a style, inside and out, which is every
inch a Rolls-Royce.
Bigger than its predecessor the distinctively styled BMW 7 Series has ample rear
seating legroom and headroom for the tallest passengers. It also features an
electronic damping system that continually adjusts the ride between soft and
firm, depending on road conditions. This enhances the luxury experience and
ensures both driver and passengers travel in unrivalled comfort.
The 7 Series models provide superb performance through a combination of
revolutionary engine technology and the world's first six speed automatic
gearbox in a luxury car. This offers a greater spread of gear ratios, giving
drivers more flexibility, improving acceleration and fuel consumption while
reducing noise.
The transmission uses shift-by-wire technology to ensure the smoothest automatic
changes while steering wheel mounted Steptronic buttons mean that even drivers
who prefer more involvement in gear changes can do so without taking their hands
off the wheel.