Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit
Rolls- Royce Silver Spirit ( Mk I)
The Rolls -Royce Silver Spirit ( dt: Silver Spirit, spirit within the meaning of soul ) is a top -class car of the British car manufacturer Rolls- Royce Motors. The Silver Spirit is the successor of the Silver Shadow. It was produced in different series ( Mark I or Mk I to Mk IV) and under various names from 1980 to 1998. To the series, referred to internally as Rolls- Royce SZ, including the models Silver Spur, Silver Dawn II, Centenary Park Ward and Touring sedan. The Rolls -Royce Silver Spirit is also identical to the Bentley Mulsanne. Some variants were available as Rolls- Royce, as well as the Bentley, others only as a Rolls-Royce or just as a Bentley.
- 5.1 Mk I ( 1980-1989 )
- 5.2 Mk II ( 1989-1993)
- 5.3 Mk III ( 1993-1994)
- 5.4 Mk IV (1994-1998)
Model history
From 1965 to 1980 Rolls- Royce was represented by the Silver Shadow and its modifications Silver Wraith and Bentley T in the upper class. The first time a self-supporting body series was used with a total of 32.343 copies ( 28,476 Rolls -Royce and Bentley 3867 ), the most successful model -based Crewe traditional company.
Work on a successor to the Silver Shadow began in the summer of 1972 initiated the development of the technical director John Hollings. ; The body was designed by the engineer Fritz Feller was born in Austria. The SZ was not a completely new development. The floor assembly and the entire mechanism was - carried over unchanged from the Silver Shadow, the same applies to the 6.75 -liter eight-cylinder engine - except for the rear suspension.
Design
The body of the Silver Spirit was completely redesigned. Fritz Feller designed a structure that was flatter and wider than that of the Silver Shadow. The car was marked by horizontal lines: the front section was transverse twin headlights, which ( with the exception of certain of the U.S. market version ) were behind a wide lens. The headlamp unit also included the turn signals and parking lights and sticking laterally into the fenders. The grille was given a new dimension: it was 2.5 cm lower and 9 cm wider than the Silver Shadow. The back also was designed with wide horizontal, partially integrated into the trunk lid rear lights. The waistline was lower than the Silver Shadow. Overall, Feller enlarged the glass surfaces compared to its predecessor by 30 percent. Feller hinted in an interview in 1980, he had been inspired by the layout of the Silver Spirit to the latest Mercedes models (meaning the W116 series was ) oriented.
A special feature of the Silver Spirit was the retractable radiator mascot. It was a response to stricter safety requirements. With an inclination of more than 30 degrees, as well as external pressure application, the Spirit of Ecstasy disappeared into the housing of the radiator grille.
Fritz Feller's design remained virtually unchanged until the setting of the Silver Spirit. The individual series differed outwardly only by details such as the shape of the bumpers.
Technology
Was powered by a V- eight-cylinder engine with 6750 cc capacity, which had an engine block and cylinder heads made of light metal. The engine had a contactless electronic ignition and was initially equipped with two SU carburetors. As part of the facelift, the engine in the coming years has been modified several times: in 1986, the carburettors were replaced by a Bosch K -Jetronic, from 1989, a MK- Motronic was used. Later the car was also available with a Garrett turbocharger. In the early 1970s, Rolls- Royce had developed an enlarged 7.2 -liter version of the engine. Prototypes of this engine had been used in the Camargue and in the first test vehicles of the Silver Spirit. Ultimately, the company decided in light of the oil crises of the 1970s, however, for maintaining the known engine.
The drive was performed in the rear wheels. As power transmission initially served a three-speed automatic, from 1994 (Mark IV), the automatic had four forward gears.
The car was later fitted with a Girling - leveling suspension and gas- hydraulic shock absorbers, with hydro- pneumatic.
From 1986, an anti-lock system was part of the standard equipment for several national markets.
The top speed increased during the production period of 193 km / h ( Silver Spirit Mk I with twin carburettor engine, 1980) to 225 km / h ( Silver Spur Mk IV injection engine from 1997). The performance gave Rolls- Royce only with the word "sufficient " (Eng.: enough ) to. In scientific journals the performance of 201 PS and 148 kW for the Mk I to 300 PS and 221 kW for the Mk IV are indicated.
Body shapes
Factory default range
The Rolls -Royce Silver Spirit was the factory offered exclusively as a four-door sedan. Unlike its predecessor, the work of a convertible or coupe version not held before; This market segment was further operated in the 1980s by the derived from the Silver Shadow Corniche. However, Rolls- Royce offered vehicles with extended wheelbases, which were under the names Silver Spur, Touring Limousine, and Park Ward marketed.
As with the previous model, the buyer could choose (lane Silver ) even when Silver Spirit between the model with standard wheelbase ( 3,061 mm) and a 10 cm extended to 3,161 mm model. The wheelbase extra length benefited the footwell of the back-seat passengers.
Moreover, during the entire production more models were offered with further enlarged wheelbases: Silver Spur III Touring Limousine (Mark III) and Silver Spur Park Ward ( Mark IV ), each with 3,772 mm wheelbase. In addition, individual models were produced with an additional extension to the Silver Spur to 14 inches = 35.56 cm ( 1 car ), 36 inches = 91.44 cm ( 16 cars ) and 42 inches = 106.68 cm (84 cars). The latter vehicles were available as an option with six doors.
All models have a longer wheelbase than 3.061 mm were available as an option with a retractable cutting blade behind the front seat plans.
Individual bodies
In some cases, customers also was mastered by a special operation, a modified body. Among them was Hooper, who created a series of two-door versions of the Silver Spirit and its sister model Bentley Mulsanne, and the Jankel Group, a company founded by Robert Jankel company, the Silver Spirit was transformed into a five-door station wagon. Since the car had a self-supporting body, it was not readily possible to order a Rolls- Royce with freely -designed body.
Rolls- Royce offered various models of the Silver Spirit also as special protection vehicle.
Predominantly the models of the Silver Spirit series were used as a self-propelled vehicle.
Series
The Silver Spirit of the series is divided due to several stages of development in four sections.
Mk I (1980-1989)
The development of the first series of the Silver Spirit was under the aspects of the security features of the exhaust behavior and consumption demands, especially with regard to the strict regulations in the United States, especially in California.
So the Silver Spirit for the United States and Japan was already available from the initial presentation with catalyst, which in 1984 this technical equipment for the German market after the introduction of unleaded petrol in Germany - was offered - first as special equipment.
The Mk I were in the variants with the standard wheelbase Silver Spirit and Silver Spur with a longer wheelbase.
In 1985, a term of 25 cars for sale, and an additional Rolls- Royce itself, ie a total of 26 cars special edition under the name Centenary was offered. This special model was provided with an additional special equipment. Intended was the appearance for 1984 eightieth anniversary of the company founded in 1904 Rolls- Royce; for some unknown reason - there in the 1980s, frequent strikes called in Britain - the presentation was delayed by one year.
Mk II (1989-1993)
As injection and ignition system, the Bosch K- Motronic was used.
At the rear, a hydro- pneumatic was used. ABS was now standard, as an electronic chassis control.
The Mk II was, as the Mk I in the different length variants Silver Spirit II and Silver Spur II in the offer. First time, more cars were sold with long than with the standard wheelbase. Further, in relation to the Silver Spirit to 711 mm ( 28 inches) was extended model under the name Silver Spur II Touring Limousine offered from 1991. In 1991 the production of representation Limousine Rolls- Royce Phantom VI was set, so the idea of the over-long Silver Spur Touring Limousine is connected.
Minor visual changes ( for example, other hubcaps ) allow visual distinction of the Mk II from the previous limited.
The models of the Mk I and Mk II generations have been provided for the U.S. market to meet dortiger licensing requirements with dual headlights. With the removal of these provisions in 1993, the vehicles were equipped with the previously usual unit headlamps worldwide.
Mk III (1993-1994)
Visually, the Mk III differs from the MK. II outside only through the introduction of the third ( middle ), the brake light in the rear window.
The Mk III was offered in the variants Silver Spirit III, Silver Spur III and Silver Spur III Touring sedan as the Mk II.
The changes between the Mk II and Mk III are primarily in the area of the engine and the extensive expansion of equipment options.
The engine delivered with redesigned cylinder heads, new vote to the inlet channels and new exhaust manifolds more; the performance was over a wider rpm range. The top speed increased to 209 km / h
The optional single seats at the rear could be individually adjusted electronically at the Silver Spur; for the front seats, this was already standard from its predecessor Silver Shadow Silver Spirit as with all generations.
By Mk III the installation at the time the latest technology was possible, such as VCR with liquid crystal screens in the back of the front seat headrests, office technology with computers and satellite communications equipment. Since in particular took the latter two features in the mid-1990s, considerable room to complete, these special features were confined mainly to the long Silver Spur Touring Limousine.
Mk IV (1994-1998)
In the fourth generation of the Silver Spirit numerous improvements have been made. Due to the emerging collaboration between Rolls -Royce or the takeover by BMW, the overdue construction of a successor Series has been moved so that the Silver Spirit series with nineteen years of production was one of the longest in the history of the company.
Externally, the models of the fourth generation of differently designed exterior mirrors are visible. With the introduction of the Mk IV was accompanied by a comprehensive re-appointment of models. The renaming IV were changed again during the five years of production of the Mk, so that in the used car market long-lasting complex situation occurred.
From the Silver Spirit III in 1995 the New Silver Spirit, from the Silver Spur III was 1995, the New Silver Spur. In addition, the model New Silver Dawn was offered from 1994; structurally the New Silver Spirit accordingly, the New Silver Dawn was better equipped. The New Silver Dawn there was under it a name with normal and with an extended wheelbase, the long-wheelbase version for single advertised by Rolls- Royce variant was; New Silver Dawn was built only on special customer with the shorter, the Mk I still embodying the standard wheelbase. Due to the low success rate of slightly less -equipped New Silver Spirit this 1995 model has been discontinued, so the series characteristic model name disappeared.
Since the models and Silver Dawn Silver Spur (IV ) are virtually indistinguishable from each other, the confusion increased by the model names to continue.
The extra long version was offered in the fourth generation model under the name New Silver Spur Touring Limousine, 1995 Silver Spur Touring Limousine again under ( without numbering ). In addition, an equally long version under the name of Park Ward was offered. While the Touring sedan between front and rear doors usually a door -less adapter is inserted, is the extension of the body when model Park Ward between the rear door and C- pillar.
Moreover, it was from 1994 to 1995 the 224- km / h, first with a turbocharger provided Rolls- Royce Flying offered track, which in turn was outwardly from the Silver Spur (IV ) can hardly be distinguished.
All vehicles in the series have been equipped since 1996 with a viscous limited slip differential.
In 1997, the engines in the Silver Spur (IV) and Park Ward were provided with an exhaust gas turbocharger. Thus, the speed of these vehicles increased to 225 km / h
The 1998 series was the last set developed by independent companies Rolls- Royce car. With the successor model to the Silver Seraph collaboration with BMW began.
Production figures
A total of 18,989 vehicles in this series were produced.