The Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph was launched in the period when Rolls Royce was looking to reestablish its mark as THE British car manufacturer. Meanwhile, VW successfully concluded its acquisition of the brand. Under all the elaborate terms and conditions of the acquisition, the bottom line was that BMW got the rights to the Rolls Royce name while all VW got was the Crewe factory and some brand iconography. The Silver Seraph is one of the few Rolls Royce models manufactured by VW, and ironically for many car enthusiasts, it was the first Rolls Royce launched in over two decades. A sister car to the Bentley Arnage, the car only sold a mere 1570 units, which has helped to make it a rarity among luxury cars of its genre. Interest in the car has always been in the context of this situation where VW was trying to save face since it had famously announced its acquisition of the Rolls-Royce brand. The car itself is greatly appreciated for the driving experience its 5.4 liter V12 engine (manufactured by BMW) offers, coupled with other German technology.
The Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph was a huge luxury car manufactured by Rolls-Royce Motors between 1998 to 2002. The first Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph was launched on 3 March 1998 at the Geneva Motor Show as a replacement for the Silver Spirit, production of which had ended in 1997. Development on the Silver Seraph had started by the end of the 80s, with initial design work beginning in late 1990. Development of the model took almost a decade to complete. The Silver Seraph was launched at the 1998 Geneva Motor Show along with sister brand and car model, the Bentley Arnage. The Silver Seraph and the Bentley Arnage were manufactured at the Crewe factory until January 2003, when production of Rolls-Royce vehicles moved to BMW's newly built Goodwood facility. Rolls Royce also launched a Park Ward model for the Seraph with a massive 9.8-inch extension at the 2000 Geneva Motor Show. This extension was mainly to the rear doors and offered further legroom to the back seat passengers. The model was discontinued after 2002, with only 127 manufactured out of a proposed 200. However, by this time, the new super-luxury Rolls Royce Phantom VII had been designed in Munich, which meant that the Silver Seraph didn't make the cut to move from Cheshire to Sussex. Just 1570 Silver Seraphs were released before their production was discontinued. This short life span of the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph meant that the car quickly got overlooked in favor of other mainstream models. BMW went on to manufacture the Rolls Royce Phantom VII line under the new Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Corporation at its Goodwood factory.
Rolls-Royce described the Silver Seraph as "the most technically advanced and refined machine ever made by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars." The car has a 5.4-liter V12 engine with 322 hp and 361 pounds of torque. It has a 5-speed automatic transmission and was the first twelve-cylinder car launched after the Phantom III in 1939. The car adheres to Euro III emission standards. With a hefty body size of 5,181 lb. The engine offers an excellent 0-to-60 mph achieved in 7 seconds, plus it just needs 2.6 seconds to speed up from 30 to 50 mph. However, the car is a gas guzzler, which is understandable with its exterior dimensions just 7 inches less and nearly 4 inches broader than a Chevy Suburban. The heaviness of the chassis causes a strong wallowing motion at turns, which was addressed by offering enhanced body rigidity, equal weight balancing, and doing away with the complex pressure-based hydraulics of earlier models. The Silver Seraph relied on conventional brakes and electric control of the damping to give an adaptive ride system. The car has standard electronic ABS and friction and road grip controls, which reduces the engine load. All these features ensure you enjoy the vehicle as a passenger and driver. Are you looking for a similar car? Head to Exotic Car Trader and browse our vast listing to find your perfect car!
The Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph interior was skillfully handcrafted with a particular focus on quality and refinement. The front seats have improved headroom as well as enhanced leg space to ensure optimum driver comfort. All seats are designed with high end cushioning to offer ergonomic seating to the passengers. Both front and back seats are four-way adjustable and offer lumbar support and seat heating. The driving seat has four positioning memory options that are connected to the steering wheel and the driver’s mirrors. The Seraph has a column-mounted gear selector, and all the gauges follow the standard Rolls-Royce structure. Handmade Connolly Leather was used for the seats and dashboard, while the dashboard trimming and folding trays for back seat passengers are trimmed in glossy walnut cladding. The wood for each car interior was sourced from a single tree for consistency. The dashboard has a trip computer, a navigation and parking control system, a remote controlled six-disc CD player, and pull out tables built into the front seat backs. The car also comes with high-quality lamb wool carpeting, while craftsmen formed the curved center console from ten thin layers of tulip wood. It took more than 150 hours to make one set of dashboard, capping, and trimmings for each car. The climate control is digital and allows passengers to individually set air flow and temperatures in the front and back cabin areas to ensure optimum comfort for all. The system also has pollution control sensors, allergen micro-filters, as well as a few other advanced features.
The Seraph has a fluidly contoured structure, an inset cabin, and a rounded luggage compartment. The prominent design feature of the car is the elegant shoulder, which peaks ahead of the front door handles and curves onto a sweeping, continuous line down the body. The body is 65 percent stiffer than prior models and features a 10-stage, anti-corrosion pre-treatment and comprehensive stone-chip protection to the underside. The Silver Seraph also has multiple security options, like a comprehensive alarm system, a fuel shutoff, a driver specific locking function, and proximity alert headlights.
The Silver Seraph is commonly called a pioneering mix of British luxury and craft with German technology. The V12 engine, coupled with a five-speed transmission and an upgraded suspension system, gives the Silver Seraph a fast but smooth feel while driving. The transmission monitors road and driver reactions and sets gear-change thresholds suitable for the specific driving conditions. The suspension has a broader track, hardened springs, computerized dampers, and a stand alone, double wishbone system. This gives the heavy Silver Seraph greater balance when turning tight corners at high speeds. An anti-locking and powered braking system brings the car to resting speed from as high as 60 mph in 3.0 seconds when maximum brakes are applied. The car also had Automated Stability Controls to identify swerving and sliding and enhanced wheel traction by reducing engine torque and applying brakes to the back wheels.
The launch price of the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph was $220,000 in the US and £155,000 in the UK. The lapse of over 20 years has seen the value of the car decline to some extent, which is understandable and very welcome as it has now become more accessible to many fans of the brand and people who love British and German automotive workmanship. Want to know more about a Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph? You have come to the right place here at Exotic Car Trader.
The Silver Seraph was the beginning of a new initiative from Rolls-Royce to regain its lost glory as the world's top car manufacturer. The effort was entirely credible due to its comprehensive results in terms of performance. As a used car, the Silver Seraph puts up an even stronger case for Rolls-Royce and BMW technology than when it was new. It calls to most luxury car lovers with its stable performance and class, leaving an impression on all who come across it. Exotic Car Trader offers everyone one serious about their cars an exclusive and convenient way of buying and selling cars, eliminating the demoralizing experiences of private selling for buyers and sellers. All vehicles listed on Exotic Car Trader go through a private seller verification process, ensuring legitimacy for our clients. The Exotic Car Trader's car buying process is plainly stated, with all fees and packages offering our buyers a seamless and inclusive experience. Contact us for listing services or to buy a car on Exotic Car Trader today! With a considerably lower market value, the Silver Seraph offers an exciting option for buyers seeking top-class performance at a relatively lower price point. So, what's stopping you from buying one?
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