Rolls crossover to make broad use of aluminum

Rolls-Royce's new crossover will use a new aluminum spaceframe that won't be shared with BMW, says CEO Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes.

The spaceframe technology will be adopted for all future Rolls-Royce cars, Mueller-Oetvoes said.

The crossover, announced last month, also will use aluminum extensively for the body and other components, he said.

Crossovers are becoming musts for ultraluxury brands. Rival Bentley will launch its Bentayga crossover next year. Lambor-ghini is awaiting approval for its Urus crossover that was shown as a concept three years ago. Aston Martin showed its concept DBX electric crossover last week at the Geneva auto show.

Mueller-Oetvoes would not say whether the Rolls crossover will seat five or seven passengers -- the Bentley will seat five.

Some components will come from the BMW X7 that, like the Rolls crossover, will go on sale in 2018.

Mueller-Oetvoes said, "We are finalizing the design and will do the first test mules in the next months."

He said it won't be a true off-roader but will be capable of "going from the opera to the Alps, with enough room for passengers and all their gear."

He said an early design for the crossover was shown last year to about 50 Rolls-Royce owners in major cities in the United States.

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