PARIS - Range Rover and Watchmaker Zenith collaborate on a branded quality watch.

• New partnership sees Range Rover link with historic watch maker Zenith
• New Zenith El Primero Range Rover features a ceramised aluminium case, inspired by Range Rover product Design and Engineering
• Specially-developed new chronograph shares official world debut presentation with new Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic in Paris

The year 1969 saw the creation of two of the most important landmarks in the parallel worlds of car design and watch making: Range Rover and Zenith.

In England, a team at the Rover car company led by Charles Spencer King first put pen to paper to create a vehicle that combined the off-road capabilities of a Land Rover with the comfort of the best-appointed saloon - the result of which was dubbed 'Velar' at the development stage before finally being given a name that has since come to be recognised the world over: Range Rover.

On January 10, 1969 meanwhile, the Swiss manufacturer presented a fully working prototype of the world's first self-winding chronograph movement, which it called the famous El Primero chronograph movement, or 'the first'.  

Capable of recording elapsed times down to one-tenth of a second thanks to its ‘high-beat' oscillator, it was the most accurate wrist chronograph ever made. 

Both the Range Rover and the El Primero continue to be recognised as class-leaders in their respective fields.  The latest, fourth-generation Range Rover because it combines supreme luxury with outstanding performance and off-road capability, and the El Primero because, after 47 years, it is still the most precise, series-produced mechanical chronograph movement on the market.

THE BEST COMBINE

These two milestones of engineering have now come together in a partnership that celebrates their mutual longevity and shared values in a special edition watch called Zenith El Primero Range Rover, which was first revealed at the unveiling of the most dynamically-capable Range Rover yet produced - the SVAutobiography Dynamic.

Aldo Magada, President and CEO of Zenith said: "The match between our two brands is very strong. Zenith and Range Rover are both pioneers in our respective industries, and we both create unique, innovative products. Through timeless design, both brands express authentic luxury. The Zenith team is very excited to start this long-term partnership with Range Rover, another superb brand and kindred spirit."

Each Zenith El Primero Range Rover will feature a 42mm case made from ceramisedaluminium, and like the aluminium architecture of the Range Rover, combines light weight with extreme durability.

The minimalist aesthetic of the new Range Rover's dashboard controls are similarly espoused in the clean appearance of the watch, which features a brushed, slate grey dial, three subtle but highly legible chronograph subdials and a robust winding crown paired with easy-to-operate push-pieces. Turning the watch over, meanwhile, reveals the Zenith and Range Rover names engraved discreetly on both the oscillating weight and the retaining ring for the transparent case back.

"The Zenith El Primero is one of the most distinctive watch designs ever produced, in my view. Therefore it has been imperative to honour and respect this iconic design. It had to remain unmistakably an El Primero, but allude to Range Rover DNA.” says Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Chief Design Officer.

"We looked to the reductive nature of a modern Range Rover interior and the Zenith team translated that into the dial of the watch, keeping it simple and unfussy. The matt finish simultaneously suggests understatement, sophistication and durability - like a Range Rover, it's an object you look at and immediately feel an emotional connection." adds McGovern.

The very similar design values of the Range Rover and the Zenith El Primero have long been recognised by people who desire beautifully-designed objects, but equally want flawless function.

One such person is the British explorer Colonel John Blashford Snell who was quick to recognise the parity between the two designs when he chose to wear a Zenith El Primero chronograph while leading a team equipped with two Range Rovers to achieve the first successful crossing of the infamous Darien Gap in 1971/72 as part of the 18,000-mile Trans-America expedition.

"We believe the Range Rover's particular combination of luxury and performance to be unique, and the new Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic takes those qualities to the highest level yet," says McGovern.

"No mechanical chronograph has surpassed Zenith's El Primero for accuracy or proved its quality over such a long period of time. To me, that makes these two great pieces of design a perfect fit."

RANGE ROVER SVAUTOBIOGRAPHY DYNAMIC

The new Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic sits at the pinnacle of the Range Rover line-up, and is the most dynamically capable full-size Range Rover to date.  Designed and engineered for those seeking optimum performance from the driver’s seat, rather than those preferring the sumptuous luxury in the rear of the long wheel base Range Rover SVAutobiography, it is supplied with a 5.0-litre Supercharged V8 engine tuned by Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations. Producing 550PS and 680 Nm torque, performance and handling is optimised through a unique suspension specification which results in a ride height that is eight millimetres lower than standard.

The Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic is clearly identifiable by body details finished in Graphite Atlas, chromed quad tail pipes, red Brembo front brake calipers and clear rear lamp lenses. Inside, the car features diamond quilted leather seats – available in four colourways - with contrasting stitching; Grand Black veneer door casings with a distinctive red keyline and anodised red paddle shifters. 

ZENITH EL PRIMERO RANGE ROVER

The Zenith El Primero Range Rover features a 42mm case made from ceramised aluminium finished in a dark, highly scratch-resistant ceramic coating. The Graphite Atlas details of the Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic are echoed in the grey dial of the watch which carries a 'brushed' finish while the case back is made from sapphire crystal and retained by a ceramised aluminum engraved with special edition wording.

The clear case back affords a view of the celebrated El Primero movement which is renowned for its accuracy and unique ability among series-produced, mechanical chronographs to record elapsed times down to one-tenth of a second as a result of its high-frequency oscillation rate of 36,000 vibrations per hour (VPH) compared with the more usual 28,800VPH.

Each Zenith El Primero Range Rover watch will be supplied on a black rubber strap with ivory-toned perforated calfskin and a black Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coated titanium triple folding clasp. The new chronograph will be delivered in a watch box made from the same gloss-lacquered wood found on Range Rover interiors and applied with the Range Rover logo. The watch box opens at the press of an engineered button similar to the type used on the Range Rover,  and is trimmed in smooth, perforated leather in the style of the car's upholstery.

The Zenith El Primero Range Rover will be supplied with an additional rubber strap finished in Range Rover Navy Perforated Leather.

Rolls Royce to use a new Aluminium platform to underpin All cars from 2018 as they stop Phantom production.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Chief Executive Officer, Torsten Mueller-Ötvös, has announced that the current Phantom will enter the last stages of its celebrated life in 2016. This announcement follows the recent news that Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has begun testing its all-new aluminium architecture, which will underpin every future Rolls-Royce arriving in-market from early 2018. 

He also announced that Phantom Coupé and Drophead Coupé models will not be renewed in the future. These two magnificent Phantom models will end their lives with a special collection of only 50 highly desirable cars to be called Phantom Zenith.

The current seventh generation of Phantom started production in Goodwood over 13 years ago and quickly became the foundation upon which the renaissance of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars was built. A magnificent, graceful and powerful statement of the marque’s claim to the very pinnacle of super luxury, Phantom VII is now approaching the end of its production. 

During November this year, the build of the very last Phantom Coupé and Drophead Coupé at Goodwood will be completed. These models will not be replaced. Collectors around the world will be excited to learn that a spectacular collection of 50 unique Coupé’s and Drophead Coupés, called Phantom Zenith, will be built to celebrate the end of production of these truly exceptional cars.

Rolls-Royce will also build the last Phantom VII limousines this year.

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, said, “I am proud and excited to announce that a new Phantom is on the way – a contemporary and beautiful Phantom enhanced with cutting-edge technologies and design innovations. Any new Phantom is an historic and important moment in automotive history and we are working hard on perfecting the Phantom VIII.” 

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars reset the benchmark for luxury motor cars in 2003 when it launched Phantom VII, a motor car that has remained the pinnacle of pure luxury for the last 13 years. Over those years Rolls-Royce created many fantastic Phantoms that stunned the world with their beauty and redefined the notion of pure luxury motoring.

Now it is time to take the next step in the luxury journey.

Phantom VII – Continuing to set the luxury benchmark even as it prepares to leave the world stage

Even as it prepares to leave the world stage, Phantom VII will continue to set the benchmark for luxury motoring with a number of limited-run collector’s pieces, each of which will be the last of their line.

To mark their exit, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ Bespoke design department will create the most highly Bespoke examples of each Phantom model to date – Coupé, Drophead Coupé and Limousine. At the same time the craftspeople who build each Rolls-Royce motor car to roll down the line at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood are already preparing themselves for the painstaking work that will go into these very special final motor cars.

Zenith – The very pinnacle of automotive excellence

The first of these special collections will be named Zenith, and will be the last ever Phantom Coupé and Drophead Coupé models available to commission from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.  

“As the name promises, Zenith will be the pinnacle; the best of its kind; the highest standard achievable by which everything else is judged,” comments Director of Design, Giles Taylor. “Zenith will be the sum of all the best features of Phantom Coupé and Drophead Coupé, with a few surprises added. We expect huge demand for these 50 fine motor cars as we shall not look upon their like again.”

Such surprise features will include a Tailgate Hosting Area; laser etched armrests depicting the original launch locations of 100EX in Villa D’Este and 101EX in Geneva; Bespoke instrument dials and a special treatment of the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy figurine. Each customer will also receive a ‘money cannot buy’ portable memento of his or her purchase, whilst the motor cars will be offered to clients in a palate of memorable colour combinations from Rolls-Royce’s history.

Phantom VII – The return of the pinnacle of automotive excellence

The launch of the seventh generation Rolls-Royce Phantom, on 1 January 2003, was much more than the reveal of a new super-luxury car; it signalled the 21st Century renaissance of the world’s most famous luxury automobile brand and the first glimpse of a masterpiece that quickly established itself at the pinnacle of automotive excellence, leading where others could only try to follow.

For the preceding five years, and in the absence of publicity, designers, engineers and craftspeople had overseen the birth of a flagship Rolls-Royce motor car and state-of-the-art production facility on the Goodwood Estate in Southern England. Without parallel in the car industry, the achievement was all the more astonishing for a brand which shouldered the weight of automotive history and for which expectations for the future were rightly very high.

From launch, the Rolls-Royce Phantom proved itself a worthy recipient of the famous Spirit of Ecstasy figurine. From its Pantheon grille to long rear overhang, the design was clearly a Rolls-Royce. Every angle revealed a bold yet elegant car with road presence that was second to none.

From 2005, new variants of Phantom VII were added. First was the Phantom Extended Wheelbase, followed by the ultimate in luxurious open-top motoring, the Phantom Drophead Coupé in 2007 and, in 2008, the Phantom Coupé, Rolls-Royce’s sophisticated grand tourer.

All these beautiful cars are timeless in their appeal, and have been the cornerstone of Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke offering to its clients’ sophisticated requirements, allowing them to create individual works of art with their superlative cars. Today, every Phantom that leaves the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood has Bespoke features. ‘Waterspeed’, ‘Aviator’, ‘Metropolitan’, ‘Maharajah’ and ‘Serenity’ are a few of the names of Iconic Bespoke Phantoms which have entered private collections around the world and will live down the years as some of the most beloved Rolls-Royces ever.