The Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph is a large, high-end car that Rolls-Royce Motors made and sold from 1998 to 2002.
History of the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph
Even though it's been at least two decades since Rolls-Royce released a brand-new car, the Silver Seraph is sure to please. Construction on the Silver Seraph's concept started in October 1990, but its production didn't begin until the late '80s. The design team finished the idea for the design in April 1991, and management agreed to it in June 1991. The final design was settled upon in 1994 after multiple iterations of development. On July 28, 1995, models of the finished Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph and Bentley Arnage were used to file for design patent rights for both cars. Ten years of development came to a close in late 1997, and by early 1998, R396 DTU license plates were being installed on production versions. Rolls-Royce and BMW worked together to create a revolutionary new engine for the luxury brand, first used in the Silver Seraph. With its modern look and improved performance, the automobile was like a rebirth for the British manufacturer. Vickers decided to hire a third party to handle the development of the engines, and BMW was the company of choice. The German company built the Silver Seraph's 6.75L V12 engine and the Arnage's 4.4L engine with twin turbos. Manufacturing of the Silver Seraph ceased when the Volkswagen and BMW trials concluded. The other German companies, who spent one billion dollars for the factory and the Bentley name but dropped the Rolls-Royce brand to BMW, who spent only $60 million, were still miffed that they had lost control of the exterior design. The engine is based on the 5.5L V12 found in the BMW 750i and has been refined. The fastest and quickest Rolls-Royce ever made was paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission. In contrast to competing vehicles, the Silver Seraph prioritizes driver enjoyment over passenger comfort.
Price
In 2002, Rolls-Royce retailed the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph with an original MSRP of $229,990, which is around $379,448 in 2022 conversion.
Features of the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph
Exterior Features
The Silver Seraph was a sleek and speedy update on the traditional Silver Spur shape. The headlights were the first on a Rolls-Royce to have clear lenses. The long, curved lines of the bodywork gave the last Rolls-Royce made at the Crewe factory an elegant look.
Interior Features
The inside was without compromise, befitting the world's most refined sedan. Eleven Connolly cowhides were skillfully put together with multiple seams, making them incredibly tough and long-lasting. The claim that a single Rolls-Royce can last a lifetime can be traced back to the company's meticulous attention to detail.
Specs and Performance of the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph
The Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph 5.4L engine delivers 322 hp (240 kW) at 5,000 rpm and 361 lb-ft (490 Nm) at 3,900 rpm of torque. Rolls-Royce sold the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph as a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) vehicle with a 5-speed automatic ZF 5HP30 transmission. The Silver Seraph accelerates from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 kph) in 7.5 seconds and has a top speed of 146 mph (235 kph). Dimension-wise, the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph measures 5,390 mm (212.2 in) long, 1,933 mm (76.1 in) wide, and 1,514 mm (59.6 in) high. Its wheelbase measures 3,117 mm (122.7 in) and has a curb weight of 5,291 lbs (2,400 kg).
Release Date
The Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph came out in 1998 and was made until 2002 for the model years 1999–2002. When BMW purchased the rights to the Rolls-Royce brand, they formed a new company called Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Because of this, they stopped making the Silver Seraph in 2002. In total, 1,570 Silver Seraphs were made.