- Refined, effortless 6.75-litre V8 engine
- The finest interior materials and craftsmanship
- Supremely comfortable ride
- Out-dated engine not powerful for its size
- Sheer mass and soft suspension tune make for boat-like handling
- High running and maintenance costs
Overview
Released in October 1993, the Rolls-Royce Mk.III Silver Spirit was a prestige saloon. Manufactured in Crewe, England, the rear-wheel drive Mk.II Silver Spur was powered by a 6.75-litre V8 petrol engine that was mated to a four-speed automatic transmission.
Compared to its Mk.II predecessor, the Mk.III Silver Spirit could be identified by its restyled bumpers. Inside, the passenger glovebox was positioned below the newly introduced passenger airbag (with the fuses repositioned ahead of the glovebox behind a removable panel).
Engine
The 6.75-litre V8 petrol engine had an aluminium-silicon alloy cylinder block, aluminium alloy cylinder heads and two valves per cylinder. Compared to its Mk.II predecessor, changes for the Mk.III Silver Spirit included the introduction of electronic fuel injection (previously mechanical injection), Bosch Motronic M3.3 engine management and redesigned cylinder heads and manifolds. Supplied by General Motors, the electronically-controlled four-speed 4L80E automatic transmission was used due to its high torque capacity.
Dimensions
The Silver Spirit was 5268 mm long, 1887 mm wide, 1485 mm tall and had a 3061 mm long wheelbase; kerb weight was 2430 kg.
Suspension
The Mk.III Silver Spirit had independent front suspension with lower wishbones and independent rear suspension with semi-trailing arms and a self-levelling function. The Silver Spirit suspension also featured an Automatic Ride Control (ARC) system which used electronically-controlled dampers. The ARC system used vertical and longitudinal accelerometers to measure body movement – interpreted by a micro-processor – and automatically engaged one of three damper settings: comfort, normal or firm. Firm mode was always employed when the car was stationary.
| Engine | Trans. | Years | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mk.III Silver Spirit | 6.75-litre petrol V8 | 4sp auto | 1993-95 | 180 kW at 3900 rpm (est.) | N/A |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the Mk.III Silver Spirit included dual front airbags and ABS.
Features
Standard features for the Mk.III Silver Spirit included 16-inch alloy wheels, a ten speaker Alpine sound system with a radio, cassette player and a CD player with a six-disc CD stacker, climate control air conditioning, leather upholstery, power adjustable and heated front seats with memory settings, cruise control, central locking, power windows and power mirrors.
Related links
- Rolls-Royce and Bentley: Rolls-Royce Mk.III Silver Spirit
- Wikipedia.org: Rolls-Royce Mk.III Silver Spirit
