- Refined BMW-sourced 5.4-litre M73TUB54 V12 engine
- Supremely comfortable ride
- The finest interior materials and craftsmanship
- Weight and soft suspension tune make for poor dynamics
- High running and maintenance costs
Review: Rolls-Royce Mk.I Silver Seraph (1998-99)
Overview
Released in June 1998, the Rolls-Royce Mk.I Silver Seraph was a large, prestige sedan. Hand-built in Crewe, England, the rear-wheel drive Silver Seraph was powered by a BMW-sourced 5.4-litre V12 petrol engine that was mated to a five-speed ZF 5HP30 automatic transmission. The Silver Seraph had a worldwide production run of 1570 vehicles.
M73TUB54 V12 engine
The 5.4-litre M73 TUB54 V12 petrol engine had an aluminium alloy block and cylinder heads, a single overhead camshaft (per cylinder bank), two valves per cylinder and a compression ratio of 10.0:1.
Dimensions and weight
The Silver Seraph was 5390 mm long, 1932 mm wide, 1515 mm tall and had a 3116 mm long wheelbase, while kerb weight was 2302 kg.
Suspension
The Silver Seraph had independent front and rear suspension with double wishbones and adaptive ride control which automatically adjusted the suspension dampers according to driving conditions.
| Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Seraph | 5.4-litre petrol V12 (M73 TUB54) |
5sp auto | 240 kW at 5000 rpm | 490 Nm at 3900 rpm |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the Silver Seraph included dual front airbags, ABS, traction control and front seatbelt pretensioners.
Brakes
The Silver Seraph had ventilated disc brakes front and rear, with diameters of 314 mm and 305 mm respectively.
Features
Standard features for the Silver Seraph included 16-inch alloy wheels with 235/65 R16 tyres, an eight speaker sound system with a six-disc CD changer, climate control air conditioning, power adjustable and heated front seats with memory settings, power adjustable rear seats, leather upholstery, cruise control, front fog lights, rear parking sensors, remote central locking, power windows and mirrors, a power adjustable steering column, trip computer and an immobiliser.
Review: Rolls-Royce Mk.II Silver Seraph (1999-02)
Overview
Released in October 1999, the Mk.II Silver Seraph was a minor update which could be identified by its clear indicator lenses. Inside, new front seat backs contributed to greater rear passenger space and the rear seats would automatically move for easier ingress and egress upon the opening of either rear door. The chassis was also revised with torsional rigidity increased by 12 per cent, while the track was widened and stiffer springs were fitted; the Mk.II Silver Seraph was also fitted with speed-sensitive power steering.
| Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Seraph | 5.4-litre petrol V12 | 5sp auto | 240 kW at 5000 rpm | 490 Nm at 3900 rpm |
Features
Compared to its Mk.I predecessor, standard features for the Mk.II Silver Seraph were extended to include a satellite navigation with a 6.5-inch display and voice commands, front parking sensors and power folding door mirrors.
2001 Silver Seraph Last of Line Series
The Last of Line Series was released in July 2001 to commemorate the end of Rolls-Royce manufacturing at Crewe. The Last of Line Series vehicles could be identified by their duo-tone paint finishes, alloy wheels with ‘Spirit of Ecstacy’ centre caps and red badging on the radiator shell, boot and rear quarter panels. Inside, there were Rosewood Burr wood veneers, veneered door panels and seat switch surrounds, a part-veneered steering wheel, contrast piping for the leather seats and a pair of umbrellas. Production was limited to 170 vehicles.
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