Arabs buy every armoured Rolls-Royce Phantom

Rolls-Royce is enjoying booming sales in the Middle East.

Only six terrorism-proof armoured Rolls-Royce Phantoms have been made and sold in the world, and they are all on their way to the Middle East.

Rolls-Royce chief executive Ian Robertson told journalists at the Detroit motor show that the Gulf Arabs were taking delivery of every unit of the luxury saloon, produced so far.

The cars are capable of protecting their occupants from machine gun fire, mines and hand grenades, he said. "Nothing is totally armoured, but this is as good as it gets," he told UK newspaper The Guardian.

Armoured vehicles are made to customer specifications, so the price is not fixed, but the company's newest model in the Phantom range, the Drophead Coupe, sells for over £300,000 ($600,000).

Each armoured car is strengthened with hi-tech fibre composites, special purpose steel, thickened glass and an interior polycarbonate layer.

They are categorised as offering B7 protection, the highest grade for a car, and capable of repelling most terrorist attacks, according to the company.

Despite fears of a global economic slowdown, Rolls-Royce under its new owner BMW, had a record year with sales up by 25 percent to 1,010 units in 2007. Sales to Abu Dhabi have doubled, says the company.

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READERS' COMMENTS

Rolls-Royce = Red Flag
Posted by T Crowe, Fayetteville AR, USA on Sunday 20 January 2008 at 22:49 UAE time

If one is concerned about personal safety and have a fear being targeted why would you drive in a vehicle that demands the attention of people? Expensive vehicles such as a Royals-Royce are a "red-flag".

Armoured vehicles are a great way to provide protection for yourself and your family. However, I will argue that a non-discript utility vehicle such as a Landcruiser, Surburban... would be a more discrete choice. However, if you are anticipating random acts of violence and terrorism ALL of your vehicles should be armoured.

It is a sad state of affairs for our world.

We must stop and ask WHY?
Posted by Jihad Jaljouli, Jordan on Sunday 20 January 2008 at 19:14 UAE time


WHY is it that all 6 armoured RR that were manufactured in 2007 were sold to Arabs?

A. Because we have so much injustice in our countries thus invoking terrorism
B. We prefer to take the "easy way out" rather than tackle the "Root causes"
C. We have so much money to spend
D. ALL of the above

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