Improved steering feature of new Rolls-Royce

Press, 25 February 1977, Page 8

Improved steering feature of new Rolls-Royce

A .Mark II version of the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and its sister model, the Bentley T Series, was launched this week. The main features introduced in the new Silver Shadow II and the Bentley T2 saloons inc'ude rack and pinion steering and suspension modifications, automatic air conditioning, a smaller engine cooiing fan, new electric booster fan. new carburettors, and a more powerful alternator. New features also include a revised dashboard panel, wrap-around poly-urethane-faced bumpers and an air dam.

A spokesman for the New Zealand Motor Corporation. New Zealand distributors for RollsRoyce and Bentiey, said it was not yet possible to

predict when the Mark II Silver Shadow and the T2 Bentley would be seen in this country. Nor was ii possible to estimate the price for any that may be imported.

The two new models are a development of the fourdoor Silver Shadow and Bentley T saloons first introduced in October, 1965.

The external changes are new bumpers, air dam, deeper radiator shell, twin exhaust, door mirror and handles and a new Mark 11 badge on the boot lid.

The fully automatic air conditioning system was developed and refined over eight years and RollsRoyce claim that it can "automatically maintain separately selected upper and lower interior temperatures.” Power-assisted rack and pinion steering is introduced in a Rolls-Royce for the first time. A company spokesman said engineers had developed the system, in conjunction with its supplier, over a period of three years. “The new steering, incorporating a speciallydeveloped spool valve, improves control and response — particularly about the straight-ahead position,” an engineeering spokesman said.

“The unusual centre take-off design was dictated by the importance of maintaining the correct steering geometry, first established by a computer, and confirmed by development engineers at Rolls-Royce.”

The front suspension of the Silver Shadow and Bentley T has also been modified to give an increased swing axle effect. This has the advantage of holding the wheels more upright, in relation to the road, when cornering. It also lowers the roll angle and, as body roll is reduced, so, too, are the demands on the tyres.

The main changes to the engine are the introduction of a quieter and more efficient plastic fan. The booster fan, fitted forward of the radiator and condenser heat ex

changers, operates automatically when the engine cooling fluid’s temperature reaches 105 degrees.

A new dual exhaust system with six stainless steel silencers reduces power loss within the exhaust by relieving back pressure. This gives faster acceleration in the upper speed ranges.

The instrument panel has a new and modern appearance and is easier to read. For the first time on a British car, an electronic speedometer with no drive cable is specified. This removes a source of noise transmission.

The new instrument panel has a warning panel which gives advance warning of low brake fluid, stop lamp failure, an ice warning light, low windscreen washer fluid, “handbrake on” and low cooling fluid and engine “overheat.”

The controls for the new electronic speed control system are now located on the gearshift. And while retaining the previous “set” and “resume” settings the controls have an additional feature which enables the

driver io advance to any cruising speed selected, without using the accelerator.

A smaller steerins wheel is fitted. It i: slightly dished with a dis tinctive spoke arrange

ntent providing improved visibility of the three main instruments.

Rolls-Royce says the air dam fitted beneath the front bumper considerably reduces aerodynamic lift and improves stability

over a wide range of speeds. Since the introduction of its Silver Shadow series in 1965. Rolls-Royce has built more than 20,000 of these cars, and during that time, more than 2000 changes have been made to the basic specification.

Rolls-Royce says that of a total of about 70,000 cars produced since 1904. half are believed to be still in service.