Money Well Spent: Rolls Royce Ghosts Shredded in Iron Man 2 Were Real [with Video]

There's something to be said for keeping it real. Making a movie? Keep it real. Getting interrogated by the cops? DO NOT KEEP IT REAL.

While it's obvious that a film like Iron Man requires a planet's-worth of special effects, stuff like wrecking cars usually shouldn't. We all saw how poor choice of CGI affected Ithe fourth Indiana Jones movie.

That's why it's refreshing to see that some of the fancy cars destroyed in Iron Man 2 were real. Tony Stark's Rolls-Royce getting destroyed at a race in Monaco was legit (but filmed in California).

Rolls-Royce built two near-identical Phantoms for the filmmakers at $438,000 a pop. According to the New York Times' own Jerry Garrett, one has a cool box in the back and the other doesn't.

To get the cars all destructified, the body panels were stripped off and then rigged with charges. After they were put back on, everything was cleaned up using Bondo and a fine touch. Then it all got blown up.

The final resting place of the wrecked Rollers is a prop warehouse in Downey, California (no relation to the movie star).

On the other side of all this, autoofcars2011.blogspot of the old-school racers provided by the Historic Grand Prix Association were hurt.

Fun facts: "The blue and white Stark Industries race car was driven by the stunt driver Tanner Foust. The yellow Kodak car, the only other vehicle that was capable of running had the driver's name of "Elon Musk" painted on the side. Mr. Musk, the chief executive of Tesla Motors, had allowed the filmmakers to use his SpaceX facility in Hawthorne, Calif., as the site of the film's "Hammer Industries." He also made a cameo appearance in the film." - Jerry Garrett

By Phil Alex

Via: NYT & eGMcartech

VIDEO: Rolls Royce Ghost takes to the Streets

Rolls Royce is giving us another preview of its 'baby' Phantom with a new video that shows the luxury sedan's product manager Dan Balmer taking a pre-production prototype for a spin on the road. Scheduled to be revealed to the public for the first time at the Frankfurt Show next month before going on sale in Europe at the end of the year and the rest of the world in spring 2010, the Ghost is powered by a 570 horsepower 6.6-litre turbocharged V12 engine coupled to an 8-speed automatic ZF gearbox. Watch the video after the jump.

2010 Rolls Royce PR4 'Baby' Limo Captured on Film by Reader

During a skiing trip to Austria, Auto Cars 2011 reader Philipp Schmid and his female companion stumbled upon a BMW Group test-car convoy comprised of various future models including Rolls Royce's forthcoming 'baby' limo. Codenamed PR4, the four-door luxury sedan is based on the new BMW 7-Series platform and mechanics and according to sources, it will be positioned between the Bavarian automaker's flagship saloon and the larger Rolls Royce Phantom.

Despite the fact that the PR4 is heavily related to the 7-Series, the British firm has said that its entry-level sedan will powered by a new engine, unique to Rolls-Royce - most likely a V12.

Our reader's spy video and photos reveal that the PR4 will carry on many design cues from the larger Phantom, including the rear suicide doors from the Phantom and the high, squared-off shaped roof that helps provide enough headroom for the car's wealthy rear passengers.

"The RR4 has a more informal presence than the Phantom models with a greater emphasis on driving," claims Rolls Royce Chief designer, Ian Cameron. "In design terms this is expressed through its slightly smaller dimensions and more organic form, yet with powerful, purposeful proportions. It is a true and uncompromising Rolls-Royce in every sense."

Though this has not been officially confirmed yet, it is rumored that Rolls Royce will present a concept version of the PR4 at next month's Geneva Motor Show. The production version of Rolls Royce 'baby' luxury model is due to be launched in international markets during 2010.

Auto Cars 2011 thanks Philipp for the video and spy shots!