Rolls rolls out the red carpet in Melbourne

ROLLS-ROYCE Motors Cars will open a showroom in the Melbourne CBD later this year, expanding its retail operations outside Sydney as it strives to increase annual sales of its circa million-dollar Phantom limousines from 10 in 2005 to 14 this year.

General manager of authorised Rolls-Royce dealer Trivett Classic, Bevin Clayton, said the extended-wheelbase Phantom unveiled at last week’s Melbourne show should account for 25 per cent of sales for the brand.

"It’s certainly a car that we do need in our market," he said.

A Phantom-based convertible model based on the 100EX concept car is due mid-2007. Mr Clayton said the initial allocation of five convertibles would all have names against them "within the next three to four weeks".

"At this stage, three of the five orders I believe I will take are current Phantom owners," he said.