Part of the Corniche’s desirability is the fact that it was the last car developed by Rolls-Royce before the marque came under BMW ownership. All Corniches were completely hand-built. The car was considered a slightly softer, and even more exclusive, version of the already luxurious Bentley Azure.
The very last Rolls-Royce Corniche rolled off the assembly line on August 30, 2002. This was the very last Rolls-Royce to roll off the line at the Crewe plant before it was entirely dedicated to the production of Bentley cars in 2002. Only 374 fifth-generation Corniches were ever built.
The 2000-2002 Corniche is powered by a 325 hp 6.75 L turbocharged V8. The Corniche’s engine is capable of enormous torque, providing 544 Foot pounds at 2,100 rpm. The car is operated via a four-speed automatic transmission. It has a top speed of 135 mph and a 0-60 mph acceleration time of eight seconds. The convertible, weighing 6,836 lb, was built more for comfort than for speed.
The Corniche came outfitted with every luxury and refinement characteristic of a Rolls-Royce. The car has a Connolly Leather interior, Wilton wool carpets, chrome gauges and a wide choice of exotic wood trims. Dual automatic temperature control, a six-disc CD changer, automatic headlamps and automatic ride control are standard.
