Thule Excellence ultra-premium roof box

Thule recently announced the release of a new 18 cubic foot large roof box called the Thule Excellence. The box is a two-tone black and silver and includes design features like improved ABS plastic thickness, extra lid stiffeners/straighteners, an easy pull down handle, and a storage bag to keep the top looking nice.

Designed for sleekness, lightness, and aerodynamic superiority, the box will sell at $799.95 US (price circa 2009). SUVs, crossovers, and mid-size luxury vehicles are the main target for the Thule Excellence box, which debuts in March 2009.

Update May 19, 2016:

The Thule Excellence is still going strong. It is available in many markets worldwide under several different names and color schemes. In North America, it is possible to find the Thule 611 Boxter and 6119B Excellence, both of which are made in Thule's German box factory and imported. The 611 Boxter/Excellence series is very highly reviewed and is known for it's incredible stiffness and quality.

Compared to the 611, the upgraded 6119B has an internal shock cord netting system, an anti-slip surface in the base, an internal front shield to protect the front spring hinge, and a rear spring hinge-mounted LED light (which is a nice bonus but NOT sufficient to light the box in the dark). If you grab either box, expect to pay a big premium compared to Thule's top of the line North American boxes like the 612 Hyper XL (a poor imitation of the Boxter) or the spiritual successor the 606 Flow (currently made in Germany with amazing quality).

One very good reason to splurge on the Boxter/Excellence - it will carry skis up to 205cm+ while sitting far forward off of your rear hatch for full access. No need to scratch up your nice new SUV's rear door against an inferior box!