Rolls-Royce says expect "peerless comfort and build quality" from the V-12 powered saloon.
Perhaps it’s a sign of the economic times when a CEO is out looking for punters to buy its new “small” car that’s due late this year — if small can be applied to what is still a V-12 powered saloon that is 212 inches long. But that’s what Tom Purves of Rolls-Royce was doing when he took time yesterday to hold a press conference in New York where RR4 is currently being shown to potential customers on what was the first leg of a world tour.
It’s thought that Silver Ghost badges will appear when the concept 200EX, introduced at the Geneva show, morphs into the RR4 production model. Unlike the larger Rolls models on sale, this one is designed to be driven by the owner, much like the Continental of Bentley.
Still this is a big, massive looking machine that is totally at odds with the green movement. The architecture is based on the 7-series of parent company BMW, though you would be hard pressed to note any similarities. The provenance gives hope, however, to the marketing claim that this really will be a handling machine.
“We have consciously engineered this car to be more involving and dynamic for those owners around the world that will wish to drive it themselves,” said Purves.
Opening 83 degrees, the “coach doors” are said to offer the widest rear access in the car industry.
The RR4 will be powered by a 6.6-liter turbocharged V-12 engine that is said to be unique to Rolls-Royce. The current Phantom cars are powered by a naturally-aspirated, direct injection 6.75-liter V-12 engine that is rated at 453 horsepower, so it’s clear that a 500 horsepower rating is within grasp – a nice number for marketing against what has become a crowded field consisting of everything from Bentley, BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes entries, among others, to say nothing of yachts and other diversions of the wealthy.
Further details about RR4 will be released over the coming months, including the crucial one – price. It looks expensive and will be — $200,000 plus or minus, depending on how much of “the spirit of ecstasy” returns to the financial markets, and whether Rolls thinks it can commend a premium over a Bentley Continental.
The selling tour will make stops in Singapore in April, Miami and Los Angeles in May, London in June and Cannes in July. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars retailed 1212 cars around the world in 2008, a 20% increase over the previous year, marking five years of continued growth since the Phantom was first launched in 2003. While 2009 is shaping up to be a much tougher market than last year — BMW group revenues plunged 80% , it’s dividend was slashed, and it wrote off almost a billion dollars in value for cars coming off of lease — a new car will help.