Rolls-Royce RR4 concept coming to Geneva '09
Click above to view sketches of the upcoming RR4
After having maxed-out the Phantom range with sedan, coupe and convertible variants, Rolls-Royce has been hard at work preparing its second range. Known tentatively as the RR4 (following in succession after the three Phantoms), the new "baby Rolls" will be anything but, and is expected to be unveiled next March at the Geneva show.
Based on a heavily-modified version of the BMW 7-series, the RR4 will offer direct competition to the Bentley Continental. And not just the four-door Flying Spur, either. Although the RR4 will initially appear – in concept form – as a sedan, the platform is expected to spawn additional coupe and convertible body-styles just like its big brother and its targeted competitor. Although many details still remain big question marks for the luxury sedan – including whether it will bear the "suicide" rear doors of the Phantom and what engines (including potential diesel and hybrid powertrains) will appear underhood – the RR4 is anticipated to double the output of the stoic British marque from its production of 1000 Phantoms last year to 2000 once production gears up on the as-yet-unnamed baby Roller.
Gallery: Rolls Royce RR4 - spy shots
[Source: CAR magazine]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Wyce 8:30PM (8/07/2008)
Everything in the sketch from the nose back looks like the Cadillac Sixteen concept. :T
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Andrew L 10:54PM (8/07/2008)
+1 Thats exactly what I thought when I saw that
hydrogenvodka 11:25PM (8/07/2008)
Mostly the fall of the C-Pillar, and the windowline height. Definetely, yes.
AMcA 11:37PM (8/07/2008)
May I say how pleased I am that GM is once again making cars (OK, concept cars) that other, more prestigious marques want to copy?
(Historical sidebar: ever look at a '66 Toronado next to a '68 Ferrari Daytona? Yup.)
AS for the RR4 competing with the hideous Flying Spur - didn't some RR muckity-muck say earlier that they were going to target the empty space in the market between the Flying Spur and the Arnage? Going after empty price-points, not after specific cars?
Flashpoint 12:59AM (8/08/2008)
This looks so much like a Chrysler 300 that's its not even funny.
Coolthough 3:57AM (8/08/2008)
@AMcA - That would be brilliant (pricing between the Bentley Continentals and Arnage). It would also make them seem like a "step up" from the basement Bentley.
Seanross 8:53PM (8/07/2008)
What month is Geneva 09 in?
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SPG 9:01PM (8/07/2008)
The sketch looks very Cadillac Sixteen.
However the spy shots are clearly RR's current design theme.
I predict a hit.
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Eric 9:19PM (8/07/2008)
When I saw the sketch I thought it might be the next 300 or Charger redesign.
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dfjgodgpodjp 9:13PM (8/07/2008)
The sketch is total cadillac ripoff, caddy should feel good. When was the last time someone ripped them off???
As for "I predict a hit", duh. You could put rolls royce on a stick of butter and there are enough arab idiots and rappers to buy a production run of 1000 at 250 G's a piece. What a stupid comment.
The actual spy shots of the car itself show typical rolls royce. Nothing new, certainly no great design work being done there.
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Matt 11:43PM (8/07/2008)
please keep your political propaganda/thoughts to yourself, this is a car forum
FSM 9:16PM (8/07/2008)
meh, I just can't get excited about that front end. If this looks anything like what I am imagining then I would rather have the Bentley.
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hussler 9:21PM (8/07/2008)
Wyce: Glad I wasn't the only one who noticed it. Hey, Good for Rolls, if GM can't produce it, at least someone else who can should.
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zamafir 9:25PM (8/07/2008)
After spending some time in the phantom and Continental GT all I can honestly wish BMW good luck with this one, the phantoms' very flat faced interior and exposed silver speaker grills ape quite a bit of the current Land Rover interior and the over-all feeling is well below the Continental GT. Yes, it's a Rolls, yes people with net incomes of $140,000,000 or higher are the target for the car, but the interior pales in comparison to significantly cheaper offerings from Crewe... which offers a pretty interesting problem, how do you at least meet the interior standards of your competitor in your new (lesser) product without making your current more expensive product seem entertainingly inadequate? Oh well, maybe they're looking to grab some organic grown from Bristol.
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Matt 11:47PM (8/07/2008)
140 million, yeahhhh right man, this is goin up against the continental, you dont need a net worth of 140 mill to grab one of those, you can get a used one for 110 grand-ish
zamafir 11:49PM (8/07/2008)
Meh, take a moment to read about cars then you'll notice rolls targets customers with a net worth of around 140mil.
"Yes, it's a Rolls, yes people with net incomes of $140,000,000 or higher are the target for the car"
Sure people worth a lot less buy the car but that doesn't change Rolls' focus.
Thanks for playing though.
Matt 11:36AM (8/08/2008)
your welcome
paul34 9:33PM (8/07/2008)
Brilliant! I just happen to be in the market for a new vehicular wagon.
Oh, choices, choices! Excuse me while I adjust my monocle.
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carlbolt 9:37PM (8/07/2008)
the sketch must be drawn by a high school kid. The RR is not so stupid to build a car like that. I am wondering what the driver can see.
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donpella 11:48PM (8/07/2008)
It's does look like the Cadillac Sixteen. Damn, to bad Gm doesn't have the money(or balls) to just give us that Sixteen inspired big body sedan that would compete with top-notch luxury. RR has the funds so you can just say, Cadillac gave away a good design to a company that could actually afford to builds it.
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