Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Spy shots: RR4 wearing even less camouflage]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/31/spy-shots-rr4-wearing-even-less-camouflage/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/31/spy-shots-rr4-wearing-even-less-camouflage/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/31/spy-shots-rr4-wearing-even-less-camouflage/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The RR4 -- the Rolls-Royce that asks that you "don't call me 'baby'" -- is slowly undressing, striptease-like, before its final reveal at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. Previous spy shots hinted at rear suicide doors, or coach doors as Rolls-Royce refers to them, and now it is official: the hinges on the rear door are on the rear of the door. The car has plenty of Phatom-esque cues, and although it doesn't look anything like the initial sketch, it looks like it could be a very attractive proposition when it shows up for the big dance. Still no word on engines, but we have no doubt its output will be something along the lines of prodigious. Thanks for the tip, Andrus!

[Source: Global Motors]

Spy shots: RR4 wearing even less camouflage originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 31 Aug 2008 15:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baby rollerbaby rollsbaby rolls royceBabyRollerBabyRollsBabyRollsRoycerolls-roycerolls-royce rr4Rolls-royceRr4rr4sedansedansspy shotspy shotsSpyShotSpyShotsSun, 31 Aug 2008 15:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Rolls-Royce RR4 concept coming to Geneva '09]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/07/rolls-royce-rr4-concept-coming-to-geneva-09/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/07/rolls-royce-rr4-concept-coming-to-geneva-09/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/07/rolls-royce-rr4-concept-coming-to-geneva-09/#commentsFiled under: , ,


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]

Rolls-Royce RR4 concept coming to Geneva '09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baby rollerbaby rollsBabyRollerBabyRollsrolls roycerolls-royceRollsRoycerr4small rrSmallRrThu, 07 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[R.R. exec sheds more light on smaller Roller]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/23/r-r-exec-sheds-more-light-on-smaller-roller/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/23/r-r-exec-sheds-more-light-on-smaller-roller/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/23/r-r-exec-sheds-more-light-on-smaller-roller/#commentsFiled under: ,



Looks like quite a few nuggets came out of the Shanghai Auto Show this week, many of them from BMW. BMW already scored some bigtime headlines with their CS Concept, but it looks like there was big news from corporate cousin Rolls-Royce, too. Chairman and CEO Ian Robertson told reporters that Rolls-Royce plans to launch its new "smaller" model by the end of the decade. Talk of a baby Roller has persisted, but this appears to be the first public acknowledgment of an entry-level model with some specific time frame and pricing info.

"We are working on a smaller car," Robertson said, "A relatively smaller car." We don't know how much smaller it will be than the Phantom, but the pricetag is expected to be one-third smaller. The car should slot in between the Phantom and 7-Series, at least until a production version of the CS appears. A smaller, cheaper Rolls could help the company double their current sales volume of about 800 cars annually. A second assembly line will be added in an update to the Goodwood plant to handle the new model. Shanghai was an appropriate locale for the announcement as China has the second largest dealer network behind only the United States. The number of Chinese dealers will grow to seven when two more are added in the next year or so.

[Source: Reuters]

R.R. exec sheds more light on smaller Roller originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Apr 2007 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Baby Rollerbaby rollsBabyRollerBabyRollsentry-level RollsEntry-levelRollsIan RobertsonIanRobertsonMon, 23 Apr 2007 18:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Baby Roller will double Rolls-Royce output]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/12/baby-roller-will-double-rolls-royce-output/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/12/baby-roller-will-double-rolls-royce-output/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/12/baby-roller-will-double-rolls-royce-output/#commentsFiled under: ,

We figured the new baby Rolls might increase sales, but Rolls-Royce is saying it expects the car to double output to 1,600 units when the junior model debuts in 2010. That model's design has finally been approved according to R-R CEO Ian Robertson. As we told you earlier, the new model should be getting its own platform with a V8 and possibly the Phantom's V12 as an option. We certainly can't get up the nerve to refer to it as an entry-level Rolls, with prices expected to run between 200,000 and 300,000 euros, or about $260,000 to $400,000 currently.

It took Rolls several years to hit the 3,000 Phantom sales mark, so when Robertson says they don't intend to compete with the volume brands, we believe him. Extra production will come from adding a second shift at the Goodwood factory. While he wouldn't give any further details on the lower-priced model, Robertson did say that it will be unmistakably Rolls-Royce. He also said that the new Phantom Drophead Coupe convertible we first saw in Detroit is officially sold out through 2008. We should start seeing them on the road in August, Stateside.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]

Baby Roller will double Rolls-Royce output originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Mar 2007 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Baby RollerBabyRollerGoodwoodIan RobertsonIanRobertsonPhantomPhantom Drophead CoupePhantomDropheadCoupeMon, 12 Mar 2007 14:35:00 EST