Friday 20th February 2009

Rolls 200EX: More Pics and Details

'Baby' Roller revealed in full

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'Baby' wont be mistaken for a smart car

Yesterday’s sneaky 200EX preview has blossomed into a full-blown reveal as Rolls-Royce shows off all the angles of its Geneva motor show star turn.

The 200EX is destined to become the next model in RR’s range in 2010. Hardly befitting the ‘baby Roller’ tag the new model is 5.4m nose to tail and, as the photos show, its Phantom-esque rear-hinged ‘coach doors’ open onto a world of refined luxury.

According to R-R, the brief for the new model was to create a ‘modern, lithe and dynamic’ machine, noticeably ‘less formal’ than the Phantom, and with a ‘broader appeal making it more appropriate for a wider range of circumstances’. It should fit a slightly wider range of pockets, too, at a predicted £180k (or thereabouts) on the road.

Chief designer Ian Cameron is the man responsible for styling the 200EX, and he describes it as a ‘touring saloon with more panache and bravado than one might expect from a Rolls’. This is expressed by the new front grille (flanked by LED headlamps) which Cameron wanted to be ‘less reminiscent of the traditional ‘Parthenon’ style and more like a jet intake, with the sides of the intake curved inwards and the vanes set into the opening’.

Inside, the interior is typically cosseting, especially for rear ‘lounge seat’ passengers as the C-pillar heightens the sense of privacy.

The dashboard has been kept relatively simple, with the most important functions emphasised by chrome highlights against a shiny wood veneer – cut from Santos Palissander apparently, a material chosen for its contemporary look and striking grain.

Riding on 20ins wheels, the production version of the 200EX will be powered by a new V12 reported to have been developed from BMW’s 4.0 twin-turbo V8. The V12 version in the Rolls will be 6.0 litres, normally aspirated and drive through a six-speed ZF auto transmission.

There’s a lot more BMW in the new car than its engine, though. It has been reported that 20% of the model’s ‘body-in-white’ is shared with the new 7-series, particularly the front and rear crash assemblies – all part of the effort to constrain cost.

 

[Mike Rob]

Ah - a Rover!

[noogie]

Disappointing to hear that more and more BMW is being used in Rolls Royce. At least Bentley have managed to resist an overly excessive amount of parts-sharing with Audi, apparently the new Arnage won't be using the A8 chassis. I think eventually Rolls will just become a premium brand above BMW. A real shame.

[Frimley111R]

noogie said:

Disappointing to hear that more and more BMW is being used in Rolls Royce. At least Bentley have managed to resist an overly excessive amount of parts-sharing with Audi, apparently the new Arnage won't be using the A8 chassis. I think eventually Rolls will just become a premium brand above BMW. A real shame.

True but if thats what it takes to keep it competitive and cost effective...

Good to see RR leading the luxury pack, right where it belongs IMO

[louismchuge]

Swing and a miss. All they had to do was shrink a Phantom 25% and focus a little more on handling. Essentially what the Range Rover Sport achieved so well. This just doesn't have the RR DNA I'd want to buy in to (day dreaming of course!)

[Bladedancer]

That is one big baby...

[sprinter885]

AT last ! They've settled on the "200 EX" moniker then....

That's that debate sorted.. :

[Gizmo!]

Lovely.
I look forward to picking one up for £4k in five or six years' time.

In the meantime: coming to a gangsta rap video near you, soon.

[gumball3K]

Mutton dressed up as lamb or a wolf in sheep's clothing? No longer a Rolls Royce this is a BMW 7 series.

[infradig]

Quite like it,particularly the interior,although a 4 light design would offer more privacy and less of a Montego look.
But,£180,000? I thought it would be a Flying Spur competitor,which it appears to be in concept-reskinned mainstream luxury car,looks-Flying Spur with suicide doors,and heritage- 20-25 to Phantom or even Silver Dawn to Phantom.

[Collaudatore]

noogie said:

Disappointing to hear that more and more BMW is being used in Rolls Royce. At least Bentley have managed to resist an overly excessive amount of parts-sharing with Audi, apparently the new Arnage won't be using the A8 chassis. I think eventually Rolls will just become a premium brand above BMW. A real shame.

Yeah, much better to run it as a loss leader and then eventually sell to the Indians. Viable business? Pah, do they not know RR is meant to be a British car-maker?

[FEZZA_RS]

Hmm a streched rover 75 with some fancy front lights and a b&q bbq for a front grill! Im sure it will be the hight of luxury but that styling is awfull IMO.

[Snoggledog]

What happened to the ostentatious elegance that was RR?

[gregyh]

Anyone else think the front three quarter profile looks like the Bentley Flying Spur? Or maybe its just me....

[scotty_917]

Don't know why all the negative comments above.....looks ok, will go some, no doubt well built and make a profit....surely that's what's needed?

Parts sharing is what makes these programmes work....get over it. Nobody seems to mind that Maserati & Ferrari, Land Rover & Jaguar, Maybach & Mercedes (to name a few), do the same!

[Ed.]

scotty_917 said:

Don't know why all the negative comments above.....looks ok, will go some, no doubt well built and make a profit....surely that's what's needed?

Parts sharing is what makes these programmes work....get over it. Nobody seems to mind that Maserati & Ferrari, Land Rover & Jaguar, Maybach & Mercedes (to name a few), do the same!

Your examples are all in a similar price range apart from the Maybach that does suffer from looking like a stretched s-class. Maserati use detuned Ferrari drive train but they are still in the luxury/sport segment, JLR also share drive train but not with the cheaper LR3.

[robm3]

Looks great, these new Rollers have real style and presence....

[oagent]

scotty_917 said:

Parts sharing is what makes these programmes work....get over it. Nobody seems to mind that Maserati & Ferrari, Land Rover & Jaguar, Maybach & Mercedes (to name a few), do the same!

I mind.. The Ferrari v8 is a great engine, but its not a Maserati engine! Im all for cost savings where they can be made, but this kind of cost saving does destroy the heritige of a brand. This new Rolls/7 series marks the end of the line for a once iconic brand. Give me James May's / Oz Clarke's Corniche any day of the week.

[Nurburgsingh]

Ahh what images are conjuered up from such an epic and meaningful name....

200EX...

Are you fking kidding me?? Sounds like some heap of japcrap

[beanbag]

oagent said:

.....but this kind of cost saving does destroy the heritige of a brand.

So you'd rather the company go bust?

No wonder there are so many people and businesses in debt and in financial problems if this is the way they think.

[Bogracer]

noogie said:

Disappointing to hear that more and more BMW is being used in Rolls Royce. At least Bentley have managed to resist an overly excessive amount of parts-sharing with Audi, apparently the new Arnage won't be using the A8 chassis. I think eventually Rolls will just become a premium brand above BMW. A real shame.

I think that this a good thing, as before BMW came along, Rolls Royces were frankly old and rubbish. BMW have created a great product again – a worthy custodian of the Rolls Royce name.