Rolls Royce 200EX concept revealed before Geneva

By Karl Peskett | February 20th, 2009

Embargoes are funny things. Everyone stays tight lipped, until someone spills the beans. Then the heavens open, and the whole internet becomes awash with images and specifications.

Well, someone has done just that with the new ‘baby’ Rolls Royce, codenamed 200EX, which we saw the other day as the RR4 spy shots.

Due to be fully unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, Car magazine has given us the clearest shots we could hope for, showing the styling of the new Roller.

Obviously it misses out on the Xenon lower lights of its bigger Phantom brother, but we believe it’s an even better looking car, with a more rounded look.

The interior is also unmistakably Rolls Royce, yet modernised to attract younger affluent buyers. As far as running gear goes, details are still sketchy, but from the photos we can deduce it’s a V12, possibly a 6.0-litre version based on the BMW family. One source said it’s all new, but that remains to be seen. It’s said to be mated to a six or seven speed ZF automatic.

The iDrive-esque control remains in the centre, however is permanently on display, unlike the Phantom’s hideable unit.

And at 5.4m long, the car has plenty of room, as you’d expect. No word on pricing in Australia, though.

Let us know what you think in the comments.

Source: Car

JJ

Rear view is perfectly proportioned. Interior better than the Phantom in my view as it leans more towards a modern interpretation of the classic RR style, rather than the Phantom with its frankly horrible dash. I think it looks tough overall, but obviously without the presence of the Phantom…which in the current environment is probably a good thing! A decision between this and a Bentley Flying Spur Speed would be difficult. If only I were in a position to make such a decision!
Golfschwein

Its great, but the Phantom is still King Daddy, the coolest of the cool, as far as I’m concerned.

Being an old-fashioned foot longer than a Statesman, you know it’ll blot out almost everything except a Phantom, too.
http://deleted Alex

JJ, you are joking? The Phantom’s “frankly ugly dash”? How dare you.

It looks exactly as it should. Like a second model. I do think it looks great and like nothing other than a Phantom so nobody can draw silly comparisons with cars like the LS and the 7 Series. If I had to pick on anything, I’d say the dash board, although it doesn’t look a thing like it, reminds me of the Fiat 500′s somehow. It’s just that it’s retro and has a lot of the same lines. The only other thing that I could pick on is see that line that appears going down from the front wheel arche and makes it’s way across the bottom of the doors? The Vauxhall Insignia has that line.
I am a bit dissapointed they didn’t introduce a smaller engine. Don’t get me wrong, there’s certainly nothing wrong with a V12, but I feel a V8 or V10 would have been more suiting. After all, this is now the standard Rolls Royce, the Phantom will be the Premium model and I believe this should have a smaller engine.
Minnow

Best looking rolls royce yet!

So what is this meant to compete with? With the S-Class, 7 Series and A8?
Alex

No Minnow, it’ll still be a fair bit more expensive than those. Sure, people may measure it against those cars but the only real competitor will be the Bentley Continental Flying Spur. Even things like the Aston Martin Rapide and Maserati Quattroporte should still be a lot cheaper than this. I would say a starting price of about 150,000 to 200,000 pounds. Probably about 6 or 700,000 dollars. Could me more, could be less but I doubt it would be any less.
NotTheStig

I like it – A lot…

Unfortunately looking at it is as close as I am going to get to owning one.

Good on anyone who buys one IMHO.
http://www.google.com Deags

Nobody will buy it, so who cares?
Alan

I think it looks quite nice, but not as desirable as the phantom. This doesn’t look as expensive and unique as the phantom, but i guess that is a better thing for daily use.

Price wise, they’re saying about 160k in quid, so i’m guessing about 500-600kAUD starting price.
Steve-Poyza

I think I prefer it to the Phantom. Its modernised classic looks are simply beautiful. The interior is absolutely lovely, and I would almost be able to describe this as a perfect car, too bad the price will abviously stop it from being the perfect car…
http://www.fmgjbv.au rich boy

I bet it’s not concept plzzzz looks good.
Alan

I’m sure the production version will look almost the same as the concept, it was the same for the coupe and convertible version of phantom