Baby Rolls-Royce to get 500bhp+ V12

by Vijay Pattni

The ‘baby’ Rolls-Royce RR4 will get a turbocharged V12 engine producing more power than a Ferrari F430.

Rolls-Royce confirmed its new model – based on the concept 200EX unveiled at the 2009 Geneva motor show – will get a ‘unique’ V12 engine developing more than 500bhp.

This means it is more powerful than its big brother, the 6.75-litre 453bhp Rolls-Royce Phantom.

But while the RR4 has been dubbed the ‘baby’ Rolls, it isn’t small – the new Roller measures 5.4 metres in length and is just 40cm shorter than the Phantom.

Click below to view our 200EX picture gallery:

And underneath its long bonnet will sit a specially designed 6.6-litre turbocharged engine producing “upwards of 500bhp”, mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

Despite the colossal engine power and size, Rolls-Royce reckons the new RR4 “will significantly improve fuel and CO2 efficiency over the already class leading Phantom series of cars”.

The new Rolls will be built almost entirely of new parts, but will use 20 per cent from the BMW Group who owns the prestige marque.

Rolls-Royce CEO Tom Purves claims the new model will be a better drivers’ car than the Phantom.

He said: “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.” 

The RR4 will likely cost around £200,000 when it goes on sale next year, and will step into the firing line of the Bentley Arnage, Aston Martin Rapide and the four-door Lamborghini Estoque – if they build it.

Watch the RR4's big brother in action - the Rolls-Royce Phantom: