Rolls-Royce 200EX - the 'baby' Roller

This is the Rolls-Royce 200EX Concept – a ‘baby’ Roller which will be making its debut at the Geneva Motor Show.

But before you go thinking the Rolls-Royce 200EX is a scaled-down Phantom for the masses think again – it’s still going to cost about £200,000 when it goes on sale as the RR4 in 2010.

At 5.4-metres long, the 200EX it’s 40cm shorter than the Phantom and features 20-inch alloys wheels, rear-hinged rear doors, an unmistakeably Rolls-Royce grille and the all-important Spirit of Ecstasy which pops up at the front of the bonnet.

Under the long bonnet will sit a new V12 engine which – while no details are available – will undoubtedly provide the 200EX with beautifully smooth acceleration and masses of pulling power – as is the Rolls-Royce way.

Rolls-Royce has said the 200EX will be made up of 80 per cent unique components and 20 per cent from the BMW Group, which owns Rolls-Royce.

And while some may see the 200EX and resultant RR4 as a 7 Series for the super-rich, the two cars will be very different beasts providing dissimilar driving experiences.

The Rolls-Royce 200EX will make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show alongside the Phantom which has received a few cosmetic changes for 2009.

The luxury arm of the British car industry will have a strong presence in Switzerland with the Aston Martin V12 Vantage and a top-secret Bentley both making global debuts.

A near-production RR4 should be on display later in the year at the Frankfurt Motor Show with the new ‘baby’ Roller going on sale in 2010 – and into the firing line of another British superstar, the Bentley Arnage. 

Since coming under BMW ownership in 1998, Rolls-Royce has flourished with the Goodwood-based car maker selling 1212 cars last year – an increase of 20 per cent on 2007.

Its success has been thanks to the Phantom which has been popular among celebrities with owners including Sir Alan Sugar and Simon Cowell while Roman Abramovich is thought to own a couple of armour-plated models.

The four-door £250,000 Phantom has spawned the equally opulent Coupe and Drophead Coupe models.

Video: Rolls-Royce Phantom