Rolls-Royce CEO confirms: 'We are working on a small car'

Ian Robertson, CEO of Rolls-Royce, told journalists at the Geneva Auto Show that the company was planning a small car. Now in an interview with Reuters at the 2007 Shanghai Auto Show, he confirmed that the company has finished designing the car and the first prototypes should be on their way very shortly.

Cost of the car will be a third less than the Phantom and will be priced between the Phantom and the BMW 7-Series. Rolls-Royce is hoping that the new small car will help it increase sales worldwide. “We should more than double our overall sales with a broader market,” Robertson said.

Robertson also said that the company will start reengineering its factory to put in a second line and will be adding two new dealerships in China, where it hopes the small car will be a success.

Rolls-Royce cars usually sell for $900,000 in China, but last year the BMW owned company sold one for $2.3 million.
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S4cabriofoxone - 4/23/2007 2:19:53 PM

+3 Boost

What's "small" in Rolls-Royce talk? 17 feet?

EnnNorak - 4/23/2007 4:43:25 PM

+1 Boost

A small Rolls will not achieve sales targets as the market is saturated with luxury models that offer far better value. Furthermore, wealthy RR loyalists will not appreciate pretentious upper middle classes flashing a car with the RR badge that they can barely afford -- this will reduce sales of the more expensive real Rolls-Royce.

MookGmbH - 4/23/2007 8:07:25 PM

-1 Boost

...for a "small" $150K...

BMW995 - 4/23/2007 8:53:15 PM

+1 Boost

Why has it taken RR so long to come out with a "smaller" car? For the last 2 or 3 yrs the Bentley Continental has been eating Rolls Royce's lunch in a big way. I've been waiting 3 yrs for Rolls to make this decision. Some real problems in management there.

Agent63 - 4/24/2007 3:57:49 AM

+2 Boost

Rolls Royce has maintained a very exclusive customer based company. Even with the smaller Rolls it will not generate that many more sales. I doubt it will ever reach the numbers that Bentley have produced with the Continental GT and Sedan released.

But in today's society with "new money" Bentley is the more popular choice because of it's multi-button interior that is luxurious with contemporary styling with many buttons. The young like buttons and high tech.

As for old money the Rolls Royce would be more suitable. There is no clash between old classic British ultra luxury and new aged technology. They are fitted with the latest goodies but without all the buttons. Simple, elegant, classic, traditional Rolls Royce luxury.