Are you in the market for a new "Affordable" Rolls Royce? Then hold on to your hats because BMW has realized that too few people are actually parting with the cost of a new condo to purchase a Phantom, and are planning a more reasonably priced model, with, er ...driver appeal!
What is certain though - the car will perform. Not faster than Foghorn Leghorn chasing a horny chicken, but more than "adequate" as Rolls like to say. Gosh, what would Queen Elizabeth say?
On the subject of an affordable RR, I have heard two stories, from Goodwood and Stuttgart. Either way, now that the smaller 100EX concept is wowing the peasants at the motorshows, RR (scuse me, BMW) has finally discovered Bentley are shifting affordable, reasonably sized cars for £110K-ish and want a bite of that apple.
Also, a rep told me they are happy that the new car seems more acceptable to the public, the Phantom being quite truck-sized in the UK at least.
From the English point of view, the new aluminum
chassis could be lengthened to produce a more compact saloon, based around a 4-door incarnation of the EX100 convertible, powered by a detuned, smaller capacity (poss 5.3-litre) version of the sweet 6.75-litre V12 directly competing with Bentley's Continental. But the technology is not cheap and it may not happen.
The Germans though are hinting at a lighter car based on the floorpan of the forthcoming 2007/8 replacement 7 series, which would be a sensible answer utilizing a modified version of the 7's 4.8-litre V8, detuned for refinement. Using components from a flagship Beemer would save a lot of cash.
What is certain is that the new "softer" look is the way for RR, and some have hinted that the Phantom will also adopt this look soon as a retro fit. Sadly, nothing until '08 for the new car, at least it gives you time to save up.
I'll keep you informed, number 1.
Chauncey Gardener