By Justin Berkowitz
February 13, 2008 -
Rolls Royce has provided "an exclusive group of journalists" (and Motor Trend) details of the previously announced $250k to $300k "baby" Rolls. BMW's minions said the new Roller won't share the Phantom's V12 engine, nor any engine currently powering a BMW. And that's about it. But it's a good thing, not a bad thing. Despite Bentley's VW Phaeton underpinnings, the new Rolls is positioning itself much higher in the food chain. To do so successfully, it needs its own platform and engine to keep the BMW brand's new money stench at bay. Rollers are nothing if not exclusive. That's why hundreds (dozens?) of wealthy motorists (expensive hotels?) pay full price (minus discount) for a new, customized Phantom (not Phaeton) rather than, say, buying a loaded Phantom with 8000 miles at a 40% discount. The rumors say Rolls' second post-Bimmer model will get a new V12 with north of 500 horsepower. Let's just hope it's doesn't turn out to be a hybrid or anything else less maniacal. On the other hand, if BMW muffs the "baby" Roller, it could be a bonus. The brand's "entry level" model will then be just as absurdly, ludicrously overpriced and rare as its big brother. In fact, even if this new model outpaces Phantom sales by 100 percent, we're still talking Magna Carta-levels of exclusivity. However unintentionally.
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POWERED
February 13th, 2008 at 8:32 am
I’m still baffled as to why the smaller, entry-level model is being priced $100,000 above its larger, uglier brother.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:54 am
No, this makes sense. I have Bentleys in my area who exist solely because the neighbors all have Mercedes and we need something “better”.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:08 am
I’m still baffled as to why the smaller, entry-level model is being priced $100,000 above its larger, uglier brother.
The blonde comes with the car.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:32 am
The blonde comes with the car.
It’s still overpriced.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:59 am
In my best Borat voice “neeeiiccee, I vant two marring that pretty ladi”.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
I wonder which will have higher maintenance requirements….the blonde or the Roller….
February 13th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
All the Phantoms must be in Beverly Hills ’cause I see them all the time in LA. I saw one street-parked in front of a Starbucks the other day and some troglodyte had keyed it.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Isn’t that Roger Clemen’s wife in the picture? Those HGH-enhanced abs are a dead giveaway….:-D…