Baby Rolls: So Not A BMW

Justin Berkowitz
by Justin Berkowitz

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.

Justin Berkowitz
Justin Berkowitz

Immensely bored law student. I've also got 3 dogs.

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  • Jaje Jaje on Feb 13, 2008

    In my best Borat voice "neeeiiccee, I vant two marring that pretty ladi".

  • Mark MacInnis Mark MacInnis on Feb 13, 2008

    I wonder which will have higher maintenance requirements....the blonde or the Roller....

  • Brendan Brendan on Feb 13, 2008

    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.

  • Eric_Stepans Eric_Stepans on Feb 13, 2008

    Isn't that Roger Clemen's wife in the picture? Those HGH-enhanced abs are a dead giveaway....:-D...

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