More tech details of Rolls-Royce RR4’s V12

Updated: 26 January 2015

Rolls-Royce today confirmed a handful of new details for the ‘baby’ Rolls, codenamed RR4 and previewed in the 200EX concept car at the 2009 Geneva motor show.

The RR4 will be powered by a unique Rolls 6.6-litre turbocharged V12, producing ‘upwards of 500bhp’, the company disclosed. Drive is sent through an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox.

Details were released as the chief exec took the 200EX on a world tour to promote the new, more affordable Rolls.

Speaking in New York, Tom Purves said: ‘We have consciously engineered this car to be more involving and dynamic for those owners around the world that will wish to drive it themselves.’

Surely the Rolls RR4 is a BMW in drag?

Hardly. Rolls-Royce is keen to stress just how different the RR4 is from the 7-series family which will indeed provide some hardware. Every component shared will be re-engineered in depth to match Rolls’ standards, insiders vow.

For instance, the eight-speed ZF box hasn’t been engineered solely for the RR4. The economies of scale simply don’t exist for that sort of bespoke engineering – in the 21st century, companies borrow the hardware and individually tune the software. The RR4 will be no different.

>> The new Rolls-Royce RR4 goes on sale in late 2009. Stay tuned for the first pictures of the production version

By Tim Pollard

Group digital editorial director, car news magnet, crafter of words

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