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All-new V12 for Rolls-Royce RR4
23 March 2009
The forthcoming 'small' Rolls-Royce RR4, previewed by the 200EX concept will be powered by an all-new turbocharged 6.6-litre V12 engine, the company has announced.
The new engine develops “upwards of 500bhp” and drives through a new ZF eight-speed gearbox.
The RR4’s output eclipses the 453bhp of the Phantom’s naturally aspirated, direct-injection 6.75-litre V12, and its torque figure is likely to be even more spectacular, because it is turbocharged.
Rolls-Royce claims, however, that the RR4 will improve on both the fuel consumption and CO2 output of the Phantom. The improvements are believed to flow not only from the extra efficiency of the RR4’s new powertrain, but from the fact that the car weighs around 500kg less, is nearly 50cm shorter and has a 40mm lower roofline.
The engine is based on a BMW V12 but has been substantially reworked for the RR4.
The £170,000 RR4, dubbed the ‘approachable’ Rolls by its creators, uses a steel spaceframe body with unique dimensions, though its front and rear crash structures are closely related to the latest BMW 7-series.
The car will make its production debut at this year’s Frankfurt show in September, and goes on sale in January next year.
Steve Cropley
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