Autocar - First for car news and reviews

The most important new Rolls-Royce in a decade is coming closer to a road-going reality, and these are the pictures that prove it. According to Autocar’s information, you’re looking at one of the first full-bodied prototypes for the car known internally at Rolls' Goodwood HQ as ‘RR4’ - the firm's all-new smaller saloon model due to go on sale in 2010.

A Phantom that will fit on your driveway

Our spies have exposed the new smallest Rolls-Royce in its entirety for the first time. Read the full article

A diesel Roller?

F*ck off.

 

I still can't get over this.

This is so wrong on every level - this aggression cannot stand.

A line must be drawn in the sand.

Far out.

The whole point of a Rolls is that they are so opulent and have a power from a large capacity whisper quiet petrol engine.  You can just imagine being dropped off by a driver at some posh hotel to disembark to a background of diesel clatter.

Don't get me wrong - diesel has its place (in my Iveco truck for example) but it is pure evil to suggest one in a Rolls of all things.

Gentlemen do not use diesel engined carriages.

So whoever came up with this idea can foxtrot oscar.

There seems to be some sort of diesel related mass hysteria in the German automotive industry what with plans for diesel Rolls Royces and diesel supercars.

It'll be diesel motorbikes from BMW next - imagine the fuel economy!

An electric or fuel cell powered Rolls Royce would be something far more interesting I think - how refined and forward thinking would that be? 

Wouldn't it just make sense to use a hydrogen fuel cell as the Rolls Royce establishment can afford this and its a future green technology which diesel is not.

Jaggie:

Wouldn't it just make sense to use a hydrogen fuel cell as the Rolls Royce establishment can afford this and its a future green technology which diesel is not.

 

Not sure it would Jaggie.

If my tongue was firmly in my cheek - I would opine that the average Rolls Royce owner is not too concerned with leaving a carbon footprint the size of Guinea-Bissau in his or her trail.

In fact - the larger the footprint - the better they like it.

These are not cars for shrinking violets and they are all about conspicuous consumption - no more - no less.

No-one with any class or a social conscience actually buys a Roller these days do they?

 

Whats the problem?

Given the technology available, sufficient work can be done on an existing large capacity diesel engine to make it quieter and smoother in take up than they currently are.

It's the perfect solution to being wafted along on a wave of torque.

Hey Wingman!!

The question begs to be asked though.

Why? Lot's of petrol flavoured V's do it perfectly well now.

SP

scummyplum:

The question begs to be asked though.

Why? Lot's of petrol flavored V's do it perfectly well now.

Having driven both, large petrol engines do not create that same sense of waftability that a large torquey diesel does. it's more serene in it's execution than a fire spitting, high revving petrol.

scummyplum:

The question begs to be asked though.

Why? Lot's of petrol flavored V's do it perfectly well now.

Having driven both, large petrol engines do not create that same sense of waftability that a large torquey diesel does. it's more serene in it's execution than a fire spitting, high revving petrol.

The shove in the back seems greater as it's not accompanied with engine noise.