Rolls-Royce expects RR4 to more than double sales, might get twin-turbo V8

The baby Rolls-Royce, perhaps called the Silver Ghost and arriving in 2010, will more than double the firm's sales according to Rolls-Royce CEO Ian Robertson. While sales figures currently hover around 1,000 per year for Rolls-Royce, we don't know if the figure he's talking about doubling will include the Phantom Coupe, which goes on sale later this year. The RR4 -- the baby Phantom's code name for now -- will share a platform with the upcoming 7-Series and is expected to give the scales a workout at 5,000-plus pounds.

The engine choice is still a mystery. Some speculate that there will be a twin-turbocharged version of BMW's 4.4-liter V8. However, Robertson has said that Rolls-Royce engines will remain unique to Rolls-Royce, in which case a 12-cylinder motor, unshared with any BMW product and smaller than the Phantom's, has been suggested. And in a nod to green, a diesel option is being floated after the car's introduction.

The car with which the RR4 will compete, Bentley's Continental Flying Spur, has suffered no ill-will for using a VW engine in its Continental series, so perhaps Rolls-Royce will be more welcoming of BMW power when the time comes. The new Rolls is expected to be priced between $250,000 and $300,000, which is considered "entry-level" for this brand.