baby rolls

Rolls-Royce has confirmed the long-standing rumors about a baby Roller, saying the smaller-than-Phantom car will be launched "within the next four years".
Secret design work has already started, both at the company's UK Goodwood plant and an undisclosed location in West Sussex. The new Rolls Royce should position itself at an entry level in the company's catalogue with a price estimated roughly between that of the BMW 760i and the Phantom, at ca. 250.000 - 380.000 €.
Some say that this new model may not be built in the UK but in Dingolfing, Germany, on the same line as the BMW 7 Series. This rumour may come from the fact that Xaver Franz (formerly BMW Dolfingen) joined Rolls-Royce Motor Cars as the new director of manufacturing as of the 1st of September.
The location remains uncertain however, as last month Rolls-Royce was granted planning permission for expansion at its UK headquarters and plant, including an extension of production hours.

As for the competition: there are persistent reports as well that DaimlerChrysler will counter, at about the same time (beginning of 2009), with a smaller Maybach based on the S-Class.