New Rolls Royce Phantom (Cheaper than the original)

Last year was a brutal one for the auto industry - except for Rolls-Royce which had, believe it or not, a terrific year. In fact, Rolls-Royce had the best sales year in its entire history. And things could get even better next year, when a new Rolls-Royce for the merely very rich goes on sale.Revealed in photographs today, the 200EX concept offers a preview of a car Rolls-Royce will produce early next year. At 213 inches, the 200EX is about 8 inches longer than the largest Mercedes-Benz car, the S-class sedan. But it's almost a foot-foot-and-a-half shorter than the Phantom, currently Rolls-Royce's only 4-door model.When the production version is introduced, it's expected to cost somewhere in the upper part of the $200,000 price range. While that would make the new Rolls about six times the price of an average car, it's practically a bargain compared to the Phantom's $340,000 starting price. The Phantom sedan is, for now, the least expensive Rolls-Royce one can buy.Like the more expensive Phantom, the 200EX has rear-opening back doors. (Even two-door Rolls-Royces, the Phantom convertible and coupe, have rear-opening doors.) A panoramic sunroof allows natural light into the full length of the interior.Massive doors and a high window line provide the requisite sense of privacy. The back seats are also set behind the back windows to shield occupants from view. The cars' seven-spoke wheels are powered by a new V-12 engine."200EX is a modern execution of timeless Rolls-Royce elegance, breaking with some areas of tradition but retaining the core values that make our marque unique," Chief Executive Officer Tom Purves said in a statement. "We expect the more informal, agile design to broaden the appeal of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, attracting people who appreciate its fusion of refinement, new technology and contemporary style."Rolls-Royce is owned by German automaker BMW. The cars are built in a factory in Goodwood, England