'Small' Roller for Geneva

Forget about the 200EX name and the 'concept' tag - the car you see here is the production-ready Rolls Royce RR4. It won't actually be called the RR4 when it hits showrooms later this year, but we've known about the BMW 7 Series based 'baby Roller' for some time.

It will cost around £180,000, and it bridges the gap between stratospherically pricey beasts like the Rolls-Royce Phantom and Maybach 57 S, and flagship limos from mainstream manufacturers like the Audi A8, Mercedes S-Class and Bentley Flying Continental Flying Spur; Rolls-Royce is wafting through the recession like it hasn't happened.

At 5.4-metres long, the 200EX is hardly a sports saloon but Rolls Royce is adamant that its smallest car will provide all the dynamism a CEO needs, and that it can be used as an every day car too. Sharing 20 percent of its parts with BMW's range topper - including some chassis components, steering and suspension bits - means it's off to a good start, however.

But don't be fooled - this is still every inch the opulent luxury car. There's wood and beige leather everywhere, and the 'violin' rocker switches and bespoke i-Drive style controller will be the best you've ever fondled. On the outside it gets the same brushed steel effect bonnet and A-pillars as the Phantom, and Rolls-Royce's trademark upright grille, as well as some rear-hinged doors for easy access to the sumptuous back seats.

It's powered by a new V12 petrol engine, which we'll get more details on at the car's Geneva unveiling. The powerplant is likely to feature in the 7 Series too, although in this application it's tuned for effortless low down grunt - a prerequisite for the calm wafting that Rolls-Royce is famous for. We'll give you all the details as they emerge.

Mark Nichol