Rolls-Royce Ghost: Spied In Europe

Motoring Channel Staff - 18/May/2009

Calais, France – Since 1906, Rolls-Royce has been designing, developing and building high class cars. 

Though the British company has swapped hands many times in the past, having been owned by Vickers in the '80s, Volkswagen in the '90s, current owner BMW is pushing ahead with a new model that was spied being loaded onto the Calais-Dover ferry that crosses the English Channel.

The new Roller in the pictures will be called the Ghost, and BMW expects it will help boost annual sales significantly.

Essentially a 'baby' Rolls-Royce measuring 5.4 metres long, the Ghost is almost a half metre shorter than its stablemate, the Phantom, which measures a car-park unfriendly 5.8 metres long.

The new Rolls-Royce Ghost in the photos appears to be almost production ready, save for a few smaller features such as the alloy wheels and headlights.

Scheduled for a world premiere at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany, the new 'baby' Rolls-Royce could be on sale soon after its global launch, so our European readers can expect to see the new high end luxury limousine on the road before year's end.

As the photos show, the new model has a lot in common with the Phantom.

It features a similar silhouette to the Phantom: a long hood and large windscreen and though the wheel arches aren't as flared it still manages to convey a stately impression, an air of high luxury.

The photos of the rear end show look LED brake lights and a smoothly slooping rear windscreen (and taped over Rolls-Royce badges, not that it matters because the car is clearly a Rolls-Royce).

The new model was first previewed at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show in March, as the 200EX (the 'EX' designation stands for experimental) but it now seems as though the Ghost production version is almost identical to the concept car.

Even the reverse-opening rear doors will be part of the Ghost, which hinge open through 83°, the coach doors offer the widest rear access in the car industry as well as providing the warmest of welcomes to those about to step inside.

and as Rolls-Royce's chief designer Ian Cameron explained about the show car, it is a "touring saloon with more than a little panache and perhaps more bravado than one might have expected from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars." 

"What you see is a modern car that is immediately recognisable as a true Rolls-Royce, even from angles that obscure the grille and Spirit of Ecstasy," added Mr Cameron, who describes the car as having "an air of informal presence - powerful but unobtrusive."

The interior will be where the real story unfolds, which is upholstered with luxurious leathers, woodgrain and cashmere.

Interior designer for the 200EX concept and upcoming Ghost, Alan Sheppard, said: "As with any Rolls-Royce, detail is crucial.

"We want the lasting impression for owners to be that their car was made just for them by someone skilled and caring," said Sheppard.

Spy photos reveal that the interior hasn't changed much between the 200EX concept and the production prototype spotted in Europe.

There are a few areas where the chrome highlights appear to have been replaced with less shiny materials, but things like natural grain Crème Light leather, Cornsilk carpets are expected to be retained for the production model. 

The concept version of the Rolls-Royce Ghost featured Santos Palissander wood veneer, but it's unclear if this will be used in the production version. We'll probably have to wait until the Frankfurt Motor Show for that one.

Power is expected to come from an updated version of the 6.6-litre V12 engine, which is likely to benefit from forced induction.

Like the rest of BMW's engine range, including the inline 6-cylinder and V8 engines, the big V12 will get twin turbochargers to improve drivability and bottom-end torque.

Related Links:
- Rolls-Royce Phanton Coupe (2008)
- Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé (2007)
- Rolls-Royce 101EX (concept)