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Automotive Industry
AUTOS: New, Smaller Rolls Ready For Debut
Ghost resumes classic model name for British luxury brand, with less formal design and higher performance.
Bob Golfen  |  Posted September 06, 2009   Goodwood (GB)
Rolls-Royce will unveil its new Ghost model at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show. (Photo: Rolls-Royce)
A smaller, less-formal but still pricey version of Rolls-Royce will be unveiled next week at the Frankfurt Motor Show, named the Ghost and designed to attract more people with its contemporary style.

The styling is unmistakably Rolls, the British company says, though less-traditional than previous models. The interior maintains the high level of elegance, comfort and advanced features of all the ultra-luxury brand’s cars.

Ghost is based on the recent 200EX show car that the automaker said at the time presaged the marque’s styling direction.

“Ghost is one of the most revered names in automotive industry,” said Tom Purves, CEO of Rolls-Royce. “It evokes images of adventure and technical innovation. The first cars to bear the Ghost name were known not only for impressive dependability and refinement but also great flair and style.”

While incorporating classic Rolls-Royce design cues – the elevated prow, long bonnet, short front overhang, sharply raked A-pillars and elegant tail – Ghost exudes an informal aura, the company said. Contemporary touches include self-righting wheel centers and Xenon headlamps that frame the latest evolution of the Rolls-Royce grille.

The new grille continues Rolls’ signature design, though the intakes have been curved inwards and the vanes set back into the opening.

“We wanted this to be less reminiscent of the traditional Parthenon style and more like a jet intake,” said Ian Cameron, the automaker’s chief designer.

The most powerful car that Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has ever produced, Ghost is powered by a new 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 engine that is unique to the model. Featuring direct injection, it produces 563 horsepower, Ghost from 0-60 mph in just 4.7 seconds and on to an electronically governed top speed of 155 mph, the company says.

Power is transmitted through an eight-speed, shift-by-wire, automatic ZF gearbox.

Final pricing has yet to be announced, though it is expected to be in the $250,000-$300,000 range.
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