Rolls Royce has announced the name for its new model series, which until now was known as the RR4. The new car a Baby Phantom as it were will be called the Rolls Royce Ghost. The name was announced at the Shanghai Motor Show, by Rolls-Royce’s CEO, Tom Purves.
Rolls Royce will manufacture the Ghost at its Goodwood facility in the UK and production will start later this year. The car will be fitted with a 6.6-litre turbocharged V12, producing more than 500 horsepower. The engine will be mated to an eight speed ZF gearbox. The Ghost will have its own dedicated assembly line at Rolls’ Goodwood plant, but will share paint, wood and leather workshops with the RR Phantom series.
By the end of this year, Rolls Royce will have five cars in its lineup the Rolls Royce Ghost, Rolls Royce Phantom, Rolls Royce Phantom Extended Wheelbase, Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé and Rolls Royce Phantom Coupé. The iconic British luxury car manufacturer sold 1,212 cars worldwide in 2008 a 20% increase over its sales figures for 2007.
The production ready car will be shown at this year’s Frankfurt motor show, and it will go on sale late this year.
The 200EX concept car is said to be extremely close in looks to the production model.
The Ghost name was used by Rolls Royce Motor Cars between 1906 and 1925 although these cars were first introduced as the 40/50hp model. A total of 7,876 of these cars were made during this period.
Rolls Royce bosses have said that the car will be built using the same materials and manufacturing standards as those of the Phantom. Its overall length is an imposing 5.4 metres.
Rolls Royce Ghost technical specification:
No. of doors/seats: 4/5
Vehicle length: 5399mm
Vehicle width: 1948mm
Vehicle height: 1550mm
Wheelbase: 3295mm
Engine: new 6.6 litre turbocharged V12
Gearbox: 8 speed ZF
Power: Upwards of 500bhp (upwards of 373kW/507PS)
Source: India Automotive, Autocar