The Rolls-Royce Aura Remains Intact

This "Ghost" is the production version of the model unveiled as the "200EX" at the Geneva Motor Show in March of this year. Its body dimensions are 5399mm in length, 1948mm in width, and 1550mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3295mm, making it slightly smaller than the current "Phantom" (5835mm length x 1990mm width x 1655mm height, 3570mm wheelbase).

While smaller, the Ghost retains the unmistakable aura of a Rolls-Royce, evident in its rear-hinged coach doors, the exquisite leather and wood interior, and its commanding exterior design.

Starting from £165,000 in the UK

The newly developed 6.6-liter V12 twin-turbo engine boasts a maximum output of 570 ps at 5250 rpm and a peak torque of 79.5 kgm at 1500 rpm. These figures comfortably surpass those of the 6.75-liter V12 engine in the current Phantom, which produces 460 ps and 73.4 kgm. Coupled with an 8-speed automatic transmission co-developed with ZF, this powertrain achieves a 0-100 km/h acceleration in 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h (electronically limited).

The price of the new Ghost is announced as starting from £165,000 (approximately ¥25.7 million) in the UK, €213,000 (approximately ¥28.4 million) in various European countries, and $245,000 (approximately ¥23 million) in North America. Deliveries are scheduled to begin within the year in the UK and Europe, and from April 2010 in Japan.

BRAND HISTORY
Henry Royce and Charles Rolls first met in 1904. Rolls, having heard about Royce's automotive prototypes, visited the company, which was involved in motors and other ventures in Britain. Impressed by the quality of the car, Rolls offered to sell Royce's creations, marking the beginning of Rolls-Royce.

The brand cemented its reputation as a luxury car manufacturer with the "40/50 HP Series," which began production in 1906. This model, later known as the "Silver Ghost," featured a six-cylinder engine and garnered significant support from the upper echelons of society due to its engine's smoothness and quietness, overall reliability, and the fine craftsmanship using high-quality materials. It was also during this era that the "Spirit of Ecstasy," Rolls-Royce's iconic mascot, was born.

The company continued its progress, introducing the "Phantom" in 1929 and acquiring Bentley, another British marque, in 1931. Although it focused on aircraft engines during World War II, car production resumed in 1947. Rolls-Royce produced legendary models such as the Phantom series, "Silver Cloud," and "Silver Shadow." However, the company faced bankruptcy in 1971 due to the struggles of its aircraft engine division. The aircraft engine division was spun off, and the remaining automotive division was temporarily placed under government control. In 1980, it became a subsidiary of Vickers.

Further turmoil ensued in the late 1990s with a bidding war between Volkswagen (VW) and BMW. In the end, the factories and the Bentley brand went to VW, while BMW acquired only the Rolls-Royce name. In 2003, with the Phantom, developed under the new management, Rolls-Royce embarked on a new chapter in its history.