Rolls Royce Ghost / 200EX Online Configurator

The public debut for Rolls Royce's new, smaller-sized and lower-priced luxury sedan isn't due until the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, but nevertheless, the BMW Group-owned British firm has created an online configurator for the Ghost's preview model, the 200EX concept study. Judging by the most recent spy shots, there aren't any visible differences (at lease none of any importance) between the Ghost and the 200EX, so what you see here, is what you'll be able to get in a few months time.

If you feel like fooling around with the 200EX configurator that allows you to change the exterior and interior colors of the Rolls, click the link below and then choose 'Design' and after that, 'Visualizer'

READ MORE - Rolls Royce Ghost / 200EX Online Configurator

Rolls Royce Ghost to Feature "Intelligent" Air Suspension System

As we're getting closer to the Frankfurt motor show, Rolls Royce is releasing further technical details on its new 'baby' model. This time, the British automaker revealed that like the larger Phantom, the 2010 Ghost will make use of an "intelligent" four corner air suspension system and multi link aluminum front and rear axles that promise to offer driver and passengers alike the ride of the their life - or so to speak.

"The Ghost will be as refined and as cosseting as anything that this marque has ever produced," said Rolls-Royce CEO, Tom Purves. "But it will have a dynamic vitality afforded to it due to the latest technology and engineering techniques. We are very proud of our engineering team's achievements with Ghost. The balance of refinement and dynamic ability is astonishing," he added

Rolls Royce claims that the newly developed air suspension system is so sensitive that it can detect even the smallest of changes, including the movement of a single rear passenger from one side of the seat to the other, and compensate accordingly.

The system uses an on-board computer that reads multiple inputs from sensors around the car with the dampers alone making individual load calculations every 2.5 milliseconds. Rolls Royce said that the air suspension system also incorporates a so-called "lift and kneel" function, raising or lowering the Ghost by 25mm. This can either assist those folks that have a problem getting in or out of the car -or at least that's what the company suggests...- or allow the Ghost to travel over rough ground.

In an earlier release, Rolls Royce revealed that the Ghost will be powered by a new 6.6-liter V12 engine churning out "more than 507HP". Series production of the new Rolls will begin in late 2009.

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Rolls Royce Ghost: High-Res Photos of Thinly Disguised Production Model

We've obtained a new set of high-resolution photos of the production-ready Rolls Royce Ghost that was scooped last week at the Calais - Dover ferry crossing. Sans the black grille and the hidden logos, Rolls Royce didn't bother to use any camouflage on the mini-me Phantom that was snapped undisguised. The reason is that the car is virtually identical to the 200EX concept study seen at this year's Geneva motorshow, so there's nothing really important to hide. Nevertheless, if you're the type that pays attention to details, you may notice the slightly different headlight assembly and the absence of visible exhaust pipes at the back.

There's also a photo of the interior, but because it was shot with the window closed, we don't have a clear picture of the dashboard. However, aside from the matte trim on the steering wheel (instead of the 200EX's glossy chrome trim) and the dark background of the instrument panel, the cockpit is no different than the one seen on the 200EX concept car.

Stretching well over 5 meters in length (5.4 meter or 212.6-inches to be precise) and featuring the same coach doors as the larger Phantom, which has clearly inspired the car's design, Rolls Royce's new entry-level sedan will make its world debut this fall at the Frankfurt motorshow. Rolls has confirmed that the Ghost will be powered by a new 6.6-liter V12 engine delivering an output in excess of 507 horsepower. The V12 will be hooked up to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

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Rolls Royce to Increase Workforce by 50% Mainly Due to the new Ghost

In spite of the financial crisis that has cost thousands of jobs in the auto sector, British luxury carmaker Rolls Royce is planning to increase its manufacturing workforce by 50 per cent. More than 150 new jobs are being created by the BMW Group owned company to support the production of the forthcoming Rolls-Royce Ghost that will be revealed in production form at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The company said that by the end of 2009, it will have created nearly 400 new jobs in under two years, bringing the total workforce at Goodwood to 900.

Most of the newly created positions have been created in the wood, leather and paint shops as well as the assembly areas while Rolls Royce said that there will also be a number of new positions available in the firm's headquarter offices also at Goodwood.

"This is good news for the British car industry at a time when it is struggling. Britain has an exceptional talent for automotive production and we are keen to maximize this at Rolls-Royce," said Rolls-Royce CEO Tom Purves. "Our new model, the Ghost, has enjoyed an extremely positive international response and we now need to put people in place to bring the car to market."

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

READ MORE - Rolls Royce to Increase Workforce by 50% Mainly Due to the new Ghost

2010 Rolls Royce Ghost: Production Model Spied on the Road

The most talked about Rolls Royce model of the past couple of years, the freshly baptized Ghost, was spotted by an online user at the Calais - Dover crossing waiting for the ferry. The production ready Rolls Royce Ghost was virtually camouflage free as only the hidden / tapped parts were the grille and the RR badge on the boot. On the outside, with the exception of the production-like headlight assembly, the absence of visible tail pipes at the rear and the different alloy wheels, we didn't find any other changes over the 200EX concept car shown at the Geneva Show in March.

The amateur spy photographer also snapped a quick shot of the Ghost's interior. From what we are able to make out from the picture, there are only a couple of notable differences between the two cars such as the matte plastic trim on the steering wheel (instead of the 200EX's glossy chrome trim) and the dark surrounding of the instrument panel.

Often called the 'baby' Rolls Royce, the 5.4 meter (212.6") long Ghost will make its world premiere in production form at this fall's Frankfurt Motor Show and hit showrooms by the end of the year. Under the elongated bonnet there's a new 6.6-liter turbocharged V12 engine that produces an output in excess of 507 horsepower.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

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Rolls Royce Ghost Premieres at the Concorso d'Eleganza

The recently baptized Rolls Royce Ghost made its debut at the Concorso d'Eleganza gathering at Lake Como, Italy. The above photo comes courtesy of the folks over at German car magazine Auto Motor und Sport that claim in their article that is the 'series version' of the 200EX concept. From our part, aside from the never before seen exterior color, we couldn't spot any differences between the 200EX and the Ghost. Then again, the Geneva Show 200EX concept wasn't much of a concept so go figure.

In any case, Rolls Royce's new "entry-level" luxury sedan that features a new 6.6-liter turbocharged V12 engine sending over 507 horsepower to the rear wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission will go on sale in the beginning of 2010.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

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'Baby' Rolls Royce PR4 named Ghost

In another first for the Shanghai Auto Show, Rolls Royce CEO, Tom Purves announced that the luxury automaker's new model series, which until now had been known either by its internal codename PR4 or as the 200EX Concept, will be called the Rolls Royce Ghost. The firm's new entry level luxury sedan that will remain very close to the 200EX Concept that was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show earlier in March, will be powered by a brand new 6.6-liter turbocharged V12 engine delivering an output in excess of 507 horsepower.

According to the British automaker, 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 Ghosts were made during this period, 6173 in Derby, and 1703 in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The new Rolls Royce Ghost that will sit right under the larger and more expensive Phantom in the automaker's range, will go on sale late this year.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars CEO, Tom Purves, said, "We are delighted to formally announce the Rolls-Royce Ghost. It is one of the most revered names in the automotive industry, evoking images of adventure and technical innovation. The name reflects this new model's breadth of abilities.

"The first cars to bear the Ghost name were known not only for impressive dependability and refinement but also great flair and style. This car will be the first in a new generation of models to carry this evocative name and will give us two pinnacle product lines – Phantom and Ghost," he concluded.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

Rolls Royce Ghost Specs

• 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)

READ MORE - 'Baby' Rolls Royce PR4 named Ghost

Rolls Royce 200EX: Baby Rolls to get New 6.6-Liter V12 Turbo with over 500HP

Rolls-Royce CEO, Tom Purves announced new details on the firm's forthcoming entry-level 'baby' sedan that was previewed in Geneva in early March as the near-production 200EX concept, at a press conference in New York where the car is currently being shown to potential customers on the first leg of a world tour. Codenamed PR4, the four-door luxury sedan will be powered by a brand new 6.6-liter turbocharged V12 engine unique to Rolls-Royce delivering an output in excess of 507 horsepower.

The new V12 engine that is also said to find its way under the bonnet of the latest generation BMW 7-Series, will be matted to an 8-speed automatic ZF gearbox. The British firm claims that the new drive-train will significantly improve fuel and CO2 efficiency over the larger Phantom series of cars.

Speaking at the event, Tom Purves said, "There has been a great deal of interest in this car since we first talked about producing a new model series in the autumn of 2006 and the reaction 200EX received at its unveiling at Geneva was very positive. As we move another step closer to the start of production at Goodwood, it is exciting to be able to share some of the specific technical details with customers and the media."

"The RR4 will deliver an authentic Rolls-Royce experience to owners, so expect peerless comfort and build quality. However, we have consciously engineered this car to be more involving and dynamic for those owners around the world that will wish to drive it themselves," he concluded.

The production version of the 200EX concept will be officially revealed at this September's Frankfurt Show with sales commencing in early 2010.

READ MORE - Rolls Royce 200EX: Baby Rolls to get New 6.6-Liter V12 Turbo with over 500HP