News / Updates ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS CONFIRMS GHOST FIGURES

• - Engine power output of 563 bhp / 420 kW / 570 PS @ 5250 rpm
  - 0-60mph in 4.7 seconds / 0-100 km/h in 4.9 seconds*
  - Top speed of 155 mph / 250 km/h (electronically governed)
  - Maximum torque 780 Nm / 575 lb ft @ 1500 rpm

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has confirmed headline performance figures for Ghost, their new model which will be unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show in September.

The Ghost will be powered by a brand new 6.6 litre turbo charged V12 engine unique to Rolls-Royce. This engine will produce 563 bhp, delivering a 0-60 mph time of 4.7 seconds and a governed top speed of 155 mph. The engine is combined with an 8-speed automatic ZF gearbox.

Rolls-Royce Director of Engineering, Helmut Riedl said, "First and foremost Ghost is a Rolls-Royce. This means that despite its extraordinary performance figures it has been engineered for effortless composure and refined power delivery. This is illustrated by the significant levels of low down torque available which makes pulling away very smooth and for an exceptionally relaxed driving experience."

Riedl continues, "Rolls-Royce power is entirely different to anything else in the automotive world. It is delivered free from stress and exertion but at the same time must engage the driver. Ghost is about fingertip control while still enjoying a dynamic connection with the road. Equally passengers need to be cosseted from the physical sensations of acceleration, braking and cornering. Our chassis set up keeps Ghost stable and flat, preventing it from wallowing or pitching in the corners or imposing undesirable forces on those inside."

Rolls-Royce has already confirmed that the Ghost will ride on an intelligent four corner air suspension system using multi link aluminium front and rear axles. The fully integrated system allows each of the Ghost's dynamic handling systems to work together in harmony, providing the optimum levels of refinement and comfort at all times.

The vehicle acoustics also play a vital role in creating the authentic Rolls-Royce environment. Naturally engine, exhaust and even tyre noise have been engineered to be inaudible as far as possible, both internally and externally.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Chief Executive Officer, Tom Purves, said, "Ghost is not about a single superlative but rather a careful blend of attributes. A Rolls-Royce should carry its power with grace, agility and refinement and this is never achieved by a focus on outright performance. Mastery comes in creating a balance and having driven the Ghost again recently I can say confidently that our engineering team has achieved this in fine style".

Customer deliveries of Ghost in the UK and Europe will begin late in 2009 with pricing from £165,000 excluding taxes and delivery charges. Customer deliveries in other markets including the USA and Asia Pacific region will begin from the second quarter 2010.

A full technical specification will be released later in the year.
* 0-60 mph 4.7 seconds (4.8 seconds North America)
* 0-100 km/h 4.9 seconds (5.0 seconds North America)

2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced the name for its new model series which until now has been known as RR4. The new car will be called the Rolls-Royce Ghost and production will begin at the company's Goodwood manufacturing facility on the south coast of England later in 2009.

The Rolls-Royce Ghost will be built on its own dedicated production line at Goodwood but will share paint, wood and leather workshops with the Phantom series of cars. Rolls-Royce has expanded all areas of its manufacturing facility over the last 18 months to prepare for the introduction of the Ghost model.

The Ghost model, [RR4/200EX] will be powered by a brand new 6.6 litre turbo charged V12 engine unique to Rolls-Royce. The engine will be combined with an 8-speed automatic ZF gearbox. This new drive-train will significantly improve fuel and CO2 efficiency over the already class leading Phantom series of cars. Engine power will be upwards of 500bhp.

Every aspect of Ghost model has been engineered without compromise to offer a true Rolls-Royce driving experience. Rolls-Royce engineers works closely with the design team to assess every aspect of a model. Ensuring the combination of luxury, power, performance and dynamics is paramount in this process. Every part is considered, every detail honed until perfection is achieved. Ghost model is engineered around the stiff steel monocoque chassis and a sophisticated suspension system so you get a feeling of control and poise at the wheel. Powered by a new V12 engine that has been designed to deliver very high levels of torque and power at low revs, it offers the effortless drive you expect from a Rolls-Royce. This blend of innovative engineering, state of the art technology and design makes Ghost model an effortlessly responsive drive.

Creating a new EX model offers an exciting opportunity to challenge Rolls-Royce. Every aspect of modern motor car design is questioned, every decision weighed carefully to ensure we remain true to the DNA of Rolls-Royce whilst breaking new ground. As with any journey, Rolls-Royce had a clear destination in mind: they set out to create a Rolls-Royce that achieves unprecedented dynamism and modernity. To achieve this, Rolls-Royce designers immersed themselves in the history and future of the marque. What emerged was an entirely new kind of Rolls-Royce. Smaller and more dynamic, with the powerful presence you'd expect, Ghost model is instantly recognisable as a modern Rolls-Royce. It displays the classic design cues that have always defined and set Rolls-Royce motor cars apart.

Every inch of the interior has been designed to create a haven of comfort and calm. Sit in the driver's seat and you immediately feel in complete command of the road and the car thanks to the high-set, authority driving position. With technology carefully integrated into the fabric of the vehicle, the controls fall easily under your hands. There are no banks of unnecessary knobs and switches, so you can interact easily and intuitively with the car.

The rear-hinged coach doors open to a generous 83 degrees (the widest access in any motor car) – aiding access and giving an indication of the comforts that lie inside. Step in to this sanctuary and the relaxed, intimate atmosphere is immediately apparent. Highlighted by soft full-grain leather, elegant, subtle veneered wood and discreet chrome details, it is a convivial space to relax. Set deep in the rear of the cabin, the intimate lounge seat offers high levels of privacy behind the large C-pillars. These are cleverly designed to offer an almost unrestricted view of the outside world as it glides by. This serene and airy space is further enhanced by light flooding in through the panoramic sunroof.

STEERING WHEEL
The large diameter and slim rim of the wheel enhance the light, responsive steering and sense of control.

ART DECO-INSPIRED DETAILS
A modern interpretation of art deco style is expressed in the opaque milk-white dials, the green glass of the clock and the chrome detailing throughout the 200EX interior.

POWER RESERVE DIAL
The Power Reserve Dial indicates the significant power that is always available from the V12 engine. Achieving high power at low revs, you can enjoy effortless drive on any road.

TECHNOLOGY ON DEMAND
Controls are positioned for ease of use - there are no banks of switches, so the broad open curve of the wooden fascia runs across the width of the interior.

SEATS
The enfolding curved lounge seat naturally encourages passengers to sit inclined towards each other, creating a sense of intimacy and luxury.

C-PILLARS
Combined with the deep-set lounge seats, the wide C-pillars give you total privacy from the outside world without restricting the view.

PICNIC TABLES
Architecturally integrated into the backrests of the front seats is a pair of exquisitely veneered foldable picnic tables.

LIGHTS
Using reflector and lens technology to smooth the output, the LED side and rear lights create a sophisticated glow that is instantly recognisable to other drivers.

SPIRIT OF ECSTASY
Following Sir Henry Royce's principle of continuous improvement we have refined the mechanism that retracts the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy for security and safety.

SILVER SATIN BONNET
The elongated Silver Satin Bonnet, long wheelbase, low sill and short front overhang, form the instantly recognisable silhouette of the marque.

GRILLE
A reinterpretation of the iconic front grille – instantly familiar yet thoroughly modern. Evocative of a jet intake and constructed from a single piece of stainless steel, it combines form and function.

PANORAMIC SUN ROOF
Covering two-thirds of the roof area, the panoramic sun roof floods the interior with light

COACH DOORS
Rolls-Royce pushed the technology to create the widest access in any motor car. The coach doors open a full 83 degrees to aid driver and passenger access.

WHEELS
The smallest details often make the biggest impact. Our self-righting wheel centres always display the Rolls-Royce monogram upright

• VEHICLE LENGTH..................... 5399MM / 212.6IN
• VEHICLE WIDTH...................... 1948MM/ 76.7IN
• VEHICLE HEIGHT..................... 1550MM/61.0IN
• WHEELBASE............................ 3295MM/ 129.7IN
• ENGINE.................................. 6.6 litre turbo charged V12
• FRONT WHEEL/TYRE SIZE......... 20"/255/45R20
• REAR WHEEL/TYRE SIZE........... 20"/285/40R20

A new EX model explores what might be. These models have informed the development of the marque since 1919 and with this in mind, Rolls-Royce set out to create a motor car that achieves unprecedented dynamism and modernity.

It began with an eclectic team of designers working in a secluded location over several months. Away from our day-to-day routine, they immersed themselves in the future of the marque and set out to uncover its contours, its essence, its philosophy. We cast our net wide for inspiration and found it not only in motor car design but also in contemporary furniture, architecture and luxury yachts. Hundreds of hours of discussion, ideas and sketches were developed using both traditional skills and the latest digital design tools.

What emerged was an entirely new kind of Rolls-Royce. Smaller and more dynamic, 200EX is instantly recognisable as a modern Rolls-Royce. It has the powerful presence you'd expect, along with the classic design cues of the marque. Yet a closer look reveals a Rolls-Royce like no other.

Agile and fluid, even when not in motion, there's a dynamic tension here between luxury and latent energy. It surges forward from the rear axle, through the high waistline and graceful flanks, to a reinterpretation of the iconic front grille – instantly familiar yet also evocative of a jet intake. Behind the coach doors lies a relaxed, intimate atmosphere highlighted by soft full-grain leather, elegant, subtle veneered wood and discreet chrome details. In contrast, the authoritative driving position gives you complete command of both the car and the road. And the view along the tapering Silver Satin Bonnet to the Spirit of Ecstasy is as dramatic as ever, guiding the driver into the future. 200EX is a rare combination of inspired contemporary design and the artisan's touch.

It's a long road from the spark of an idea to the moment a new Rolls-Royce model is unveiled. The product of hundreds of hours of discussion, thousands of sketches and days of thinking around technical issues, this collaborative process allows an exchange of ideas and challenges that the team must work together to overcome. Out of this hothouse of thinking, the bones of a new model emerge. Starting with a clear aim in mind, the team explores the shape and styling of the car through a series of pencil sketches. Using a combination of traditional skills and the latest digital tools to capture their ideas, Rolls-Royce designers start to flesh out the design. As it begins to take shape, these are developed in dynamic watercolours that bring the team's thinking to life. These basic forms are further shaped and refined using computer-aided design programmes until the team is ready to move to the next stage. A full-sized clay model is created in the studio, complete down to the smallest detail of styling and design. Skilled  craftsmen measure, smooth and hone for hours to create this perfect facsimile. As it progresses, the team can see exactly how the car will look and feel. Continuing discussion between the designers and engineers helps to finesse every detail until the model is complete. Now the team is ready to move on to the next stage – turning this life-sized model into a real motor car.