ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST DEBUTS WITH 48 IMAGES AND SOME SPECS

As the most powerful car in the history of Rolls-Royce, the new 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost is bound to attract plenty of attention from the motoring press over the next few days. Smaller and less expensive than the awe-inspiring Phantom, the Ghost generates 563 horsepower by way of a 6.6L V12.

Rolls says the Ghost is designed with "Yacht Lines" in mind. The "elevated prow" is distinctly Rolls-Royce while the overall shape is very Phantom-like. This can't be surprising given BMW's nature to simply upsize the design of each of their own models. BMW, after all, is Rolls-Royce's German owner.

Inside the layout is much more BMW-like than the Phantom could ever be. Though it's doubtful that any visible parts are shared with the 7-Series Bimmer (photo comparo here), the less formal dashboard style could be off-putting to those who have the money to buy a Bentley Continental GT or even the new Bentley Mulsanne.

Don't kid yourself, the interior of this Rolls-Royce Ghost likely provides the kind of ambience only a handful of other cars can attain. And while we've known for a long time that BMW wanted Rolls-Royce to offer a smaller Rolls, its arrival is somehow discomforting. A lesser Rolls-Royce? Is that appropriate?

Appropriate will be one of many adjectives used to describe the financial statement of Rolls-Royce once the Ghost is rolling off the (slow-moving) assembly line in Goodwood. Compared with Toyota Camry sales which reach beyond 400,000 in the United States alone, the hundreds of Rolls-Royce Ghosts sold will seem like tiny drops in a small puddle. When sold at prices between €200,000-€300,000, however, the Ghost will be an earner on par with the Rolls-Royce Phantom that came before. Check out all 48 images of the new Rolls-Royce Ghost below before having a look-see at The Good Car Guy's own Phantom photo.

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