Frankfurt debut: Rolls-Royce Ghost
The Ghost is Rolls-Royce's idea of a compact saloon, even if it does stretch to 5.5m, long enough to make a Mercedes S-Class look, well, just a bit ordinary. Helping the Ghost along its way is a twin-turbocharged 6.6-litre V12 engine with 563bhp, which is good enough for 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds. So, nothing normal about this Roller then.
What's all the fuss about?
A new Rolls-Royce is always worth sitting up and taking notice of, but when it comes with so much power and performance, it's madness not to pay attention. The Ghost is aimed at those who want to drive their Rolls rather than lounge in the back, though it still offers almost as much interior space as the Phantom. There are Rolls-Royce's now trademark rear-hinged back doors, while the rest of the cabin is as opulent as you could hope for.
Anything that stands out?
Well, the looks follow Rolls-Royce's present thinking, which is said to be inspired by luxury yachts. Not everyone will be so inspired by the front-end appearance, though there's no doubting it has serious presence. The other stand-out feature is the performance. For a company that used to consider power worthy of no more a mention than 'adequate', Rolls seems very pleased with the Ghost's 563bhp power output and 0-60mph in 4.7 seconds. We imagine owners will be too.
When can I buy one?
If you have the requisite bank balance, you can stroll on down to your nearest Rolls-Royce dealer and order a Ghost now. You'll need the best part of £200,000, though. The Ghost is also set to be a slightly less exclusive model than the Phantom as Rolls expects to sell around 1,000 units per year of the Ghost saloon, with coupé and cabriolet versions to follow.
Frankfurt debut: Rolls-Royce Ghost pictures
