What I love/hate about tuners is that they have no reverence to any marquee. Check out the Masonry-tuned Rolls-Royce Ghost that’s been tweaked to dish out a wicked 720 bhp.

Masonry slapped on larger turbochargers, a new intake manifold and catalytic converters and remapped the ECU to get an additional 150 bhp over the standard Ghost. The torque figures also get a 177 lb-ft bump to 752.

That much power allows the car to get from 0 to 62 mph in just 4.4 seconds. The limiter’s been taken out too so the car can go all the way to 193 mph. That’s pretty quick and pretty fast given the sheer size and weight of a Rolls-Royce.

For added bling, Masonry also gave the Ghost a funky color scheme and 22-inch gold rims. The car also boasts of a revised side skirt and a new rear wing and integrated rear diffuser.

Source: Autocar

Looks like even rich people care about green tech these days. Why would Rolls-Royce even consider building a Ghost hybrid if their market isn’t interested? Or maybe it’s for another reason.

As for Rolls-Royce, the company intends to take advantage of the more silent operation and torque brought about by a hybrid powertrain.

The Ghost will be borrowing the ActiveHybrid 7 tech from the BMW 7 Series. In the Ghost, the lineup features a 6.6L twin-turbo V12 paired to an electric motor.

The lectric motor delivers and additional 27 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque that can be harnessed instantaneously. The Ghost, however, will not be able to move on electric power alone.

Rolls-Royce claims that the fuel economy will be reduced by as much as 15% but do rich people really care about not blowing too much dough on gas?

Rolls-Royce is continuing its tradition of naming their cars with spook synonyms with the Rolls-Royce Ghost. You might remember the Ghost from concepts from two years back in Paris 2006. Now we get to see the damn thing in its production version.

The car is powered by a 6.6L direct-injection twin-turbo V12 that dishes out 563 bhp and 575 lb-ft of max torque. The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox allowing the Ghost to go from 0-60 mph in just 4.7 seconds.

The car sits on a modified version of the BMW 7-series platform so that means the Ghost deviates from the Phantom’s aluminum space frame in favor of a steel monocoque skeleton. According to Rolls-Royce, that creates just about the same space inside for the Ghost as with the Phantom.

Rolls intends to market the car as the smaller and more affordable car but with a £200,000 a pop, it’s not exactly our version of affordable, isn’t it?

Source: Autocar

Rolls-Royce’s new small car model will be called the ‘Ghost’, the automaker announced, and is set to make its official debut at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show set to be held in September.

The car, which was codenamed the RR4 in development and dubbed a ‘baby Rolls-Royce’, was officially named in an announcement made during the Shanghai motor show. According to Rolls-Royce officials, the Ghost will be made from the same materials and will have the same exacting standards as the Phantom. It could also sport the V12 from the 200EX concept car, which was previewed at the Geneva Show earlier this year.

Interestingly enough, even though they say ‘same’ materials, the 200EX concept used a steel monocoque body, different than the Phantom’s spaceframe. Of course, it’s a concept for the Ghost, so Rolls could still give the car a spaceframe body for production. Styling-wise, there shouldn’t be any considerable changes for the production Ghost.

Ghost sales will start later in 2009. There might be less than 2000 units for the annual production run, if not less as Rolls-Royce CEO Tom Purves intends.

Rolls-Royce has announced that the upcoming Rolls-Royce RR4 saloon will come with a new turbocharged V12 engine, giving the British luxury car manufacturer a model that tops its own Phantom at a more affordable price.

Sources say that the turbocharged engine will be capable of over 500 brake horsepower and is expected to be mated to an all-new eight-speed transmission by ZF. With the RR4’s expected power numbers, it should easily overtake the Rolls-Royce Phantom, which is capable of 453 brake horsepower with its own naturally-aspirated V12 with direct injection technology. The engine is essentially a reworked BMW V12.

The RR4 uses a steel space-frame body and is smaller than the Phantom, and should have better emissions and fuel economy figures. The company has billed the RR4 as the “approachable Rolls”, as it is relatively cheap at £170,000, or less than $250,000. Just how many people find this “approachable”, we’ll never know.

The Rolls-Royce RR4 will be officially showcased to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, and is expected to start sales by January 2010.

Source: Autocar

While the production version of the Rolls-Royce 200EX concept ultra-luxury car won’t be rolling off plants for several months, we should content ourselves with the prototype as it is officially revealed for everyone to see at the Geneva Motor Show. Plus, Rolls-Royce has released more details regarding the 200EX.

Helmut Reidl, the engineering director, describes the RR4 in detail: “Its air springs are shared with no other model because its ride characteristics are different and it needs extra wheel travel. Even the height of the driving position is different, both from BMWs and from the Phantom. We started engineering the car only after its proportions had been laid down by Ian Cameron, our chief designer. That was when we investigated which existing components we could utilise. Above all, the car had to be a genuine Rolls-Royce.”

The 5.4-meter long 200EX, codenamed RR4 for the production development, will be taking around 20 percent of its components from the BMW 7-series platform to cut some costs. It will be equipped with a new front-mounted rear-drive V12 mated to a ZF six-speed automatic. Electronic chassis stability and sophisticated damping systems are also included. It’s definitely one of the most-anticipated releases when the production version hits the Frankfurt Show in September.

Source: Autocar

Project Khan, one of the leading and cutting-edge car designers in the United Kingdom, will be turning out its version of the Rolls-Royce Phantom luxury car, with a pearl white finish sure to turn heads wherever it goes.

The Project Khan edition of the Phantom features a redesigned wheel with a center cap and diamond-finished spokes, 22-inch Silver Mist wheels, and elegantly designed interiors. You’ve got the piano black fascias and clear side repeaters. Project Khan maintains the definitive form and figure of the classic Rolls-Royce styling for good measure.

Project Khan gives the interiors a full makeover with the Project Khan Interior Package. This means fully-bespoke along with the best nappa leather trim for the seats, doors, and central console.

The Rolls-Royce styling combined with the pearl white exterior and elegant interiors really makes the Project Khan Phantom stand out as the epitome of luxury. Even if brands such as Rolls-Royce seem a bit out of place given the state of the automotive industry, it’s still quite a sight.

Source: Lethistorylive

With the Geneva Motor Show nearing, we sure are getting a barrage of teasers from automakers who will reveal their new models or concepts in the March show. Here’s another one: the teaser for Rolls-Royce’s upcoming new luxury sedan model, the 200EX.

The working codename of the new car is the RR4, which was announced by the English car manufacturer back in 2006. The teaser, which shows a close-up of the car’s front, explicitly gives away the name that the car will adopt once revealed: 200EX, as indicated in the license plate area.

The ‘EX’ in the name means it is a prototype, or experimental model. There have been no hints as to the car’s final production name. It is widely speculated that the company might revive the nameplate “Silver Ghost” for the RR4.

The teaser also shows the elegant grille, the Rolls-Royce logo, and part of “The Spirit of Ecstasy” nestled atop the grille. We also see parts of the cubic designs for the headlights, reminiscent of classic Rolls-Royce styling. The RR4 will be drawing on the BMW F01 platform, on which the 7-series vehicles were based.

Source: Motor Authority

This piece of news came as a bit of shock to me since for the longest time, I was convinced that the elite clientele of Rolls-Royce would have all the money in the world to buy tankers of gas. This might be a total unfounded rumor but in the car biz, rumors can somehow contain a grain of truth.

Rumor has it that Rolls-Royce is seriously considering adding electric cars to its fleet, plug-in hybrids even. Well, this appears not to be a clientele issue since Rolls-Royce is looking at ways to address legislation that would ban big-engined saloons in urban areas.

Well, quite a valid concern. Rolls-Royce CEO Tom Purvis is looking at protecting the company from the possible backlash of stricter CO2 legislation and the way to go is to build hybrids. It is interesting how BMW is moving forward with electric techology. Rolls-Royce is now a part of the BMW group.

Source: Autocar

This bit of news makes you ask whether it’s just everyone else who’s feeling the crunch. People are losing their homes. Passenger car sales are at a low. Economists say the the future for everyone in the free world looks bleak. And yet we have Rolls-Royce enjoying an atypical increase in sales so far this year.

Worldwide sales of Rolls-Royce rose more than 7% last month – a stark contrast to their parent company’s sales decline of 15%. People who can afford Rolls-Royces apparently can still afford to buy these expensive vehicles.

Well, if you’d want to declare class war on those peeps living in the Hills, don’t just arm yourself just yet. While the traditional markets of the US and the UK remain strong for the company, they are now enjoying growing patronage from markets of the Middle East, China and India. Acknowledging these emerging markets, Rolls-Royce is intent on expanding is global dealership network.

Rolls-Royce. A name and badge that most of us, common people, would only say “Wow!” to but would probably never see in our garages. Unless, of course, we make it big and fill a hangar with all of these cool cars. But for now, we’ll content ourselves with seeing a new Rolls.

Rolls-Royce will be unveiling the latest addition to its Phantom range – the Pantom Coupe. The Phantom Coupe is a fixed-roof two-door that will start production by summer of this year. It will be powered by a 6.75L V12 engine that will be dishing out 453 horses. Since coupes are supposed to be sportier, this one has stiffer suspensions and a sport option to the automatic tranny.

For those planning to buy this one, you need to spring around $400,000 for one. Or you can just fly to Geneva and ogle the darn thing.

Source: Inside Line

There is money in antiquities. Just check out this old Rolls-Royce that sold last week for a record £3,521,500 ($7,275,000). The 1904 Royce now claims the record for the highest price paid for an auction for a Rolls Royce and a veteran car. The previous records were held by a 1884 De Dion Bouton for a veteran car (£1.76M), and a 1912 Silver Ghost Double Pullman Limousine (£1.48M) for a Rolls-Royce

The proud new owner’s a private British collector edging out other telephone bidders who drove the price up to twice the initial estimate.

The car’s really an antique, sporting two seats and a whopping 10 hp.

Source: AFP via bLavish

How’s that for a bonus. It’s not free faux leather seat covers or an upgraded audio system option you get from buying a new car (if your car salesman’s generous). It’s a Heinz Mayer 18k gold bracelet with diamonds that you get from buying a Centenary Phantom from Rolls-Royce. The Phantom’s built to celebrate Rolls-Royce’s 100 years in the business back in 2004. The bracelet can’t be bought elsewhere and would only be given to the 35 (special limited production) owners of the Centenary Phantom.

Well, if I’m paying $470,000 (base) for a car, I better get a darned nice freebie! Oh and the Phantom’s never the pennypincher. With a 453-HP 6.7-liter, 48-valve, DOHC V12 it literally guzzles up gas – city driving gets you 10 MPG while highway driving gets 21 MPG. You have to be really rich to drive this baby. Are these things supposed to be driven anyway?

Last month, Rolls-Royce unveiled the Phantom Silver which commemorates the Silver Ghost’s 100 years.

Heads-up: bLavish