A matte black, bespoke Rolls-Royce Ghost. Image: Rolls-Royce

In 2005, the sales rate for cars built under Rolls-Royce’s bespoke personalization program was only impressive in certain market segments. Customers in the Middle East wanted personalized cars, so 75 percent of 2005 Phantom models sold in the region were built as bespoke models. North American buyers, however, seemed indifferent to the idea of a personalized Rolls-Royce, with only 30 percent choosing bespoke options.

Just seven years later, it’s an entirely different picture, with 99 percent of Phantoms sold in the Middle East built as bespoke rides. The North American participation rate is now 84 percent, which is still less than Europe (89 percent) but greater than Asia Pacific, including China (79 percent). Even the entry-level Ghost models, which start at a mere quarter-million dollars, offer bespoke customization, and last year some 56 percent of Ghost buyers opted for custom options.

The bespoke program includes everything from custom paint through hand-crafted accessories, such as champagne sets and picnic baskets. If you want it, and can describe it to Rolls-Royce, chances are good they’ll do everything possible to build a car around your wishes. Said CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös, “It is always our goal to exceed our clients’ highest expectations and fulfill their innermost desires.”

Given that the starting price of your average Rolls-Royce is higher than the average price for a three-bedroom house (in most markets, anyway), customer satisfaction isn’t an option. Given the brand’s record sales in 2011 (a 31 percent increase over 2010), we’d say it’s figured out the right formula to keep buyers happy.

Image: BMW Group

Last April we told you about the upcoming “Mini Inspired by Goodwood,” the illegitimate love child of a one-night-stand between a Rolls Royce and a Mini Cooper. It’s got almost everything you’d expect to find inside a Rolls-Royce, but in scaled-down proportions. Wool mats? Check. Leather-topped Walnut Burr dash? Check. Cornsilk leather interior? Yeah, it’s got that, too. It doesn’t make the seamless power of a Rolls Royce, but it does come with the 181 horsepower turbocharged engine from the Mini Cooper S.

Image: BMW Group

We told you that only 1,000 copies would be built, and now Mini has announced pricing. Each will sell for £41,000, or the equivalent of about $66,000. That’s a lot of scratch to pay for a Mini, regardless of how well appointed it is, and their press release justified it by saying, “The MINI INSPIRED BY GOODWOOD is characterised by top-grade materials, the highest level of workmanship and stylish supremacy. Its exclusive character is the result of an exceptional collaboration. The special edition of the three-door MINI was built under the guidance of the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars designer team and transfers the unmistakable style of the British luxury car manufacturer to the equally unique original within the premium small car segment.”

There’s no word on which markets will get cars just yet, but my guess is that the bulk of production will stay in Europe or get exported to the Middle East. Deliveries are set to begin in March of 2012. so if you can’t live without one in you garage, now is the time to hit up your local Mini dealership.

Source: Autoevolution

Mini Inspired By Goodwood. Image: BMW Group

If two automakers were ever at opposite ends of the automotive spectrum, they’d be Mini and Rolls-Royce. Mini makes compact but amusing hatchbacks for the great unwashed masses, while Rolls-Royce builds luxurious motorcars for the well-heeled. You probably wouldn’t want to park a Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe on the streets of Manhattan overnight, but on the other hand you wouldn’t want to roll up to Monte Carlo’s Hotel de Paris in a Mini Cooper. It’s all about expectations, I suppose.

Image: BMW Group

At least it was until Mini announced the Mini Inspired By Goodwood model, to debut at next week’s Shanghai Auto Show. Named for Rolls-Royce’s hometown, the Goodwood is built under the watchful eye of Rolls-Royce advisors. It gets Rolls-Royce paint (Diamond Black Metallic), a Rolls-Royce inspired interior (in their proprietary color, Cornsilk), and it even gets the Cooper S engine, good for 181 horsepower. As alluring as the outside may be, the inside comes close to over-the-top. Mats are made from thick lambswool, just like on Rolls-Royce models. The Walnut Burr dash is topped with black Nappa leather, just like on a Rolls. Even the switchgear has gone upscale, and now features a piano black finish.

Image: BMW Group

There’s no word on what markets will get the Goodwood Mini, or what the price will be (hint: a LOT higher than a base Cooper S). Mini says the car will see production, and they insist that only 1,000 will be built for all markets. Unlike the Aston-Martin Cygnet, which requires prior Aston ownership to “qualify” for purchase, no such rules exist with the Goodwood Mini. Sure it’ll be expensive, but it’s be the closest that most of us can come to buying a Rolls Royce.

Source: Mini

Image: © Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Ltd.

While the majority of us are combing couch cushions for spare change and living on a diet of ramen and peanut butter, things are different in the United Arab Emirates. Sure, they’re feeling the pinch of global belt tightening, but it’s a slightly different reality in the oil rich nation. Hard times mean that you buy a used Pagani Zonda instead of that new Bugatti Veyron SuperSport you had your heart set on. Need proof? The region accounts for 15% of Rolls Royce sales worldwide, so it stands to reason that the uber-luxury manufacturer would open a flagship store in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The showroom alone is nearly 10,000 square feet, which is room enough to display five Rolls-Royce models, house a coffee bar and a customer configuration lounge. It’s also linked to an equally impressive state-of-the-art service facility, supporting customers throughout the Middle East.

To celebrate the opening of the largest Rolls-Royce showroom in the world, the company unveiled the Spirit of Ecstasy Centenary Collection Phantom Drophead Coupe. Only 100 will be built, so I doubt that I’ll be seeing one in the Florida press fleet any time soon. The special edition cars come with white on black RR badging, an illuminated Spirit of Ecstasy figurine and interior appointments inspired by the world’s most famous hood ornament. Pricing isn’t listed, but those who are serious about adding a Spirit of Ecstasy Centenary Collection Phantom Drophead Coupe to their collection have people to handle details like that for them.

Source: NY Times Wheels

There are certain things in my life I consider absolutes: I never want to see Roseanne Barr naked, I’m never again going to eat Brussels sprouts, I’m never going to buy a sports car with a slushbox and Rolls-Royce should never build an electric car. Let’s be honest here: no one needs a Rolls-Royce, and the brand has always been the equivalent of a socio-economic single digit salute. They’re about as far from politically correct as an automaker can get, at least until someone builds a car that runs on spotted owls and endangered desert tortoises.

Imagine my horror, then, at reading about the Geneva debut of the Rolls-Royce 102EX. Best summed up as battery-electric version of the Phantom, the 102EX remains a design exercise only at this point. It’s purpose is to elicit customer reaction and to serve as a testbed for uber-luxury EV development. In other words, if enough potential buyers step up to the plate and say, “I want one”, the 102EX (or its progeny) could eventually see production. As for customer reaction, I sincerely hope Rolls-Royce has budgeted for deeply padded carpets and smelling salts in Geneva, because I see a lot of fur-wrapped gray hair hitting the floor at the notion of a battery powered Rolls.

It begs the question of “what next”, and that’s not a road I particularly care to go down. Why not do away with the Rolls’ Connolly leather to make the PETA crowd happy? Is burled walnut sustainable, or are we depleting a finite reserve every time a Rolls interior is hammered together? How about the sheep used to supply the wool for carpeting? Has anyone considered the trauma they go through when sheared? Shouldn’t Rolls provide counseling as part of their environmental commitment? Call me old school, but I don’t see the appeal of a battery powered, hemp upholstered Rolls with a recycled wood dash and carpeting made from old soda bottles, even if you do charge an arm and a leg for it.

Source: Autoblog

Every performance and tuning company envisions their own spectacular design for a new luxury or performance car. Mansory is well known for many different applications that essentially takes an already exotic car to a whole new level as they recently did with the Rolls-Royce Ghost.

Mansory’s latest creation is their White Ghost Limited which is a Rolls-Royce Ghost fitted with revised body accents, new front bumper, rear apron, trunk spoiler, LED daytime running lights and 22-inch wheels wrapped in Dunlop SP SportMaxx tires.

Inside of the White Ghost Limited Rolls-Royce Ghost you will find upgraded leather and Alcantara upholstery, a new sports steering wheel, bamboo wood trim and LED ambient lighting. Mansory’s modifications did not stop in the looks department; they beefed up the twin-turbo 6.6-liter V12 with a revised ECU and performance exhaust system to make a total of 629hp and 634 ft-lbs. of torque.

Total package price will be $152,465 and limited the three units. Better get your order in now!

Source: Mansory

Press Release

Three of a kind

MANSORY upgrades the „little” Rolls-Royce to the strictly limited White Ghost Limited

Based on the Rolls-Royce Ghost concept, the vehicle-customizer Kourosh Mansory presents one of the three limited luxury-car specimens. Subtle modifications designed to increase the car’s elegance and add a touch of sportiness are priority. The latter especially, is achieved by adapting the engine-electronic in an impressive manner, which results in increased overall performance. A unique overall concept with exclusive features emerges.

Sophisticated elegance characterises the White Ghost’s Limited image. The name ties into the theme here: MANSORY wraps the Rolls-Royce’s silhouette in a subtle white hue. It accents the car’s body style as well as its understated upgrades in an optimal and stylish manner. The new front-end featuring additional LED daytime running lights and vertical air outlets on the sides, directly beneath the serial cooling grill are distinct eye-catchers. This is in perfect harmony with MANSORY’s side skirts, the rear view mirrors on each side, the rear spoiler as well as the rear apron with implied diffuser and dual sport-exhaust-system.

The sportiness implied by the exterior-kit is also emphasised under its long hood. The optimised engine map as well as the dual sports exhaust system enhances the Rolls-Royce’s performance significantly. Instead of the standard 570 PS (420 kW) MANSORY’s upgraded White Ghost Limited series now features a powerful 638 PS (469 kW) at 5700 revolutions per minute (RPM). The engineers in the Bavarian city of Brand near Bayreuth enhanced the maximum torque from 780 to an amazing 860 Newton metre. This enables the engine to accelerate the 2360 kilogram vehicle from 0 to 100 km/h in only 4,5 seconds and therewith saves 0,4 seconds in comparison to the serial version. Thanks to the revoked speed limit, acceleration is no longer limited to 250, but rather to 290 km/h.

Upon improved performance the wheel dimensions have also grown. MANSORY created a new design especially for the White Ghost Limited. Its innovative configuration harmonises perfectly with the design of White Ghost Limited. The massive compact wheels with a diamond-polished surface measure an impressive 22 inches. The 9 inch front axle wheels are equipped with 265/35 Dunlop SP SportMaxx high-performance tyres, while the rear axle features 10.5 inch wheels with a tyre size of 295/30.
In cohesion with the exquisite exterior upgrades, the interior is an oasis of luxury. Large parts of the interior are covered in high grade leather with a cross-stitched pattern and enhanced by a headliner and dash board made of Alcantara. The sports steering wheel together with the light colours bamboo inserts creates an unsurpassed exclusive atmosphere. The illuminated entries and implemented ambiance lighting effects are another addition: Seats, door panels and dash board feature LED’s which provide pleasant lighting throughout the entire interior.

The company’s founder Kourosh Mansory has again excelled in upgrading a vehicle of the upper luxury class to unsurpassed heights. Featuring the new upgrades, the Rolls-Royce Ghost represents itself in a new character. Technology and luxury are in perfect synergy and proudly demonstrate the distinguishable design.

The cost for the White Ghost Limited upgrade starts at 119.800 Euro plus basic edition. Additional information regarding the exclusive Rolls-Royce Ghost program is available on the website www.mansory.com

The new Rolls Royce Ghost is the new-age return of the legendary Silver Ghost continuing a tradition of luxury, elegance and refinement. The Rolls Royce Ghost is the latest car to make it in Jay Leno’s Garage and he gets a chance to share the whisper quite ride with us in the new video below. Enjoy!

I’m not sure what is so Ghost-like about Rolls-Royce’s newest vehicle. Expected to be their bestselling car, the new Rolls-Royce Ghost offers what would be expected from a real Ghost, secretive serenity.

No doubt that Rolls-Royce builds some classy cars and they have not stopped short at all with the new Ghost dubbed the 200EX concept vehicle. Due to be the smallest model in the range, the Rolls-Royce Ghost still packs some serious power outputted from its 6.6-liter turbocharged V12 good for 563hp and 575lb ft of torque allowing this Ghost to skedaddle to 60mph from a standstill in 4.7 seconds. That’s just as fast as a new BMW M3 in a straight line! I guess you could say this Rolls is “out like a Ghost” after planting your right foot to the floor.

Expect the Rolls Royce Ghost to be officially unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Until then, Enjoy the preview video of the Rolls-Royce Ghost below.