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Rolls-Royce has finally released official pictures and mechanical detail on its brand new saloon, the Ghost.

First mooted at the Paris show in 2006, the Ghost is defined by its maker as a smaller and more affordable Rolls-Royce. However, at 5.5m long and almost £200k, it will only ever look either small or affordable to a very select few.

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Autocar:

Rolls-Royce has finally released official pictures and mechanical detail on its brand new saloon, the Ghost.

Apart from the grille, which looks a bit like a Honeywell gas fire, it's quite nice. I don't see why anyone would buy the disproportioned bigger brother for the extra blubber once this reaches the market.

I quite like this car it's much better than it's big brother...

Another great car from the Germans, do they ever make a bad one?

Finally something from Rolls-Royce since its takeover by BMW which is worth calling a Rolls-Royce. What a presence! The front is just spectacular. Side panels starting from front and to the very end are smooth, understated and just plain, simple likable. Taken on the whole, the thing is extremely desirable.

Few things which could have been, and still could be, better:

• I am not so sure about doors opening in the opposite direction. How so ever this particular phenomenon is described, where there is a solid case for this particular design choice, Mazda RX8 for that matter, it makes sense; but on a car the size of Rolls-Royce, it just seems like a way of doing things differently, which I am not so sure is an extremely sound foundation for making design choices.

• Considering the size of the car, the tail lights seem disproportionately small; tail itself could have been a bit better had they gone for squarish lines rather than the current rounded lines.

• Steering wheel, considering that the relatively smaller in diameter with thickish grip have become a norm, seems a bit dated and out of place.

At the moment, I, at least, am not in a position to think of any thing more which could make this an even better car than it already is. Once again, considering the front end, What a presence! Finally from Rolls-Royce, a great looking vehicle, which has the potential to look even better.

 

Autocar:

However, at 5.5m long and almost £200k, it will only ever look either small or affordable to a very select few.

 

I believe it should have been: However, at 5.5m long and almost £200k, it will only ever look both small and affordable to a very select few.

blasos1983:

do they ever make a bad one?

Yes: 1. BMW X6, 2. Audi A7, 3. BMW 1 series (except the Coupe), 4. Mercedes ML, 5. Mercedes GL just to name a few. I was tempted to say "The entire BMW range" but I have a sneaky admiration for the 320d Touring, I'm ashamed to say.

Looks fabulous, far better than the recently announced Bentley Mulsanne. I do like the Phantom as well, but this looks less flash and "I've got money" boastful. Have they kept the "always upright" RR wheel centre discs that the Phantom has ? I won't buy one if not.....

ordinary bloke:

blasos1983:

do they ever make a bad one?

Yes: 1. BMW X6, 2. Audi A7, 3. BMW 1 series (except the Coupe), 4. Mercedes ML, 5. Mercedes GL just to name a few. I was tempted to say "The entire BMW range" but I have a sneaky admiration for the 320d Touring, I'm ashamed to say.

There you have it, "ordinary bloke" reckons 330d, 330i, 335d, 335i, M5, M3, 535d, 530d, 520d, all X5s are bad cars. Says a lot about you.

blasos1983:

ordinary bloke:

blasos1983:

do they ever make a bad one?

Yes: 1. BMW X6, 2. Audi A7, 3. BMW 1 series (except the Coupe), 4. Mercedes ML, 5. Mercedes GL just to name a few. I was tempted to say "The entire BMW range" but I have a sneaky admiration for the 320d Touring, I'm ashamed to say.

There you have it, "ordinary bloke" reckons 330d, 330i, 335d, 335i, M5, M3, 535d, 530d, 520d, all X5s are bad cars. Says a lot about you.

My thoughts exactly blasos...besides, the Audi A7 doesn't even exist yet, so how can you say if it's good or bad? And in what way are the Mercedes ML and GL bad?

£200k for a S-class/7-Series rival?? Suddenly the Bentley Flying Spur looks even more of a bargain, while the Roll's sister 7-Series looks a steal! Still, i reckon the Rolls look far better than the Bentley and will feel far more special than its rivals to almost justify its price.

It does look good, is obviously an amazing car, fast, the ultimate in luxury etc etc, but it's not an image I would want to be putting out, even if I did have the money to buy one.  I'd have a top of the range S-Class merc and avoid the key scrapes.

Christian Galea:

in what way are the Mercedes ML and GL bad?

The first generation of ML's were terrible! They were built like salvage cars, big gaps between the fittings and stuff. It was one of the cars that made Mercedes lose it's name in quality. I think they were built in America... not sure though.