Rolls-Royce RR4
Encyclopedia
The Rolls-Royce Ghost is a luxury saloon from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
. The "Ghost" nameplate, named in honour of the Silver Ghost
, a car first produced in 1906, was announced in April 2009 at the Auto Shanghai
show. During development, the Ghost was known as the "RR04." Designed as a smaller, "more measured, more realistic car" than the Phantom, aiming for a lower price category for Rolls-Royce models, the retail price is around £170,000 (US$255,000). The production model was officially unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Unlike the aluminum-bodied Phantom, the 200EX was made from steel, which has a higher tensile strength and can therefore be made thinner. The chassis used an intelligent four corner air suspension
system and multi-link aluminium front and rear axles. Systems such as Active Roll Stabilisation, four corner air springs and Variable Damping Control operate as one, imperceptibly to the driver and passengers to provide the best possible comfort for occupants. Connected to the main computer, the suspension is able to detect the movement of a single rear passenger from one side of the seat to the other, and compensates accordingly.
. The Ghost, codenamed RR04 during its design phase, was developed to compete with vehicles significantly less expensive than the Phantom, such as the Bentley Continental Flying Spur
.
The car is based on a heavily modified platform shared with BMW’s latest 7-Series, F01
platform. The company concedes that 20% of parts are common to both cars. The Ghost has a 129.7 inch wheelbase, roof height, bonnet height and track widths all of its own, and the Ghost uses Phantom-style air springs. The car also shares the FlexRay
electronic system. The car weighs 5445 pounds (2,469.8 kg) at the curbside.
Like other current Rolls-Royce models, the Ghost uses parent company BMW's iDrive
user interface; unlike the Phantom series, the Spirit of Ecstasy
hood ornament along with more functions, are controlled using the system.
, now displacing 6.6 litres, featuring BMW's VANOS variable valve timing, high-precision direct fuel injection, and valvetronic; and generates 563 bhp producing 780 newton metres (575.3 ft·lbf) torque
, with ZF 8-speed automatic transmission
. The engine allows the Ghost to accelerate from 0 to 60 mi/h in 4.7 seconds, and has an electronically limited top speed of 155 mi/h.
, sharing paint, wood and leather workshops with the Phantom series.
introduced its own tuning version, named White Ghost Limited. Apart from exterior changes, its engine has 630 bhp, resulting acceleration from 0 to 60 mi/h in 4.5 seconds with top speed of 290 kilometres per hour (180.2 mph).
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is a British manufacturer of luxury automobiles based at the Goodwood plant in West Sussex, England. It is the current producer of Rolls-Royce branded automobiles, whose historical production dates back to 1904. The factory is located across from the historic Goodwood Circuit...
. The "Ghost" nameplate, named in honour of the Silver Ghost
Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost refers both to a car model and to one specific car from that series.Originally named the "40/50 h.p." the chassis was originally produced at Royce's Manchester works, before moving to Derby in July 1908 and also, between 1921 and 1926, in Springfield, Massachusetts....
, a car first produced in 1906, was announced in April 2009 at the Auto Shanghai
Auto Shanghai
Auto Shanghai is a biennial international automobile show that alternates with the Beijing Auto Show and dates to its inception in 1985...
show. During development, the Ghost was known as the "RR04." Designed as a smaller, "more measured, more realistic car" than the Phantom, aiming for a lower price category for Rolls-Royce models, the retail price is around £170,000 (US$255,000). The production model was officially unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.
200EX concept
The original concept car, named the 200EX, was officially unveiled at the March 2009 Geneva Motor Show, indicating the styling direction of the production model Ghost.Unlike the aluminum-bodied Phantom, the 200EX was made from steel, which has a higher tensile strength and can therefore be made thinner. The chassis used an intelligent four corner air suspension
Air suspension
Air suspension is a type of vehicle suspension powered by an engine driven or electric air pump or compressor. This pump pressurizes the air, using compressed air as a spring. Air suspension replaces conventional steel springs. If the engine is left off for an extended period, the car will settle...
system and multi-link aluminium front and rear axles. Systems such as Active Roll Stabilisation, four corner air springs and Variable Damping Control operate as one, imperceptibly to the driver and passengers to provide the best possible comfort for occupants. Connected to the main computer, the suspension is able to detect the movement of a single rear passenger from one side of the seat to the other, and compensates accordingly.
Design
The Ghost was designed by Ian Cameron and engineered by Helmut Riedl, who led the development of the larger Rolls-Royce PhantomRolls-Royce Phantom
Rolls-Royce has used the Phantom name on luxury cars over the past century:* Rolls-Royce Phantom I, 1925–1931* Rolls-Royce Phantom II, 1929–1936* Rolls-Royce Phantom III, 1936–1939* Rolls-Royce Phantom IV, 1950–1959...
. The Ghost, codenamed RR04 during its design phase, was developed to compete with vehicles significantly less expensive than the Phantom, such as the Bentley Continental Flying Spur
Bentley Continental Flying Spur
Bentleys have worn the Continental Flying Spur name on two quite different classes of four-door cars since 1957.The first is a four-door saloon body made to special order by coachbuilders H. J. Mulliner & Co. on a Bentley Continental chassis...
.
The car is based on a heavily modified platform shared with BMW’s latest 7-Series, F01
BMW F01
The BMW F01 is the current BMW 7 series that went into production in September 2008. The long-wheelbase model, codenamed BMW F02, is longer than the BMW F01.-Presentation:...
platform. The company concedes that 20% of parts are common to both cars. The Ghost has a 129.7 inch wheelbase, roof height, bonnet height and track widths all of its own, and the Ghost uses Phantom-style air springs. The car also shares the FlexRay
FlexRay
FlexRay is an automotive network communications protocol developed by the . It is designed to be faster and more reliable than CAN and TTP, but is also more expensive...
electronic system. The car weighs 5445 pounds (2,469.8 kg) at the curbside.
Like other current Rolls-Royce models, the Ghost uses parent company BMW's iDrive
IDrive
iDrive is a computer system which is used to control most secondary vehicle systems in many current BMW cars. iDrive's user interface consists of a LCD panel mounted in the dashboard and a controller knob mounted on the center console....
user interface; unlike the Phantom series, the Spirit of Ecstasy
Spirit of Ecstasy
The Spirit of Ecstasy is the name of the hood ornament on Rolls-Royce cars. It is in the form of a woman leaning forwards with her arms outstretched behind and above her...
hood ornament along with more functions, are controlled using the system.
Engine
The engine is a bored and stroked version of BMW's N74 6.0L twin-turbocharged (twin-scroll) V12V12
V12 or V-12 usually refers to:* V12 Design, an Italian computer company* V12 engine, a twelve cylinder engine* V-12 Navy College Training Program* Mil V-12, the largest helicopter ever built...
, now displacing 6.6 litres, featuring BMW's VANOS variable valve timing, high-precision direct fuel injection, and valvetronic; and generates 563 bhp producing 780 newton metres (575.3 ft·lbf) torque
Torque
Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist....
, with ZF 8-speed automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
. The engine allows the Ghost to accelerate from 0 to 60 mi/h in 4.7 seconds, and has an electronically limited top speed of 155 mi/h.
Manufacturing
The Rolls-Royce Ghost is built on its own dedicated production line at the Goodwood plantGoodwood Plant
The Goodwood plant serves as the headquarters, design, manufacturing and assembly centre for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.Officially opened for business on 1 January 2003, the plant has been expanded twice since, and now covers . It presently employs 800 workers, half of whom are employed in the wood and...
, sharing paint, wood and leather workshops with the Phantom series.
Mansory version
In mid-2010 MansoryMansory
MANSORY is an aftermarket tuning company that specializes in the modification of high-end automobiles. Founder Kourosh Mansory became fond of British vehicles while living in the UK before moving to Germany and opening his tuning shop in the city of Brand in Bavaria/Germany near the border of the...
introduced its own tuning version, named White Ghost Limited. Apart from exterior changes, its engine has 630 bhp, resulting acceleration from 0 to 60 mi/h in 4.5 seconds with top speed of 290 kilometres per hour (180.2 mph).
See also
- Rolls-Royce 100EXRolls-Royce 100EXThe Rolls-Royce 100 EX has:*9.0 litre V16 engine*6 Speed automatic transmission*Dimensions: Height , Width and Length...
a one-off V16V16V16 may refer to:* V16 engine, a V-shaped engine with 16 cylinders* Fokker V.16, a German experimental aircraft* McDonnell Douglas AV-16, a proposed development of the AV-8A Harrier* Act of Independence of Lithuania, on February 16th...
convertible celebrating RR's 100th birthday - Rolls-Royce 101EX, aka the Rolls-Royce Phantom CoupéRolls-Royce Phantom CoupéThe Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé is a British handmade luxury coupe manufactured by Rolls-Royce that debuted at the 2008 Geneva International Auto Show in Geneva, Switzerland, on 6 March 2008...
(the production hardtop version of the 100EX) - Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead CoupéRolls-Royce Phantom Drophead CoupéThe Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé is a British handmade convertible manufactured by Rolls-Royce that debuted at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, on 7 January 2007. The platform is based on the 2003 Rolls-Royce Phantom and has styling heavily derived from...
, also based heavily on the 100EX