Autoblog

The baby Rolls-Royce, perhaps called the Silver Ghost and arriving in 2010, will more than double the firm's sales according to Rolls-Royce CEO Ian Robertson. While sales figures currently hover around 1,000 per year for Rolls-Royce, we don't know if the figure he's talking about doubling will include the Phantom Coupe, which goes on sale later this year. The RR4 -- the baby Phantom's code name for now -- will share a platform with the upcoming 7-Series and is expected to give the scales a workout at 5,000-plus pounds.

The engine choice is still a mystery. Some speculate that there will be a twin-turbocharged version of BMW's 4.4-liter V8. However, Robertson has said that Rolls-Royce engines will remain unique to Rolls-Royce, in which case a 12-cylinder motor, unshared with any BMW product and smaller than the Phantom's, has been suggested. And in a nod to green, a diesel option is being floated after the car's introduction.

The car with which the RR4 will compete, Bentley's Continental Flying Spur, has suffered no ill-will for using a VW engine in its Continental series, so perhaps Rolls-Royce will be more welcoming of BMW power when the time comes. The new Rolls is expected to be priced between $250,000 and $300,000, which is considered "entry-level" for this brand.



[Souces: Motor Authority and eGM Car Tech]

Click image for gallery of the Phantom Silver and centenary gathering

Rolls-Royce recently celebrated the centenary of the Silver Ghost with a gathering of over five dozen of the cars at the automaker's Goodwood HQ. Some 6,000 Silver Ghosts were produced from 1907 to 1925 , and as you can see in the photo at right (click it to enlarge), they varied greatly in style. We're completely smitten with the wood-bodied boattail behind the group of owners in the middle of the photo (we zoomed in on it in the photo gallery below).

To celebrate the Silver Ghost's 100th anniversary, Rolls-Royce is producing a highly-limited run of commemorative Phantoms. Dubbed the Phantom Silver, the car carries a £22,000 premium over the standard Phantom and features a custom Ghost Silver finish. Its list of other specific features (follow the jump for full details) includes 21" wheels with chrome center caps, a solid silver Spirit of Ecstasy, a solid silver keyfob, white-faced gauges, a matching clock, and more.

By the time you've read this, they'll probably all be spoken for.

Press releases after the jump.

[Source: Rolls-Royce]

1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50HP Silver Ghost ROI Des Belges

The history of Lot 264 can be traced its build date of March 3, 1911, when it was shipped to N. Gatti in London on April 24th. From there the 1911 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, Chassis No. 1574 was sold several times, including to Millard Newman in Florida, who had it meticulously restored and added to his collection. After Newman's death, the car's new owner put it through another extensive restoration, won several Concours awards, then brought it to Arizona where it was auctioned for $725,000, Friday. It was by far the best-preserved and most beautiful of three super rare Silver Ghosts auctioned at RM.

Make the jump to check out the two other Rollers that left the auction block.