D THE SPOTLIGHT motoring
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WORDS TONY WHITNEY PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ROLLS-ROYCE
ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST SALOON The superbly-crafted Ghost is the entry-level saloon from Rolls-Royce and is aimed, as the company points out, at owners who like to drive themselves. The range-leading Phantom is very much a car to be chauffer driven and is a fair bit larger than the Ghost in every dimension.
E
ven so, the Ghost isn’t a compact car by any stretch of the imagination but it looks quite trim when placed alongside a Phantom. Although the elegant, timeless, styling does pick up a lot of cues from the Phantom, it adds touches of its own and the end result is very praiseworthy indeed. When launched, the Ghost was an immediate success and is now the best-selling car in the 116-year History of Rolls-Royce. Recently, an extended model was introduced so owners can get some of the rear legroom Phantom owners enjoy. Of course, the iconic Pantheoninspired radiator grille distinguishes the
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car from anything else out there and is a prominent feature of the new car. Sited on the bonnet is the fabled Spirit of Ecstasy ornament, originally crafted in 1910 by sculptor Charles Robinson Sykes. To comply with pedestrian safety regulations and also for theft protection, the ornament glides quickly under a cover and out of sight at the slightest touch.
TRADITION REVAMPED
The Ghost carries on numerous traditions that have been refined by Rolls-Royce over many decades, but that doesn’t mean the car is steeped in the technology of yesteryear.
