Rolls-Royce launches EWB Ghost for Chinese market

The Chinese love their rear seats even more than we do, and for quite some time now manufacturers have been selling long-wheelbase versions of perfectly regular cars. A case in point was the Passat, which had a long wheelbase version in China that eventually was adapted to make the current Superb. Other cars that got the 'extended' treatment were the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5-series and Audi A4. Now this is filtering up to the highest echleons of motoring, to Rolls-Royce itself.

The Ghost is getting an extended wheelbase to make the rear seat more comfortable.To this end the wheelbase has been increased by 170mm, doubling the kneeroom over the standard Ghost. RR says that should you decide to take to the wheel, you'll find that none of the vim and vigour of the regular Ghost has been lost. 0-100kph is brought up in 5 seconds. The Ghost will be sold in limited numbers until 2012, when the car's production goes into full swing. The Ghost is a bit of a puzzle, since the Phantom already was present for those who like the rear seat. The Ghost EWB, then, is truly an, er, poor man's Phantom. The price has not been announced - hey, if you've got to ask, you can't afford it!