Rolls-Royce Ghost Long Wheelbase feature China is the market for extended-wheelbase variants and Rolls-Royce has introduced the new Ghost Extended Wheelbase edition at Auto Shanghai today.
The wheelbase of this stretched Ghost is 170 mm (6.7 inches) longer than on the standard model and good for twice as much knee room, says Rolls-Royce
An extended-wheelbase motor car was planned in the early days of the Rolls-Royce Phantom project. Indeed, an aluminium space frame chassis was chosen precisely because it lends itself to structural adaptation with relative ease. This ability to create coach-worked models, to meet the individual needs and desires of Rolls-Royce customers, is something that has been central to the marque throughout its 100-year history. The standard Phantom body is already the largest automotive aluminium space frame ever constructed while the new extended wheelbase model adds nearly 10 inches.
The extra length with this new motor car is achieved simply by using longer extrusions in the construction of the body. Conventional extended-wheelbase cars are often built by cutting them and welding in extra metal - not so with Rolls-Royce. As a result of this approach, none of the Phantom's torsional rigidity is lost, so the outstanding dynamic performance and driving refinement of the standard length motor car are maintained.
The powertrain should remain unchanged, which means a 6.6-liter turbocharged V-12 engine matched to a ZF 8-speed and delivering 563 horsepower and 575 pound-feet of torque will be lurking under the hood.
In addition to the new long wheelbase model, both coupe and convertible versions of the Ghost are due to hit the streets in the next couple of years but their development is not guaranteed. Rolls-Royce will be unveiling concept versions of the cars first to gauge customer demand. Another model potentially in the pipeline is a gasoline-electric hybrid version.
