The BMW Group, which consists of BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce, has posted its best April global sales yet with a total of 155,419 vehicles sold last month.

The strong April, which was an increase of 6.8 percent in sales, gave the BMW Group a new all-time high of 603,619 vehicles sold during the first four months of the year. BMW brand vehicles rose 7.5 percent to 130,598 last month compared to April 2012 while worldwide MINI sales increased 3.3 percent. The BMW Group is enjoying success thanks to strong gains in the Asian and American markets.

Deliveries of the BMW X1 increased 14.8 percent compared to last year, with 11,837 units delivered in April. The 3 Series climbed 16 percent compared to last year to 38,491 units while the 3 Series Touring more than doubled with 104.6 percent growth. A total of 512,000 BMW vehicles have been delivered to customers worldwide in 2013, an increase of 7.1 percent.

Last month, MINI delivered 24,581 vehicles and its worldwide sales increased 3.3 percent.

China accounted for 30,311 deliveries last month while the Americas sold 36,547 vehicles for an increase of 11.7 percent. Europe contributed to the total with 69,957 vehicles.

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The Rolls-Royce Wraith is the British luxury automaker’s newest and hottest, and now it’s on display at one of the world’s premier shopping centers, Harrods in London.

The Wraith is powered by a 6.6-liter, twin-turbo V12 engine with 624 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque and accelerates even quicker than the Ghost, which it is based on. The particular Wraith on display at Harrods features a two-tone Midnight Sapphire exterior with Cassiopeia Silver. Inside, the automaker’s bespoke interior treatment goes with an Arctic White with Navy Blue leather scheme.

SEE ALSO: Rolls-Royce Wraith Makes US Debut: 2013 NY Auto Show

The Wraith will be on display at Harrods throughout this week until Saturday, May 4.

Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos has also confirmed that a Wraith convertible variant will be a natural fit to the model, but that it would take “some time” to develop. We shouldn’t expect to see the Wraith convertible for at least a few years. The British automaker also denied that it is working on an SUV model and currently has no plans to produce an SUV.

GALLERY: Rolls-Royce Wraith at Harrods

[Source: Auto Express UK]

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Rolls-Royce is planning a facelift for its smaller Ghost model, as spy photos are showing here today.

But people willing to lunk down the sort of cash required for a Rolls-Royce Ghost — set trajectory north of the quarter-million-dollar mark — don’t want their car to look dated. Given that, the alterations will be minor.

New headlights and minor front bumper changes make the car look more like its new Wraith cousin. The side mirrors are also reshaped and the exhaust is hidden.

When the Wraith debuted several weeks ago during this year’s Geneva Motor Show, it debuted the brand’s satellite-aided transmission (SAT). The system is supposed to predict terrain to predetermine the ideal gear selection. It isn’t clear if that will make it into the facelifted Ghost, but it will come with an updated satellite navigation and infotainment system.

The 6.2-liter V12 engine is also expected to be massaged for more power and lower emissions.

GALLERY: Rolls-Royce Ghost facelift spy photos

Rally racing in a Rolls-Royce? Not bloody likely. At least not in anything the brand builds today, but that wasn’t always the case.

In 1913, Rolls-Royce sent four silver Ghosts through the Austrian Alpine Trials: a 1,820-mile journey through mountain terrain. The Rolls-Royce team managed it “without fault” according to Rolls, and 100 years later it is celebrating with a special edition Ghost.

Set to officially debut in Shanghai this weekend, the car comes in a special blue paint meant to closely mimic the Ghost it pays tribute to. It shouldn’t come as any surprise that the brand chose China to unveil its special car. After all, its largest purveyor just opened there.

SEE ALSO: Rolls-Royce Opens its Largest Dealership in China

Other bespoke touches include a special clock that shows the stages of the rally. Inlays to the rear picnic tables also express the topography and distance of the race route.

It isn’t clear how much Rolls-Royce will ask for the special cars, but it won’t be cheap given the standard Ghost’s roughly quarter-million-dollar price tag.

GALLERY: Rolls-Royce Ghost Alpine Trial Centenary collection

Rolls-Royce has supplied a custom Ghost Extended Wheelbase to support FAB1 Million and Breast Cancer Care.

The FAB1 Million project aims to raise £1 million for Breast Cancer Care and the custom pink Ghost will be made available to hire over the next 12 months. The Ghost will also be making public appearances at exclusive events and can be hired for any special day with all the proceeds benefiting Breast Cancer Care.

The Ghost Extended Wheelbase FAB1 has a ton of pink accents to raise awareness about breast cancer, from the pink-accented umbrellas to the hand-embroidered headrests featuring the Breast Cancer Care pink ribbon motif.

Other accessories besides the pink exterior paint include unique “FAB1″ door sill plates, a Blushing Pink and Creme Light interior while the uplit Spirit of Ecstasy takes center stage on the silver hood.

“When I received the call from Chris Evans to support FAB1 Million, we immediately sprang into action,” said Jolyon Nash, Sales and Marketing Director. “It’s taken countless hours to create such a special car but every minute spent is absolutely worth it for such a valuable cause. We wish the project every success.”

GALLERY: FAB1 Rolls-Royce Ghost Extended Wheelbase

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Rolls-Royce opened its largest dealership in the world this week, spanning 12,916 square feet, located in Shenyang, the capital city of Liaoning Province, China.

Rolls-Royce now has 16 dealerships in China, one of the world’s largest automotive markets. The Shenyang location spans two floors, and can house five different Rolls-Royce models at any one time.

The new facility was built to support increasing demand for Phantom and Ghost models in the region, and will offer bespoke outfitting for all of its models. Worldwide, nearly 95 percent of all Phantom family models and three out of every four Ghosts sold get the bespoke treatment.

GALLERY: Rolls-Royce Shenyang Dealership

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Satellite-aided transmissions, a sparkling headliner and wood panels that look richer than Warren Buffett are making their U.S. debut inside the Rolls-Royce Wraith today at the 2013 New York Auto Show.

As previously reported, the car is powered by a 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 with 624 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s also 0.3 seconds faster to 60 mph than the Ghost it’s based on. The suspension is also tuned to reduce body roll without affecting ride comfort.

Probably the most interesting feature to debut on the car, though, is the brand’s Satellite Aided Transmission (SAT) technology that uses GPS data to predict how the transmission should react for optimal performance on upcoming terrain.

Other tech features include a heads-up display, adaptive headlights and keyless trunk control which seems strange given how common all that is on much cheaper cars.

So how much does one of these crazy coupes cost? North American pricing is still unannounced, but the converted European MSRP translates to $319,000.

GALLERY: Rolls-Royce Wraith live photos

Starting tomorrow, there will be a Rolls-Royce exhibition in the Munich BMW Museum for the first time since it took control of Rolls-Royce and finally settled its scuffles with Volkswagen over the brand in 2003.

The display will celebrate BMW owning the brand for 10 years as well as Sir Henry Royce’s 150th birthday — were he still alive. There are 15 cars in the display dating from 1907 to 2012 including the Rolls-Royce 10EX built in 1926 to demonstrate the “New Phantom’s” performance potential.

Aside from the cars, there are also other displays meant to showcase the brand’s rich design history. The exhibit is open to the public and runs from March 21 through the end of March, 2014.

The 2013 Geneva Motor Show was full of halo cars for several brands, as even Ferrari and McLaren showed off their most powerful vehicles yet. Yet another iconic brand debuting the most potent car it’s ever made was none other than Rolls-Royce.

With a unique fast-back design, the Wraith is a special looking vehicle and packs 624 hp and 590-lb-ft of torque thanks to a 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 engine. Although it’s based on the Rolls-Royce Ghost luxury sedan, the Wraith is decidedly more sporty, featuring a wider rear track, shorter wheelbase, and lower roof height.

SEE ALSO: 2013 Geneva Motor Show Coverage

The sporty Rolls also has several handling improvements as the vehicle’s suspension has been tuned to minimize body roll. Additionally steering weight is heavier at high speeds and lighter at low speeds, making the car easier to drive, despite its powerful engine and imposing size.

The Wraith also features new technology like a heads-up display, adaptive headlights, and keyless trunk control. The new Wraith also features a new satellite aided transmission, which will use GPS satellites to help select the right gear for the road ahead.

Check out the video below for more details on the 2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith.

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GALLERY: 2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith

Rolls-Royce officially debuted the Wraith, its most powerful model ever, at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show today.

The elegantly designed fastback is powered by a 6.6-liter, twin-turbo V12 powerplant with 624 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. It is 0.3 seconds faster to 60 mph compared to the Ghost (the sedan on which its based), which has 563 hp. The powerplant is mated to an eight-speed ZF-sourced automatic transmission. To help give the Wraith a more dynamic driving experience, the British automaker incorporated a wide rear track, shorter wheelbase, and lower roof height on the Wraith.

SEE ALSO: 2013 Geneva Motor Show Coverage

Overall, the vehicle’s suspension has been tuned to minimize body roll with steering weight heavier at high speeds and lighter at low speeds. Agility improvements have been achieved without a compromise to the comfort air ride has to offer.

The Wraith is also the vehicle to debut Rolls-Royce’s Satellite Aided Transmission (SAT) technology. SAT utilizes GPS data to see beyond what the driver typically sees. It will help anticipate the driver’s next move based on location and driving style, selecting the most appropriate gear for the terrain that’s up ahead. All the changes are designed to help give the Wraith a more polished, effortless driving experience with even better response.

New mechanical and electrical technology has also found its way in the Wraith such as heads-up display, adaptive headlights, and keyless trunk control. Voice-activation commands now come with through a one-touch button on the steering wheel while a destination no longer requires manual input from a nav menu. Route assistance begins immediately said Rolls-Royce, with on-screen and audio guidance following a voice command such as “navigate to Piccadilly in London.” Of course, Americans might have an issue getting to Piccadilly Circus from America, but you get the point.

Pricing is estimated to begin at around 245,000 Euros in Europe, which is about $319,000. The automaker did say that confirmation and further pricing details for all markets will come later this year, with first Wraith deliveries starting in the final quarter of 2013.

“Today we launch the ultimate gentlemen’s gran turismo, a car that embodies the spirit of Charles Stewart Rolls,” commented Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “The most powerful Rolls-Royce in history, Wraith promises the sense of adventure and speed that drove our founding forefather. But of course, Wraith’s starting point is luxury, refinement and quality, traits that remain as important to Rolls-Royce customers today as they were more than a century ago.”

GALLERY: Rolls-Royce Wraith

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The latest and greatest from British luxury automaker Rolls-Royce, the Wraith, has just been leaked onto the web before it debuts tomorrow at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. 

The Wraith is essentially a coupe version of the Rolls-Royce Ghost, though it features its own fastback style. Under the hood is a V12 engine that makes 624 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque, giving the Wraith a 0-60 time of 4.4 seconds, according to AutoCar. That engine will be mated to an eight-speed ZF transmission.

It is supposed to be the most dynamic car to ever be built by Rolls, and features stiffened suspension and new steering weighting meant to provide the driver with maximum levels of feedback by getting lighter at low speeds and heavier at high speeds. The Wraith has been made shorter and narrower than the Ghost, which will also help with driving feel.

Technology put to use in the Wraith includes a GPS-based transmission, which will pre-select gears based on the roads ahead, new voice-command controls, and a starlight headliner that uses 1340 tiny lights in the headliner to replicate the appearance of the night sky.

GALLERY: Rolls-Royce Wraith

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Rolls-Royce has confirmed that its newest model, the Wraith, will be a fastback and will make its public debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

The British automaker has also released its final teaser image for the Wraith, which illustrates the three lines that underscore the car’s profile. By referring to the Wraith as a fastback, Rolls-Royce is essentially confirming that it’ll be a performance-minded model.

SEE ALSO: Rolls-Royce Wraith Teased Again

The Wraith should be a formidable competitor to the Bentley Continental GT Speed models, with power coming from the 6.6-liter V12 found in the Ghost. It is expected to have over 600 hp in order to compete with the GT Speed.

“The purposeful fastback profile is Wraith’s defining element,” said Giles Taylor, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Design Director. “Inherent in the graceful line that sweeps from the top of the screen to the very rear edge is the promise of fast, yet effortless touring. Yet, perhaps my favourite aspect is the expressive gesture that comes from the side window graphic, gliding through Wraith’s glamorous coach door.”

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