He’s only been in the job since March, but Rolls-Royce Chief-Executive Officer Torsten Muller-Oetvoes says that so far, the ultra luxury marque has weathered the current economic storm rather well.

In 2011, Rolls is projected to beat the record 2,711 cars, sold last year, with China poised to overtake the US as the largest single market.

In addition, during a recent interview with Automotive News, Muller-Oetvoes said that Rolls-Royce is planning to expand its factory at Goodwood, Sussex, in the UK, as well as possibly boosting the number of dealers world wide, from the current 85, to around 100. In addition, he spoke about possibly adding a Ghost coupe to compliment the sedan.

Since being launched, the Rolls-Royce Ghost sedan has attracted a new type of customer to the brand which tends to be younger and more in-tune with today’s technology. That said, Muller-Oetvoes believes that the key to success in the future is will be down to a steady growth strategy, though not necessarily a significant increase in volume.

“Like no other brand, Rolls-Royce stands for exclusivity, quality and individual style,” he said. ” We will continue to grow steadily, but ours is not a volume strategy. For example, we have no long-term plans for sales in five figures.”

Muller-Oetvoes also believes that former stablemate Bentley (now owned by rival VW) isn’t really a competitor for Rolls, though the Mulsanne might come close as a Ghost rival. He said “they [Bentley buyers] purchase models of both brands, their garages are like closets, equipped for all of life’s occassions. Rolls-Royce competes with other luxury goods such as real estate, yachts, fine art and jewelry.” So no SUV is likely for Rolls then, which is probably a good thing.

Muller-Oetoves also says that V12 engines will remain very much in Rolls’ future, despite current fads towards smaller engines, diesels and alternative fuel powertrains, though company is exploring other options.  ”Our engines are highly efficient and our 102EX electric Phantom project is the first step in exploring the potential for alternative powertrains in the long-term,” he stated. In reference to diesels, he stated that while they might be popular in Europe, “a diesel could never deliver a true Rolls-Royce experience: effortless performance and, of course, silence.”

As for the possibility of introducing electric, hybrid or other such powertrains down the road, it will essentially hinge on buyer interest in such technologies, which among Rolls-Royce owners is currently, almost non-existent.  ”Few clients who have driven 102EX are prepared to charge a battery for eight hours for a range of just 200km,” he stated.

[Source: Automotive News]

Bijan Pakzad is well known for his exclusive boutique on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, but to automotive enthusiasts, we know him as the designer of a custom yellow Bugatti Veyron which is often seen in front of his store – the same one was that sadly vandalized after his untimely death.

Deep down though, Bijan always had a passion for Rolls-Royces, having agreed to a partnership with the famed luxury car manufacturer to design and release a limited series of unique Rolls-Royce Phantoms. Unfortunately Bijan didn’t live to see his vision of a Rolls-Royce, but the unveiling of the Bijan Edition Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe would make him proud.

The Drophead Coupe clearly incorporates Bijan’s passion for all-things yellow, and the special edition vehicle is estimated to be valued at $1.6 million. Bijan executives hope to make a dozen of these creations which also feature a Bijan watch surrounded by white diamonds embedded in the dash, and a set of crystal glasses in a picnic set found in the trunk.

[Source: Dirk A Photography]

GALLERY: Bijan Edition Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe

While the volatile economy has made for a rough year for many, the gentlemen of Goodwood tell a different story. According to Rolls Royce CEO Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes, Rolls-Royce projects a record number of sales for 2011.

Mueller-Oetvoes goes to explain, “I have not seen any reluctance to consider buying a Rolls-Royce… I do not feel that sentiment is deteriorating in the luxury market… We are dealing with people who are unusually wealthy and never really have to ask themselves, can I still afford this or not.”

Momentum has been surging for Rolls-Royce as 2,711 cars were sold for 2010, a 171 percent increase versus 2009. One of the largest markets for Rolls-Royce is the United States, where about a third of its cars were sold last year. Trends are, however, showing that numbers are shifting towards markets in Asia as their economy continues to boom.

[Source: AutoNews]

Prestigious carmaker Rolls-Royce has announced that British comedian and actor Rowan Atkinson will be in attendance at the company’s stand during the Frankfurt Motor Show press preview on Tuesday September 13th .

Atkinson, who is starring in the upcoming film, Johnny English Reborn (a spy spoof based on the original Johnny English, which in turn was inspired by a run of British TV Barclaycard ads), will be joined by his co-star of the film, a specially equipped Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe – named ‘Royce’.

In addition, renowned photographer Rankin and his wife, Tuuli, will also be in attendance, Rankin talking with Rolls CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös as well as presenting 100  of his latest portraits, inspired by the Spirit of Ectasy. Approximately 10 examples of Rankin’s work will also be on display in the Rolls-Royce lounge .

As for the reasoning behind its high profile press conference this year, an official release from the company declares ‘Stars come as standard at Rolls-Royce, thanks to cars that are as individual as their owner’s fingerprint.’

Look for AutoGuide’s complete Frankfurt Auto Show coverage here starting September 13th.

Qatar is slowly becoming the land of outlandish and brazenly modified vehicles, despite the modifications normally consisting of an insane paint job or wrap. This time around though, we’re almost speechless, as the world’s classiest and most luxurious vehicle has received a turquoise treatment.  That’s right, this Rolls-Royce Phantom was delivered to the Rolls-Royce showroom in Doha, Qatar sporting the wonderful shade.

Obviously everyone’s first assumption is that this Rolls-Royce was potentially special-ordered for the Al-Thani family, who have become notorious for their collection of turquoise-painted exotics, but there’s no confirmation on who’s the lucky owner. Here’s hoping it does belong to the Al-Thani family and that no one else out there had the great idea of painting one of the world’s most expensive cars turquoise.

[Source: GT Spirit]

GALLERY: Turquoise Painted Rolls-Royce Phantom

MINI’s new Goodwood model was unveiled at the world-famous Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California this week. The MINI Goodwood is an exclusive special edition which has been produced in close collaboration with the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars design team.

This is a car that drips of automotive luxury and exclusivity in its highest form. The Goodwood has been priced at $52,000, making it the most expensive MINI ever. Only 1000 will be produced with only 140 will be coming to the US. The Goodwood features an interior and exterior design cragfted from the same fine materials and workmanship as the ultra-luxurious Rolls-Royce brand.

Two of the most beautiful features of the exterior design are the body finish in the exclusive Diamond Black metallic Rolls-Royce colour and 17-inch multi-spoke light alloy rims. The interior features seats covered in Lounge leather, Lambswool floor mats, a cashmere headliner and fascia and front door grab handles in burr walnut veneer and a sports steering wheel in Walknappa leather and Piano Black controls.

The MINI will be powered by the turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine featured in the 2011 MINI Cooper S. The powerplant will have Twin Scroll turbochargers producing 181-hp. The MINI can accelerate from 0-62 mph in 6.6 seconds.

Deliveries are scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2012.

GALLERY: MINI Goodwood

On the Chinese calendar, 2012 is the ‘Year of the Dragon,’ which celebrates one of the most celebrated mythical creatures in national folklore. Symbolically, in Chinese culture, the dragon represents power, prosperity and good fortune.

How appropriate then that Rolls-Royce Motor Cars should choose to commemorate the ‘Year of the Dragon’ by providing an array of special Bespoke dragon features for it’s Phantom customers.

The Year of the Dragon Collection, includes a twin coachline on each side of the car, incorporating a Dragon that always looks forward in an effort to achieve perfect symmetry. As one would expect, the coachlines are entirely handpainted and draw inspiration from the Forbidden City in Beijing.

Moving  to the inside, special Dragon embroidery is featured on the headrests, hand stitched from four different thread colors, Black, Golden Sand, Tan and White. In addition there’s a Dragon passenger panel inlay to compliment the seat embroidery with ‘Phantom’ applied in gold.

As part of the Dragon package, each Rolls-Royce Phantom will also receive two hand stitched rear seat cushions with R-R logos and specific embroidery to match the rest of the interior.

The crowning touch is a pair of illuminated door sill plates which display ‘Year of the Dragon 2012′ in red LED lettering.

“The Bespoke team is privileged to commemorate the Chinese Year of the Dragon with this exciting Collection,” declared Thomas G. Jefferson, Bespoke Sales Manager, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “This limited edition car embodies the synergy of craftsmanship, creativity and culture in a manner that is uniquely Rolls-Royce.”

When you’re dealing with higher echelons of motoring, like Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, then usually, more than a few customers want something that’s just a little bit exclusive, to set their particular car apart from the Jones’ example next door in Mayfair. And that means spending  a little extra on Bespoke touches.

Rolls has been performing Bespoke builds for years, adding unique features, such as unique picnic tables, upholstery patterns, or custom crafted Champagne coolers. However, now it seems that as the rest of the world becomes increasingly homogenized, when it comes to goods and services, more and more people with the means to purchase a Roller, want to make sure it stands apart from the herd.

As a result, the company is expanding Bespoke operations, recruiting more design and engineer staff to help keep up with demand as well as augmenting marketing and sales programs related to handcrafted products and features.

“The ability to bespoke one’s vehicle has always been at the heart of Rolls-Royce, so it is very encouraging to see that after more than one hundred years at the very pinnacle of the automotive world, our Bespoke services are still very much in demand from customers all over the world today,” declared Rolls-Royce Member of the Board and Director, Sales and Marketing, Jolyon Nash. Indeed.

You have so much money, you don’t know what to do with it. We’d like to offer a suggestion: send your car to the spa. The price tag: A mere £10,000 a week (roughly $16,000).

The “in” thing for car lovers to do seems to be to send their precious automobiles to the “Car Spa,” otherwise known as the Monza Ultimate Detailing and Protection Company in Dubai. To give your car the special treatment (and for that price, we hope it gets a “happy ending”), the service uses the latest in nano-technology to give expensive cars the luxe treatment. It takes a week to complete, and no bare human finger will ever touch the body of the car to ensure perfection.

For the detailing process, the spa uses special microscopic cleaners that remove dirt not visible to the eye. Upholstery is cleaned times before it gets a natural oil rub down, which promotes extra sheen and finishing. To ensure there are no holograms (patches left behind by regular car washes), the spa won’t lay a bare finger on the car during the exterior wash.

If you’ve got a Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini or Jaguar, feel free to bring it in for a week-long pampering session. Right now, most of the customers are British nationals who have shifted base to Dubai, but that doesn’t mean North Americans aren’t welcome. If you’ve got the cash to fly your luxury automobile over there, we’re pretty sure you won’t need to book an appointment to this spa.

[Source: Born Rich]

Stuart Hughes, based out of the United Kingdom, is known for its bespoke customization of high-end luxury products from iPhones to yachts, liquor to furniture, and everything in between. But this Rolls-Royce Phantom may just be one of the company’s most extravagant creations, featuring over 260-lbs of 18-karat gold on the outside and inside of the of the armored luxury limousine.

Originally commissioned by an anonymous Middle Eastern businessman, Eurocash AG based out of Switzerland teamed up with Stuart Hughes to create this one-of-a-kind, over-the-top Phantom. The entire vehicle has been reinforced and armored to protect against some of the world’s deadliest weapons including AK47 gunfire and a pair of hand grenades. Highlights of 18-karat gold are also featured inside the cabin.

According to its Jameslist.com listing, the Phantom EWB is available for sale with 50-miles on the odometer. Everything around the Phantom is a tad confusing, since Stuart Hughes’ website claims it was delivered to the anonymous businessman for around $8.15 million, yet it’s for sale on Jameslist right now stating that it’s in Switzerland – possibly at Eurocash AG. Perhaps they’re just marketing in hopes to create yet another one of these magnificent… we mean, absurd, beauties.

GALLERY: Stuart Hughes / Eurocash AG Rolls-Royce Phantom

[Source: Jameslist via Stuart Hughes]

Imagine you’re Indian royalty. Your favorite hobby is the Most Dangerous Game, the hunting of wild tigers in the wilderness—as befitting a maharaja. Such a gentlemanly pursuit requires only the most luxurious and extravagant of conveyances: when blasting tigers with a Browning 30-06 machine gun (the choice of professionals!), why would you settle for anything less than a coachbuilt 1925 Rolls-Royce Phantom?

This custom-bodied Roller was commissioned by Umed Singh II, who ruled from 1889 to 1940 and at the height of tiger hunting’s popularity (and before those pesky conservation laws). Hunters commonly stalked their prey from atop elephants, but some employed motor carriages such as this: with an 8.0-liter six-cylinder engine and off-road low gearing, the Rolls is pretty close to an elephant but with more places to stash one’s brandy.

The Rolls also came with some features not available on today’s Phantom unless you ask really nicely, such as a bronze Lantaka cannon and a trailer-mounted machine gun, as well as enough rifle and shotgun racks to make Jeff Foxworthy feel underappreciated. All the better to drive India’s endangered Bengal tiger population from a peak of 40,000 to around 1,700 today.

If that sort of PETA-annoying violence appeals to you, then Bonhams will gladly auction this relic of Indian royalty to you for the appropriately lavish sum of $1 million or more when it goes on the block on August 18th. Tiger-hunting season will probably start around then. And after you mount one on the hood, drive it to an ESSO station and put a tiger in your tank!

[Source: Automobile]

More commonly known as Mr. Bean, Rowan Atkinson is a little hard to take seriously. In all of his acts, the oftentimes silent comedian can generate laughs with his facial expressions alone. That’s why when we heard that he was recently on Top Gear and even set the fastest time in their “Star in a Reasonable Priced Car” competition, we knew we had to see the clip. We all knew Atkinson was an automotive enthusiast, but being able to see him in action while piloting a car around a track is truly priceless.

Piloting a Kia Cee’d, Rowan Atkinson now sits on top of the leaderboard with a time of 1:42.2, besting the likes of Tom Cruise and Simon Pegg. In addition, Atkinson brought a V16-powered Rolls-Royce Phantom to the show, a vehicle he was granted the rights to use through Rolls-Royce themselves. It’ll be seen in his upcoming film Johnny English Reborn, where the 9.0L V16 Phantom will star with Atkinson. Supposedly Rolls-Royce had toyed with the idea of mass producing the 9.0L V16 Phantom but ultimately tossed the idea out the window. But prior to that, Rolls-Royce managed to produce three or four of them, one of which Atkinson was able to get his hands on.

We can’t wait to see what sort of comedy ensues in his upcoming film, despite having a more serious note than the majority of his previous work.

Check out the clip of Atkinson at Top Gear after the break.

[Source: Autoblog]

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Rolls Royce Motor Cars has experienced tremendous success, enjoying a record half-year in 2011. The British automaker has seen an increase of sales by 64 percent worldwide, compared to the same period in 2010. Within the first six months of 2011, 1592 cars have been delivered to customers, and there is continued strong demand for both the Phantom and Ghost.

Rolls Royce is experiencing growth in all regions, but there is a particularly strong demand in Asia, with sales up over 170 percent. Sales are also growing in the Middle East, up by over 40 percent and the US is also growing by a similar amount. There has also been an increase in Europe with German sales up by 60 percent.

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said, “This is an excellent half-year result and demonstrates the confidence that our customers have in our company and our products. The first six months of the year have also seen Rolls-Royce celebrate our unique heritage, with the centenary of the Spirit of Ecstasy, and demonstrate our innovation, with the Phantom Experimental Electric, 102EX. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars continues to operate as the world’s foremost ultra luxury car manufacturer.”

Kim Kardashian’s star-studded wedding will feature a fleet of white Rolls-Royce Phantom and Maybach 62 limousines, as befitting a celebrity wedding.

The Kardashians worked out a deal with Platinum Motorsports (which customizes vehicles for athletes and celebrities like David Beckham) to provide this sterling example of conspicuous consumption, which the company said was not a challenge. All the cars will be chauffer-driven, and will ferry guests around for optimal paparazzi exposure.

Plus, Kardashian insisted every vehicle be white… not matte black.

[Source: TMZ]

Curious about these Platinum Motorsports ballers? Check out the video after the jump:

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Rolls Royce has decided to offer its British customers a very special Phantom Drophead Coupe that ”was designed to capture the essence of a perfect weekend get-away, offering drivers and their passengers the ultimate luxurious and relaxing experience in roof-down motoring.”

This ultra exclusive one-off Phantom comes painted in Mazarine Blue, inspired by the Mazarine Blue butterfly, and comes with a special surprise. Accompanying the coupe is a one-off Asprey jewelery box, housed discretely in the glove box compartment. This box allows the owner to store rings, cuff links, earrings or any other jewelery. The interior will also feature luxurious natural-grain leather in a Seahshell color paired with Navy Blue floor and door panels. The headrests will be embroidered with R-R logos and teak wood decking will also run throughout the coupe. White instrument dials, rotary controllers and a clock finished in mother-of-pearl complete the look.

The coupe will use the standard 6.7-liter V12 engine cranking out 453-hp and 531 lb-ft of torque at 3500 rpm.

GALLERY: Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe

At the recent Geneva Motor Show, Rolls Royce surprised everyone by showing an electric version of their Phantom luxury sedan.

This super-green version might have been good for the environment, however it had its limitations, like taking 24-hours to fully charge from a household outlet (or eight-hours by using an induction charging system developed by Rolls Royce), and having a range of just 125-miles.

Rolls Royce customer’s didn’t give this green concept a warm welcome, and thus RR CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös decided to put a lid on this idea. He is reported to have said that no more examples of the electric Phantom will be made, and no customer has asked for one.

The reason he thinks the idea didn’t work is because most wealthy clients live on the outskirts of towns, and its limited-range would not work for them.

A hybrid version however is not out of the question, and Müller-Ötvös thinks that might be in the cards for the future. This way the company can go green, without range limitations.

[Source: Pistonheads]

Look, most of the time we try our absolute best to find the bright side of things no matter how awful they might be. But this time, this Rolls-Royce Phantom spotted in Marbella, Spain, has us completely speechless.

Known as a popular place for the rich and famous, Marbella can be home to many tasteless creations as evidenced by this Phantom. The purple, white and yellow paint scheme is further accented by the similarly-themed wheels (that doesn’t fit the car’s large body at all we might add) and gold grille and Spirit of Ecstasy emblem.

But the interior is where it completely blows our mind. It’s been overwhelmed with pink – yes pink – upholstery on the dash, headliner, door panels, and more. We’re speechless, speechless we say.

GALLERY: Rolls-Royce Phantom in Marbella

[Source: Autogespot.nl via GT Spirit]

With the Gumball 3000 already underway (it started May 26), the folks in charge of the international parade of shenanigans has released a video showing the rally’s start in Covent Garden, London. The 19 minute video shows over 100 of the most magnificent and rare supercars in the world. Even the rain couldn’t stop the massive crowd that gathered to watch the beginning of the world’s most fun and most glamorous rally.

The 3000 mile rally will start in London and end in Istanbul over a seven day period across 10 countries, via Paris, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Milan, Venice, Zagreb, Belgrade and Sofia. It was also revealed that the 2011 rally would cost £25,000 to take part in.

Participants include the “who’s who” of the international social scene, Sheikhs, entrepreneurs, oil tycoons, and dot com billionaires.

The incredible line up includes Pagani Zondas, Bugatti Veyrons, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Rolls Royces, Bentleys, Aston Martins, Jaguars, Porsches, Morgans and several Lotus’, and this year, over 20 eco and concept electric cars are taking part as Gumball enters a new decade of green motoring!

Check out the video after the jump!

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Pricing has finally been announced for the MINI Cooper receiving goods from Rolls-Royce’s factory in Goodwood and it’s probably shocking to many, even those that expected an utmost premium for the Rolls-Royce goods. So let’s just get that out of the way with the base-model Mini Cooper Goodwood coming in at an astonishing $68,000. We’re going to safely assume that the $68,000 won’t convert over to America’s market, but even at close to $50,000, that’s a crazy price to pay for a Cooper.

Those in Europe that are really interested and have no problems paying the price tag will get a ton of Rolls-Royce specific details on their MINI Cooper with Inspired by Goodwood emblems to prove you paid the price. The standard paint color is Rolls-Royce’s own Diamond Black metallic while MINI’s Reef Blue metallic is available as an option.

Interior upgrades include Rolls-like woven headliner, Cornsilk-hued leather with stitched black-leather contrast. The entire doors and center console are covered with luxurious leather while the speedometer and tachometer faces have been swapped with Rolls-Royce font.

It’s questionable if the price tag is worth it; but for those that certainly love Rolls-Royce’s luxurious amenities and prefer to drive a more discrete MINI Cooper, well, here’s your compromise.

GALLERY: MINI Cooper Goodwood

[Source: Autoblog]

Rolls-Royce has perfected the art of ecstasy – the company even adorns the hood of every one of its vehicles with the Spirit of Ecstasy figurine. That symbol is celebrating its 100 year anniversary, and in honor of the occasion, Rolls-Royce  has commissioned a special art collection to celebrate of the Spirit of Ecstasy.

Renowned photographer Rankin has been commissioned by Rolls-Royce to take 100 images inspired by the Spirit of Ecstasy. This famous adornment features a woman leaning forward with arms stretched like a bird’s wings.

In this collection, Rankin depicts the beauty and sensuality of the feminine form, and uses his wife, model Tuuli Shipster, as inspiration. These photographs cover a variety of women of different ages and cultures, evocative of the femininity of the Spirit of Ecstasy.

“This is one of the biggest projects I have ever taken on,” said Rankin. “The images will be a statement about the modern day Rolls-Royce; they will feel fresh, directional and original, while also being beautiful and inspirational.”

Watch for the Rankin: Spirit of Ecstasy global tour, which could be coming to a city near you this year.

[Source: Born Rich]

Come on down to Crazy Nigel’s Used Cars, where we got more used and “pre-owned” Rolls-Royce models than you can shake a stick at! Hiya folks, what’ll it take you to get into this long-wheelbase Ghost? Chauffeur-driven, all city miles, and not a single scratch on its German bull-hide leather!

Rolls-Royce probably won’t hire any late-night infomercial shucksters like that to hawk their six-figure luxoboats. But for those looking to dip their toes into the Roller mystique, the company has introduced an official pre-owned service, called Rolls-Royce Provenance.

Provenance cars get a 24-month warranty, bumper-to-bumper servicing, and 24-hour roadside assistance that we like to think involves a Royal Navy ship-of-the-line and a team of tuxedoed butlers. And like most certified pre-owned programs, each car is inspected and given a full servicing by factory-trained technicians.

Rolls-Royce Provenance cars will only be available through a select number of authorized dealers. If you see a stickered LWB Phantom on a strip mall lot next to a row of 1996 Caravans, you can bet that somebody’s doing it wrong.

Thanks to Kate and William’s recent wedding, the royals have never been hotter. They seem to be popping up everywhere – including the new Cars 2 movie.

Coming to theaters June 24th, Disney’s Cars 2 will feature The Queen (voiced by Vanessa Redgrave) and Prince Wheeliam. These new characters get the royal treatment. The Queen is a regal old Rolls-Royce, outfitted with a royal blue-and-white two-tone paint job and topped with a crown on her roof, while Prince Wheelium is a sleek Bentley Continental GT. They make their appearance as the World Grand Prix takes to the streets of London, England, where they preside over the finish line with Sir Miles Axlerod.

[Source: Autoblog]

Buying cars is not like what it used to be. You no longer need to go into a showroom and sit with a Brylcreamed salesman and look over color palettes.

Nowadays, any self-respecting car company has a modern website with a configurater, so customers can sit at home and virtually see what their next car will look like.

Some car companies are now going a step further and have developed app’s that can be downloaded to your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch.

Rolls Royce is certainly moving ahead with the times. It first introduced an app for their Ghost model, and now comes an app for the Phantom line-up. This app lets customers and dreamers configure any Phantom model in any way they would like. So not only can you choose your exterior color, you can trim the interior and all its details to your liking also.

If any one of the 44,000 color choices is not to your liking, you can create your own using a color matching function which will give you infinite possibilities. So if you want the exterior or interior to resemble your handbag or nail polish, you can do that.

So if you are looking to buy a new Rolls Royce, or just dreaming of one, you can go to the Apple App store and download this application to your device.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Rolls- Royce is expecting a massive sales increase in the second quarter of this year, thanks to increased demand spurred by their “cheaper” Ghost model, which retails for a mere $246,500.

The introduction of the Ghost in 2010 helped sales jump 167 percent, spurred by enormous growth in China. The brand expects to open 11 showrooms in the country by year’s end, with China eventually overtaking the United States as its largest market. Nevertheless, Rolls-Royce will open a further 4 dealerships in the US by year’s end.

[Source: Reuters]