#Rolls-roycePhantom

Rolls-Royce is testing an extended wheelbase version of their “entry level” Ghost sedan (the term being relative, since the car starts at a mere $245,000).

Rolls-Royce has just announced that for the 2011 model year, the Phantom Drophead Coupe will be getting some upgrades, which will make the car more sporty to drive.

In what might be the most perverse story of the day, the New York Times is reporting that the Environmental Protection Agency is classifying the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe as a compact car, due to their standards for classifying vehicles, which measure interior volume.

Rolls-Royce is well on track to sell 800 cars in China, a figure that would see the country pass the United States as RR’s largest market. While Rolls sold just 100 cars in 2009, the brand sold 500 from January to October of 2010.

Bouyed by strong sales in China, Rolls-Royce is set to expand their Ghost range of small(er) sedans – but the company is tight lipped on just what models will be part of the Ghost range.

With Middle East sales of their cars skyrocketing, Rolls Royce is following in the footsteps of their former stablemate at Bentley and introducing a special edition Phantom that celebrates the region.

The four door Phantom will be named after the Baynunah region of Abu Dhabi, with a sand-themed color palate both inside and out. The two-door Phantom, known as the Shaheen (a type of Falcon native to the region) is a little bit more extroverted, with a white exterior, and a striking red interior with “seashell” inserts and a Falcon motif on the headrests.

Rolls Royce customers in Abu Dhabi will also have access to the company’s bespoke program, which allows customers to go above and beyond the traditional options list to create truly custom cars.

[Source: Rolls Royce]

Hit the jump to read the official press release

Picnicking has never been so elegant, now that Rolls-Royce has added a picnic set to its Phantom model.

Ordinary folk may be suffering through a recession, but Rolls-Royce announced that their production run is sold out until at least September, with the Phantom unavailable until October.

This is one of those situations where a photo is easily worth a thousand words. Details are scarce considering this was first seen posted on a Chinese forum, but the photos clearly show a wedding convoy filled with no less than a dozen Lamborghinis. It’s no secret that there is now plenty of extra-affluent in China, and this is just a small sign of just how wealthy the rich are in China.

Well this vehicle certainly puts a whole new meaning to the term ‘baller’. Chad OchoCinco has become more of a celebrity than a potent wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals the past couple of years, and now it’s really showing with this beautiful Rolls-Royce Phantom built in collaboration with Platinum Motorsport. Sure his fame started with changing his last name to a Spanish-rendition of the number he wears, and recently good ‘ol Carson Palmer is complaining that OchoCinco is spending more time doing television shows than working out with the team. But hey, a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.

So instead of ranting more about OchoCinco’s antics and how he clearly dislikes leaving his shirt on during Dancing with the Stars, we’ll spend some time focusing on what’s been done to this luxurious automobile. We all know Rolls-Royce’s Phantom is perhaps the pinnacle of luxury cars; the luxury car on which all others are measured against.

Clearly the goal of this build was to have a presence. A menacing, statement-making presence. Platinum Motorsport refinished the entire exterior of the mini-limo in a matte gray finish full of shiny black accents rather than the traditional chrome. A fantastic touch we’re really digging is the refinish on the Spirit of Ecstasy, Rolls-Royce’s famed moniker on the hood. Massive 26-inch wheels is exactly what the Phantom demands.

It’s fitting that OchoCinco would pick a Rolls-Royce Phantom as his signature ride and this custom build truly reflects his bold and charming personality. There’s no other way to put it than to simply say, this car means business.

[Source: Luxury4Play]

See the documented build process and more pics of the finished vehicle after the jump:

Scott Rothstein was once a prominent South Florida lawyer, famous for his humble roots, flashy lifestyle and philanthropy. But after a suicide attempt and a failed escape to Morocco, Rothsetin turned himself in after federal agents exposed his 1.2 billion dollar Ponzi scheme.

Now, the United States government has seized his assets and is auctioning off an assortment of exotic cars owned by Rothstein and a number of shell companies. The list ranges from the very mild (two Pontiac G6s, a Ford Expedition) to the highest echelons of supercar-dom (two Bugatti Veryons, a Ferrari F40).

If you have the funds, and are looking to score a deal on some serious machinery with, shall we say, interesting provenance, take a peek at the list below and get in touch with the appropriate arm of the federal government.

[Source: Dupont Registry]

Full List After The Jump: