Rolls Royce used the Shanghai Auto Show this week to officially announce plans to build a new, less expensive (by Rolls Royce standards) model, which appears identical to the 200EX concept that made its appearance at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

Motor Trend reports, "The name of the new model will be the Rolls-Royce Ghost, resurrecting an apparition-themed moniker that first appeared on a Rolls-Royce more than 100 years ago."

Automobile Magazine explains, "The Rolls-Royce Ghost name is meant to evoke the grandeur of the original Ghost model.  It was produced between 1906 and 1925 and was immediately recognizable as a Rolls.  In total, 7876 of the original Rolls-Royce Ghosts were produced."

Rolls expects to build 1,000 examples of the new edition. Car and Driver reports, "It will feature a near-600-hp, turbocharged, 6.6-liter V-12 mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission," and shares some of its components with the BMW 7-Series sedan. The model "will slot below the current Phantom range and gives Rolls-Royce a more attainable model to compete against the Bentley Continental Flying Spur, as well as the upcoming 2010 Aston Martin Rapide. The Continental lineup also includes GT coupe and GTC convertible versions, and we expect two-door and droptop iterations of the Ghost to launch after the sedan."

Business Week says that the smaller size will have advantages - "the Ghost will offer sportier performance than the stately Phantom."

Pricing has not been announced.

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