2010 Rolls Royce

Rolls-Royce Riding Ghost Wave to Massive Sales Increase

Rolls-Royce is reporting sales of 678 automobiles through the first five months of 2010. Although that might not sound like a lot of vehicles at first blush, it represents a 146-percent increase over the same period a year ago. Company head Torsten Müller-Ötvös expects sales to continue in their upward path throughout the remainder of the year, saying that the automaker will post figures "at least double the volume of last year."

While the slight uptick in the global economy may have something to do with the sales resurgence, the real driving force behind the increase is the new Ghost model for 2010. With a base price of around $250,000, the Ghost represents a substantial savings over the revered Phantom, which starts at some $380,000 and quickly rises from there. And while the Ghost may be less expensive than its big brother, there's no doubt that it is every bit the exclusive luxury ride that its new owners will expect.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Rolls-Royce Ghost