Pre-Production Baby Rolls Royce Spotted

In today's economy, everyone is downsizing.  And by everyone, I mean even Rolls-Royce. It certainly seems like a coming sign of the carpocalypse (all trademarks to Jalopnik on that term), but the truth is that a smaller Rolls Royce makes a lot of sense.  Even the super-rich are tightening their pockets, which can be seen in the abysmally small sales of uberluxury cars like the Rolls Royce Phantom, as well as Mercedes's rolling mistake, the Maybach - and in their miniscule resale values.

Since the Phantom hasn't been making all that much money for BMW, it was naturally time for a smaller, higher-margin Roller.  Enter the new baby: the Ghost.  The Ghost rides on a slightly lengthened 7-series platform, and uses a 6.6L Twin-Turbo V12 (probably an uprated version of the new twin-turbo V12 seeing duty in the new 7-series) making north of 600 horsepower.  Might this be a fun to drive Rolls Royce?  That remains to be seen...

Here you can see a few interior bits, showing the traditionally lavish wood-and-chrome-and-leather getup that Rolls is so well known for.  Don't mind the nerdy looking engineer type.

The profile of the Ghost shows a leaner, sportier, more dynamic looking car than the staid and upright Phantom.  With twin-turbo V12 power and the inheritance of at least some of the 7-series' athletic genes, this Roller could be the first where the owner prefers to sit in the front right seat.  I can't wait to find out more.

Photo credit: autojunk.nl via CarScoop