New 'German' Rolls-Royce Phantom unveiled

BMW has unveiled its first Rolls-Royce - the 149mph Phantom.

The distinctive Rolls grille and the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot remain in place.

But innovations include umbrellas stowed in rear doors which open stagecoach style with handles in the middle of the car rather than the back.

Handcrafted at a new plant at Goodwood in West Sussex, the Phantom is built on classic Rolls lines.

Longer and taller than its predecessors, the Phantom has a unique run-flat tyre system which allows the car to go for 100 miles at 50mph after a puncture.

Capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in 5.7 seconds, the Phantom is powered by a 6.75-litre V12 engine.

The car was shown for the first time to the media and will be seen for the first time by the general public next week at the Detroit Motor Show in the USA.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars chairman and chief executive Tony Gott said today: "For nearly 100 years, Rolls-Royce has been the icon of motor engineering and design.

"The name has entered the language as an expression of perfection. The new Rolls-Royce Phantom is, we believe, entirely in keeping with that long and illustrious heritage, yet is totally contemporary in its design and technology."

BMW said the car had also been inspired by the success of Rolls's Silver Cloud model of the 1950s and the Silver Shadow of the 1960s.