Rolls Royce Phantom, Rear Entertainment, Pristine, 05,07,08,09 on 2040-cars

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Rolls-Royce Ghost getting a nip and tuck

While there isn't too much competition in the "vehicles priced more than houses" market, automakers still have to keep their products fresh, and it looks like the Rolls-Royce Ghost could be getting a slight facelift for 2014. Like the rest of the Ghost, these spy shots show that Rolls-Royce even makes exquisite body camouflage as it takes a close look to really see that any material has been added to the face.
From what we can tell, though, it looks like the Ghost might be getting a nip/tuck to the front end. This will bring its appearance closer to what we saw on the Rolls-Royce Wraith - the coupe version of the Ghost that debuted back in March at the Geneva show - reshaped headlights that feature LED running lights and also what appear to be LED turn signals. More minor changes to the Ghost include restyled door mirrors that might get some aero tweaks, as well as a smooth rear fascia devoid of visible exhaust outlets.
What we don't know is whether the Ghost will also be getting the more powerful version of the V12 found in the Wraith that produces 624 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, versus the current Ghost's 563 hp and 575 lb-ft.

The latest Rolls-Royce concept is a hybrid dump truck

Is a standard Rolls-Royce not big and imposing enough for you? Perhaps the company's latest concept can get you to pass the Grey Poupon. Behold, the Rolls-Royce MTU hybrid haul truck. The Cullinan might come with 22-inch rims, but when equipped with its R63 Michelin XDRs, each wheel and tire combo of the ultimate Roller will stand over 13 feet tall. With a driver's seat a full story off the ground, it's so lofty you won't even see the plebes that you crush in their feeble Coachbuild Dawns as indifferently as Loxodonta africana steamrolls a line of ants. Serve as your own life-size Spirit of Ecstasy as you look down at the puny Parthenon radiators of run-of-the-mill Phantoms from atop your soaring grille, located a full flight of stairs above the lowly earth. All jokes aside, the Rolls-Royce truck mainly serves to promote its new MTU V12 2000-series industrial 12-cylinder engines. Rolls-Royce doesn't even produce the haul trucks; typically, they provide the engines for installation into rigid dumpers built by Liebherr, Hitachi, or Selex. The new hybrid mill produces 1,560 horsepower, meant to replace the V16 4000-series 16-cylinder engines making 2,500 horsepower. However, Rolls-Royce says performance will be the same while dropping carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent in new installations, or 22 percent with retrofits. Like a Prius, the engine uses a battery pack to store regenerative energy captured as the trucks descend into quarries, then expends that juice to climb back up. It also requires no additional space for an exhaust gas treatment system or diesel urea additives, which are apparently concerns in a mining truck. In addition, Rolls-Royce is in the process of engineering its industrial engines to run on sustainable fuels such as hydrogen brewed from renewable energy (not the way we do it in the U.S.). The company hopes to have hydrogen fuel engines ready by 2023 in stationary applications. It's all part of the company's goals for a — say it with us — carbon-neutral future. The concept truck was conceived for MINExpo 2021, a mining convention taking place September 26-29 in Las Vegas. Hopefully they'll put it into production and offer a constellation headliner in the cab.

Watch this Rolls-Royce Phantom get grassy knees

Here's a pro tip: if you're going to fire your chauffeur, make sure he hands over the keys to your Rolls-Royce Phantom first. If you don't, you just might wind up with scene like the one in the video below on your hands. In it, some sprightly soul decides to eschew the beaten path for a quick frolicking over hill and dale in the luxury leviathan. The grounds will never be the same. Grass, mud and water are all sent scattering as the Rolls-Royce proceeds to pound the earth into submission.
There's also a few smoky burnouts thrown in for good measure. We can appreciate any shenanigans with a high-dollar automobile that don't end in wrinkled sheetmetal. You can check out the full glory of the sideways Phantom in the video below.