Article: Phantom blends new and old; BMW's first Roll-Royce stands tall and formal without compromise.(News)

Byline: Richard Feast

Everything about the $320,000 Rolls-Royce Phantom sedan that debuts at this week's Detroit auto show is new - except the name.

The tall, formal, square-faced model is BMW AG's new vision of an old brand. It's also a competitor to a new brand, the Maybach, launched last year by DaimlerChrysler. Each aims at the world's super-rich. But their design approaches are wildly different.

While the Maybach is long, low and sleek, this new Rolls-Royce has the bulk and stance of a Sherman tank. It is chief designer Ian Cameron's modern interpretation of famous models from Rolls-Royce history, with front wheels far forward and a long, ...

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