The Ghost in all ways is a more measured, more realistic car. It is, first of all, much smaller—17.7 feet in length (17.1 inches shorter), 76.7 inches beam (down 1.6 inches), 61 inches high (down 3.3 inches) and weighing 5,445 pounds (down 353 pounds).

The 2011 Rolls-Royce Ghost is indeed a historic car: It’s the first small Rolls-Royce launched since the 1949 Silver Dawn. “Small” is a relative term, however. Though 17.1 inches shorter than a Phantom sedan, the 212.6-inch Ghost is still 4.3 inches longer than a Bentley Continental Flying Spur, and weighs a not insubstantial 5450 pounds. This is not a compact Econo-Rolls.

The Ghost is fitted with a safety tour de force of airbags, traction and stability controls, even a grouping of cameras that channel a near-360 image of its surroundings for dent-free parking maneuvers. Night vision, a lane-departure warning system, active high-beam headlamps and cruise control are integrated as well.

This $200k+ automobile is worth the price and definitely has the swag. I test drove this amazing automobile and didn’t want to get out of it. It left me feeling accomplished.

Image provided by Rolls Royce.