Car giants going head to head.

Byline: Steve Hughes

THE Germans have declared war on each other and the fighting is taking place on British soil between Bentley and Rolls-Royce.

No sooner had Bentley issued a teaser picture of what it calls its new grand Bentley than Rolls-Royce countered with a picture of its new Ghost, which it describes as peerless.

The luxury car makers, which are now in German hands, reckon there will be a stampede for the world's most expensive cars as soon as the global recession ends.

As has always been the case with recessions, some people will make their fortunes while others, such as footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, can afford to buy such cars from a single week's wages.

The new Bentley, which will be even more luxurious than the Arnage, is expected to cost about a quarter of a million pounds while the Roller could cost as much as pounds 300,000.

Bentley is giving away no details of its newcomer, which is expected here next year, apart from issuing the uninformative picture.

Rolls-Royce says production of the new Ghost will begin at its Goodwood factory in September. It will be powered by a new 6.6-litre turbocharged V12 engine developing in excess of 500bhp with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Among the car's many luxury features will be an air suspension system that is so sophisticated it can sense if a rear passenger moves from one side of the car to another and compensates accordingly..

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CLASH OF THE TITANS The Rolls-Royce Ghost is standing its ground against Bentley's new model, left.