We are soon to see a sudden surge in the number of new premium luxury SUVs->ke145. The fact that Aston Martin->ke13, Bentley->ke15 and even Lamborghini->ke44 are considering to add an all-wheel-drive sports utility vehicle to their lineup is evidence to the current market situation where the wealthy are demanding uber-premium SUVs.

The rise in demand for such a product hasn't gone unnoticed when it comes to quintessential luxury that is, Rolls Royce->ke74. The BMW-owned British luxury marque is aware of the developments taking place in this segment. Aston Martin is pursuing the reintroduction of Lagonda in the form of a luxury SUV; Lamborghini has already unveiled the Urus concept; and Bentley is contemplating an SUV that would satisfy the needs of the average Bentley buyer.

For Rolls Royce, who has been the crown jewel of the segment for years, it might not be as easy as it seems. Its cars have always had a special place in the hearts and minds of not only those who own them, but also those who admire them for their timeless charm. Despite the potential negatives, a Rolls Royce SUV is in the cards, thanks to the aforementioned spike in interest.

According to Rolls Royce boss, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, they are currently investigating whether the brand can carry such a vehicle in its portfolio and that both crossover and shooting brake styling options are on the table.

If Rolls Royce does go ahead with either of the two, the basis for the upcoming model has almost been finalized. The current Rolls Royce Ghost platform, which shares its components with the BMW 7 Series, seems a worthy option as the SUV's base. The Phantom's platform would work, but it would be too expensive to make, given as Rolls Royce is targeting a price tag of around $400,000. Additionally, Rolls Royce could easily adapt the Ghost platform to accept an X5 drivetrain and suspension components.

Click past the jump to read more about the RR Ghost.

Rolls Royce Ghost

The Rolls Royce Ghost is the car most people look for when thinking of pure luxury. It is big, comfortable and even super-fast. Under all of that posh skin lays a 6.6-liter, V-12 powerhouse that pumps out 563 horsepower and 575 pound-feet of torque. This is enough to sprint this 5,490-pound luxo-barge to 60 mph in an outstanding 4.9 seconds and up to 155 mph.

This kind of luxury and performance comes at quite a price, as the RR Ghost bases out at a hefty $256,000.