HIGH ROLLERS

As Rolls-Royce hits 120 years old, meet the car makers that have tried to take it on - not always successfully

- Graham Hope

ROLLS-ROYCE has often indicated, whether subtly or explicitly, that it believes its cars to be in a class of their own. Consider the marketing for the Phantom, for example, which included a short film with the tagline: "Unique has no rival". Enough said.

The reality is that the luxury manufacturers most commonly considered as competitors to Rolls sell in far greater volume at lower prices. When it comes to uber-opulence, no one really comes close to the Goodwood-based brand.

But that's not to say there haven't been some interesting vehicles presented as alternatives to Rolls-Royces over the years.

In the unlikely event that you have hundreds of thousands of pounds burning a hole in your pocket and feel a Roller is too passé, here's a look at the kind of fare that's been offered up. Spoiler alert: not all are hugely desirable...

Geely GE

IF imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery, Rolls-Royce must have felt highly appreciated when this concept appeared at the 2009 Shanghai Motor Show.

The GE bore a startling - some might even say uncanny resemblance to the Phantom. The luxurious 5.5-metre saloon had one important difference inside, however: a solitary rear seat, like a throne, for the Chinese captains of industry who couldn't even contemplate travelling with anyone other than their driver.

By the time the GE reappeared at the Beijing show in 2010, common-sense had prevailed and the model was heavily revised, with a more rounded front and rear making it look (a little) less like a Phantom.

Hongqi L5 

ALSO from China, but sporting a retro look, is the Hongqi L5, which is described "as a perfect fusion of tradition and modernity in time and space, which endows the limousine with an unsurpassed grandeur".