Rolls-Royce Ghost: The ultimate in exclusive luxury

We had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of the Rolls-Royce Ghost, discovering a world where luxury comes to life. Our test shows a unique driving experience and the ultimate expression of automotive refinement. We give you our opinion here.

Rolls-Royce launched the first Ghost in 2009, the success of which led to the Ghost Extended version in 2011. With the Series II update in 2014 and the introduction of the Black Badge Ghost in 2016, the first generation Ghost was the company’s most successful. product in 10 years. Production ended in 2019 for the Ghost Zenith collection. The current Ghost, which shares the same architecture as the Phantom, Cullinan and Spectre, was launched in 2020, with the Ghost Extended and Black Bedge Ghost variants introduced in 2021. The Ghost model in our review shows a significant change in attitudes towards luxury. , with the current preference for reduction, simplicity and substance. The hand-shaped aluminum bodywork offers fluid proportions, with no interrupted fastening lines, highlighted by a straight line on the sides. There “floating line »bottom, inspired by the aquatic structure, creates the illusion of water in motion. The curved roofline and rear merge into a sleek cone. The distinctive Rolls-Royce square headlights add a unique touch. At the top, horizontal windows reveal a driver-focused vehicle, while befitting of driver-driven driving. The car includes advanced features: LED lights and lasers with visual assistance, attention assistant, four-camera system with a panoramic view, cruise control, collision, traffic, lane departure and change warnings, head-up displays (HUD), automatic parking system, etc.

The closet is a haven of peace

Internally, the Spirit maintains a small consistency of its exterior. The space, without excessive decoration, offers a calm space that emphasizes the personalization of the proposed colors. Creating a small and elegant environment is a very difficult task. The finest materials, left unadorned, invite closer inspection. The leather used in the 338 individual panels undergoes strict quality control, with stitching kept to a minimum. Custom engineered wood veneers have a polished finish that shows the material in its true form. Obsidian Ayous and Black Amber add a nice little touch. The leaves of the wood are exposed, they are shown with solid metal air vents, giving a cool tactile feeling. Every detail, carefully thought out, embodies the essence of luxury. The spirit has weak doors. Opening the rear door is done with a simple pull to handle the interior, and return directly to check possible obstacles. By holding the pulled handle, passengers benefit from full support when opening. Once the door is open enough, simply release the handle, thereby closing the door brake. Closing can be done automatically by pressing a button on the outer handle. With manual closing, the motor helps to operate, thus ensuring the efficient use of the door thanks to the on-board sensors.

The chassis offers unparalleled dynamics

The limousine is based on Rolls-Royce’s luxury Design chassis, used in iconic models such as the Phantom, Cullinan SUV and the all-electric Spectre. This aluminum structure offers flexibility and adaptability, characterized by exceptional acoustic stability and unparalleled dynamics, based on four fixed points. The adjustable aluminum chassis, floor, cross sections and side panels are strategically placed for a better driving experience, with balanced weight distribution. Featuring all-wheel drive, all-wheel steering and a tuned suspension system, the Ghost offers the brand’s signature feature, “magic carpet ride” (magic carpet), providing an exceptionally smooth ride.

Full aluminum body

The aluminum body has an integral steel structure that extends fluidly from the pillars to the back, forming a single piece. The absence of tie lines or body joints results from the simultaneous work of four expert welding technicians. Ghost aluminum doors are assembled with pinpoint accuracy using 100% laser welding. In addition to reducing the overall weight, aluminum provides an incredible rigidity of 40,000 Nm/deg, exceeding that of steel. This feature, together with the low acoustic barrier, improves the cabin environment for an unparalleled driving experience. An engineering feat that combines lightness and strength.

Under the hood draws a 563 hp twin-turbo V12 engine!

The heart of the Ghost beats to the beat of a 6.75-liter twin-turbo V12 engine, delivering superior performance. With a power of 563 hp (420 kW) and an impressive torque of 850 Nm, this unit reaches its maximum torque from 1600 rpm, just 600 rpm above idle. Bespoke goes beyond just numbers, creating an unparalleled driving experience. The ventilation system, with large openings, has been carefully designed to reduce the noise of the engine inside, ensuring a calm atmosphere in the cabin. The perfect blend of power and agility, the V12 engine provides instant response, propelling the car with impressive grace.

A compromise of anticipatory driving technology

The adaptive suspension system, the result of 10 years of development, provides a feeling of “jumping off the ground” that has never happened in a car. Designed with advances in engineering physics and cutting-edge scanning technology, it includes a Rolls-Royce-exclusive manual high-speed damping unit, which has never been used in a production car. Mounted on the front suspension, it supports electronically controlled shock absorbers and self-balancing airbags, providing a stable ride. The Flag system uses a camera to monitor the road ahead and adjusts the suspension up to 100 km/h. Combined with a satellite-assisted transmission, it pre-selects the right gear for upcoming shifts using GPS data, programmed with programmed software. The five-link rear axle benefits from self-levelling air suspension and rear-wheel steering. A compromise of anticipatory driving technology and exceptional comfort.

On board, it’s a world of silence

Ghost features a microscopic environmental cleaning system (MEPS), automatically adjusting the ventilation in the event of pollution and filtering all the cabin air through a nanofiber filter, removing ultrafine particles in less than two minutes. For acoustics, the car uses Rolls-Royce’s Serenity formula, using Aluminum Luxury Design to avoid flat reflective surfaces. Two layers of partitions and floors, filled with dampness, reduce road noise, and 100kg of acoustic material is inserted into the car. Every component is tuned to eliminate unwanted noise, such as polishing the inside of the air conditioner to reduce wind noise. Spirit has little “whisper” achieved by adjusting each component to share a common resonant frequency, and engineering solutions such as dampers in the seat frames and doors under the rear shelf to allow low-frequency sounds to escape quickly.

850 stars on the surface

The illuminated fascia of the Spirit, as symbols like the Spirit of Ecstasy, the grille of the Pantheon and the monogram ” Two R », subtly awakens Starlight’s Head. Made over two years and more than 10,000 hours, it features the glowing Ghost nameplate surrounded by more than 850 stars. Illumination comes from 152 color-matched LEDs to illuminate the clock and dial. The word Spirit it is illuminated by a 2mm light guide, which illuminates more than 90,000 laser-enhanced dots, creating a shimmer as the eye moves across the fascia. Mounted on the passenger side of the dashboard, the star and word are not visible when the interior lights are off, thanks to three layers of composite materials.

Special sound

Rolls-Royce audio perfection creates a unique sound stage with the Ghost sound system, integrated into the design of the car. A resonance chamber in the sill area turns the car into a subwoofer. Exciting speakers stuck on Starlight Headliner turn the ceiling into a large speaker. The 1300W amplifier powers 18 individual speakers and advanced amplification technology for exceptional frequency response. Two active microphones detect abnormal frequencies, causing the amplifiers to respond to them, ensuring a clean and balanced listening experience. The only features retained from the original Ghost design are the Rolls-Royce fenders retained on the doors. Therefore, the second generation Spirit represents a completely new car, based on a bold design philosophy. It emphasizes its presence with simplicity and refined purity, evoking a timeless expression of modern luxury.