An Introduction to the Rolls-Royce Ghost:
Rolls-Royce needs no introduction; the brand’s name is synonymous with the epitome of luxury and the pinnacle of comfort and opulence. This status symbol remains out of reach of the public and is an offering only the select few could ever dare afford.
The Ghost is a (somewhat) affordable model that joins the lineup of the Rolls-Royce oeuvre, joining the likes of the Phantom, the Culligan, and the Spectre.
A Lavish Exterior:
The Ghost’s exterior is a classic, recognizable Rolls-Royce. It isn’t as flashy as its sibling, the Phantom, but it stands out in a unique way. It is understated but not underwhelming; the sleek and minimalistic exterior has been cleared of unnecessary details, letting only the most important elements shine.
The Ghost Extended variant is, well, the Ghost but extended, i.e., with a longer body and more rear seat space. The Ghost Extended Wheel Base (EWB) is longer than the standard Ghost but ever-so-slightly shorter than the standard Rolls-Royce Phantom. The exterior is pretty much the same, save for the illuminated Parthenon front grille.
The Spirit of Ecstasy:
It’s time for a quick history lesson! In the 1900s, it became popular among Rolls-Royce owners to commission personalised sculptures to be mounted on their cars. In order to stop owners from affixing ‘inappropriate’ figurines to their cars and to create a standardised design, the then-managing director of Rolls-Royce, Claude Johnson, commissioned a sculpture from the artist Sykes.
Sykes designed a figurine featuring a woman with her dress billowing in the wind, the fabric resembling a pair of wings. The model for the sculpture was Eleanor Thorton, an enigmatic woman who represented the winds of new thought in Victorian society and the automobile world. The Spirit of Ecstasy, though first described as an optional feature, actually became a standard part of all the Rolls-Royce cars produced hereafter.
The figurine represents many things: freedom, the joy of speed, and the elegant beauty of a Rolls-Royce. As the car glides effortlessly, the spirit soars with it. The Spirit of Ecstasy is available in a silver and gold-plated finish as well as an illuminated polycarbonate version. It retracts into the hood even when exposed to slight pressure in order to safeguard pedestrians in case of accidents and prevent theft. The ornament also stays hidden when parked, and the owner can choose when to hide or display it thanks to a button that’s hidden in the glovebox.
Interiors and Creature Comforts:
Step into the Rolls-Royce Ghost, and you’re whisked into a different dimension. The Starlight Headliner makes your roof come alive in the form of a vivid night sky. You can customise the layout of the fiberoptic LEDs and create a bespoke sky.
The passenger side gets an illuminated dashboard fascia with the Ghost nameplate and 850 glowing ‘stars’. Plush carpets, high-quality leather, metal accents, and real wood are used in the interior to provide a one-of-a-kind Rolls-Royce experience. The infotainment touchscreen gets standard Android Auto and AppleCarPlay connectivity as well as in-dash navigation. Also included are a WiFi hotspot and an 18-speaker Bespoke stereo system.
Rolls-Royce loves to design cabins with a vintage flair without compromising on the driving experience. The digital dials invoke the analogue components they replace. But the premium look and feel of the cabin make the design feel old-school but not outdated.
Behind the fold-down armrest is a champagne cooler with high-quality Rolls-Royce crystal champagne glasses. The cooler can accommodate one large bottle and secure it in an upright position to minimize the risk of spillage.
Rear-seat passengers get a dual-screen entertainment system and massaging seats. The cabin gets sound insulation, which doesn’t let any engine or road noise get to you. The engine is whisper-quiet anyway, and the interior acoustics allow for conversations and music to be heard easily.
The Ghost Extended gets an enlarged rear seating area with additional room. While it also gets the starlight headliner, the extended version also has shooting stars scattered throughout the sky.
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Safety Features:
The Rolls-Royce Ghost gets some pretty nifty safety features such as airbags, an emergency stop system, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, electrical stability software, lane-keeping assist, and lane departure warning.
The Ghost’s transmission employs GPS assistance to automatically choose the appropriate gear when approaching crossroads and corners. It also has standard adaptive suspension, which uses a road-scanning camera to inform the dampers of any potholes or undulations.
Engine Specifications:
The Ghost gets a 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine, which generates 555 bhp and 850 Nm of peak torque.
The Black Badge Ghost has the same engine specifications but has been tuned to produce an additional 28 bhp.
The Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost:
Roll-Royce cars have always attracted creative thinkers, free thinkers, and disruptors of the modern day. The Rolls-Royce ‘Black Badge’ is catered towards those who want a little more, a little better, and a little darker.
The Black Badge Ghost gets a darkened exterior, including a blacked-out grille and Spirit of Ecstasy. Well, black isn’t the limit; you can customise your own exterior shade or choose from 44,000 prét-à-porter colours. All Black Badge models feature the signature lemniscate, better known as the infinity symbol.
The exterior isn’t the only difference. The Black Badge Ghost gets the best specifications possible: a re-engineered patented Planar suspension system, satellite-aided transmission, more voluminous air springs, and an all-aluminium spaceframe architecture.
Prepare to get seatback TVs, unique wheels, attractive brake callipers available in 4 statement shades, four-wheel steering, and AWD.
The Rolls-Royce Ghost Prism:
The Rolls-Royce Ghost Prism is a special-edition model made to commemorate the automaker’s 120-year anniversary. Production will be limited to 120 units to commemorate the occasion. The Prism sports a gunmetal-grey exterior, which is created through a unique 10-step process.
The exterior is painted using a four-layer application. Each layer is sanded by hand and takes approximately 16 hours of labor. The buyer gets to choose between 4 accent shades: Mandarin, Forge Yellow, Phoenix Red, or Turchese.
Frequently Asked Questions:
The Rolls-Royce Ghost offers unparalleled comfort and luxury. It packs tremendous power and efficient suspension that makes you feel like you’re floating on a magic carpet.
The price of the Rolls-Royce Ghost starts at INR 6.95 crore and goes up to INR 7.95 crore (ex-showroom).
The Rolls-Royce Ghost has two variants: the Ghost and the Ghost Extended Wheelbase (EWB). The limited-edition variant named the Rolls-Royce Ghost Prism is also available. A top-end, high-spec bespoke version of the Ghost is called the Black Badge Ghost.
The top competitors of the Rolls-Royce Ghost are the Bentley Continental Flying Spur, the Mercedes-Benz Maybach S-class,