When the first Rolls Royce Ghost came out, journalists thought it was nothing more than a more expensive BMW 7-Series, in the same way, a VW Phaeton was a more Expensive Audi A8. And while that couldn't be farther from the truth, Rolls Royce decided to make its own platform that the latest Ghost would share with the new Phantom and Cullinan. Furthermore, the engine was thoroughly revised so it gets its own name code and isn't shared with any BMW model. The new Ghost is then even more authentic than before, and a much better car all around. Even the Ghost's horsepower is now increased which isn't something Rolls Royce does often. Of course, the Ghost's price is also higher than it was before, but it's still the cheapest Rolls Royce you can buy. But don't go thinking it's missing something just because it's the cheapest. This Ghost review will show you that it's essentially just a smaller Phantom. But before we start with the review, check out the cars we have available at Exotic Car Trader and if you see something you like, reach out to us so we can help you with the entire purchasing process.
When Rolls Royce went under in the nineties, BMW was quick to acquire the brand and build the best luxury car the world has ever seen. And it did just that with the first Phantom but at the same time VW bought Bentley which was much sportier and it appealed to younger buyers more. Once Rolls Royce noticed that there was an entire customer base available, a new model was underway, and that was the first Ghost. The first Rolls Royce Ghost was a smaller and more attractive version of the Phantom and it single-handedly lowered the average Rolls Royce buyer's age from 53 to 42 years old. That means the first Ghost was definitely a success. The second generation came out in 2020 and it was built on an entirely new platform with a new engine, while the basic philosophy remained the same only it was executed even better than before. The main market for Rolls Royce, including the Ghost is China as it is for many other manufacturers in recent times. So, where was the Ghost made? No, Rolls Royce didn't move manufacturing to China and it likely never will. All Rolls Royce models are still built in Goodwood. But just how many Ghosts will be produced is difficult to say, but it's a fair assumption that it will make up at least 30% of the total 6,000 cars Rolls Royce makes a year. And with that, let's get into the fun part of this Rolls Royce Ghost review.
No Rolls Royce car was ever built to go racing, and not even a dedicated racing car was built in the manufacturer's 100-year-long history. So, it doesn't come as a surprise that Rolls Royce and lap times are never mentioned in the same sentence. Still, considering how much the new Ghost costs, it better be fast, and fast it is. The new Ghost's 0-60 time is just over four seconds which puts to shame most modern sports cars and sports sedans. And all that acceleration comes from a silky smooth V12 engine which coupled with a dead silent cabin makes the entire experience feel more like a charter flight than traveling in a road car. And thanks to that V12 engine, the Ghost's horsepower and torque are rated at 570 and 604 lb-ft. That's unless you go for the Ghost Black Badge which gets 600 horsepower and 660 lb-ft of torque. And that acceleration is made even more impressive when we consider that the Ghost's weight sits at over 2.5 tons which is about the same as the new BMW X7. However, the Ghost's top speed is not that impressive as it's electronically limited to 155 mph (250 km/h). But even so, a car like the Rolls Royce Ghost will barely ever see speeds north of 120 mph which in typical Rolls Royce fashion, makes these performance specifications “sufficient.”
If a person is upgrading from a Mercedes, BMW, or Jaguar, the first obvious choice would be a Bentley Continental. A Bentley has a lot more quirks in the interior, a lot more gadgets and it's a lot more in your face. But a Rolls Royce is reserved for those people who appreciate subtleness and quality more than bragging rights. At the same time, a Rolls Royce will hold its value much longer than a Bentley which is why everything inside and out has to look timeless, and thus more conservative. That's also why the average Bentley buyer's net worth is around $10M while the average Rolls Royce buyer has a $30M net worth. The point is, that Rolls Royce appeals to a much different customer profile, and those who are after a Rolls Royce already know what to expect. Still, Rolls Royce does offer some very special features besides luxury materials. For example, you can get a headliner with LEDs arranged in a specific time, place and date start constellation which is something no other manufacturer offers. It's also worth mentioning that you can customize a Rolls Royce Ghost interior in any way you like as long as you have deep enough pockets. Overall, the Ghost design is beautiful even though it doesn't look as technologically advanced as some of its cheaper alternatives.
The key design feature of all Rolls Royce models be it modern or vintage is the imposing front grille. And even though the new Ghost is supposed to be the most modern up to day looking Rolls Royce, the signature grille that dates back to pre-war cars is still here, although with a twist. When the latest BMW X6 came out, BMW experimented with a back lit front grille, and that's a feature that found its way to the new Ghost. And even though a glowing Grille might seem a bit juvenile at first, Rolls Royce has definitely pulled it off as the lighting is more subtle than it is on BMWs and it accentuates that front grille perfectly at night. Other than that, the front end looks much sharper and more proportional than it did before while the side profile is most recognizable by the rearward sloping shoulders. The back end has a much more conservative design that won't be that easily recognized by those who are not car enthusiasts. But even so, everyone will immediately know that it's not Nissan or Lexus because the Ghost's design screams luxury from every angle. In conclusion, the Ghost's exterior will turn everyone's heads not because it's easy to notice but because it's so infinitely classy.
The latest Rolls Royce Phantom was the first car built on the all-new Architecture of Luxury platform that would be shared between all Rolls Royce models including the Ghost. That means the Ghost no longer uses the old BMW L6 platform but rather one that's built in-house by Rolls Royce. There was nothing particularly wrong with the L6 platform, but Rolls Royce really went all in with the new one and it even went so far that sound insulation was considered when designing the platform. That also means you are quite literally getting a smaller Phantom when buying the new Ghost. Sure, a few features and luxuries might be missing, but the drivetrain as well as the chassis is the same. Interestingly, the sound deadening was so effective that the Ghost had so little interior noise that it became disorienting. To prevent that the Ghost plays special sound frequencies through the speakers, essentially polluting the cabin with noise artificially because it was too quiet. Besides that, the Ghost's technology includes an all-new V12 engine that's based on the old BMW 6.6 liter unit but is now 6.75 liters besides other changes.
Truth be told, even though the Ghost is the cheapest Rolls Royce you can buy, it's by no means a cheap car even when compared to some supercars and other ultra-luxury sedans. The Ghost starts at around $345,000 while the Bentley Flying Spur starts at $220,000 not to mention that the Maybach S680 starts at less than $200,000. Still, a Rolls Royce is the ultimate sedan so a price that high shouldn't come as a surprise. But how much is a ghost worth when we add different trim levels. Well, the first trim level besides the optional equipment is the EWB or extended wheelbase version which starts at $385,000. Other than driver-oriented trim levels include the Black Badge which is a more driver-oriented model with more power and better handling plus some black exterior and interior trim. That one starts at $390,000 and goes up to $415,000 depending on the optional equipment. If you are looking for a Rolls Royce Ghost for sale, be it the first model or second, check if any of them are hiding here at Exotic Car Trader.
The Ghost is the Rolls Royce model to get if you plan on driving the car because it's considerably smaller than the Phantom making it easier to maneuver and it provides a more engaging driving experience. At the same time, the Ghost is a viable option even if you only prefer the looks because as we mentioned, it's the same chassis as the Phantom and it's the same drivetrain. But regardless of which luxury car you are after, Exotic Car Trader can help with every step of the buying process, from sourcing the car to delivering it to your front door. Exotic Car Trader can also help you sell your current car or even trade it in. In the end, the Rolls Royce Ghost is on the way to becoming the best-selling Rolls Royce so far and that's enough proof that the model is near perfect and that makes a great conclusion to this Rolls Royce Ghost review.
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