In an age where the evolution of brands and product marketing often tend to be dismissive of their past in order to achieve their future goals, the iconic Rolls-Royce Motor Cars instead looked back within their heritage in their unveil of the fully re-designed New Ghost 2021 model. Ghost was the very first line produced over 110 years ago and has been the most successful model in the brand’s storied history. She is as iconic at the Spirit of Ecstasy herself and, over the years, as Wraith, Dawn, Phantom, and other models no longer in production seemingly supplanted her. The unveiling of the all-new Ghost model, the most technologically advanced motor car yet for the brand, inspires more than mere nostalgia.
Gone is any hint of her former BMW 7-series styling that rather diminished Ghost’s innate British heritage. In a strategic grab for a younger demographic with the average age of a Ghost owner dropping from the 50’s to the low 40’s, plans for her evolution began five years ago, with considerable input from existing owners and drivers who wanted a vehicle they drive more: more enjoyable yet more refined.
Wherever your eyes rest, you know you are looking at a Rolls-Royce. New Ghost sports a new radiator grille, subtly backlit by LEDs to highlight that distinctive RR branding and the ever-present, spring-loaded winged spirit alluding to the magic-carpet ride the brand has promised for over a century. The new Ghost has laser headlights that illuminate the road up to 550 yards ahead, twice the distance of standard LEDs.
Ghost now has the same twin-turbo 6.75-liter V-12 engine you find in Phantom and Cullinan, producing 563hp, although delivering 627lb-ft of torque, only slightly less than you get in the Phantom. The low revs result in an exceptionally smooth acceleration, so you don’t feel that automatic gearbox change-down too often. She now has all-wheel drive as well as all-wheel steering for unprecedented maneuverability. Rolls Royce likes to call it “vibrant to drive,” and the new Ghost is very spirited to drive.
In her transformation, her width remained the same at 76.7 inches and, since her chassis tapers down at 221.5 inches, she’s longer than she used to be by almost 9 inches without the extended wheelbase option.
Noteworthy is a world-first Planar suspension system developed that takes the stress out of driving in any weather or road conditions, thanks to the system as well as the forward-facing cameras that scan the road ahead and adjust. There’s little in her steering and ride, both utterly smooth and quiet as whisper, that could make driving her anything but bliss.
