2021 Rolls Royce Ghost: Sleek New Looks, Powertrains And Everything Else We Know

Arguably the pinnacle of luxury, the Rolls-Royce Phantom exudes levels of opulence that many can only dream of. However, what if you can’t quite stomach the Phantom’s colossal cost or church-like dimensions? Well, no problem, that’s where the smaller Ghost fits (pun intended) into the picture.

Although having aged rather well, the Ghost has been lurking in the Phantom’s shadows for almost 10 years. Fortunately for us, it’s about to undergo a major redesign and we take an illustrative look at what to expect. Let’s explore further…

Sleek, Yet Stately

As you’d expect from a company that has kept the same models in production for decades in the past, the second-generation Ghost features an evolutionary design that won’t put its customer base into cardiac arrest. As with any other Rolls-Royce product, you’re greeted with a dominant vertical-columned radiator grille flanked by slim laser-tech LED headlights and a bolder lower fascia incorporating larger intakes.

Photo illustrations copyright CarScoops / Josh Byrnes

Casting your eye to the side reveals a sportier profile featuring coach doors with sleeker front and rear pillars. Sheetmetal surfacing is typically elegant, relying on large dimensions rather than fussy styling flourishes. Rear styling is highlighted by twin trapezoidal exhausts, a steeply raked trunk and oblique ‘ring-framed’ LED tail lamps.

Lavish Luxury

Stepping inside the sumptuous cabin will reveal a retro-themed dashboard similar in appearance to the Phantom and Cullinan. The Ghost ups the ante by utilizing a digital driver’s display with circular gauge pods, flanked by a widescreen infotainment system and an off-centre analogue clock. It’s not as futuristic as Mercedes-Benz’s cowl-less MBUX setup, but it won’t offend the purists either.

Traditional styling meets the latest and best tech inside

Expect a re-imagining of the ‘art gallery’ dashboard allowing owners to further personalize their cabin with artwork (or tasteless rubbish, however you interpret it). Other goodies include personalized door-panel embroidery, a wi-fi hotspot and a head-up display. Self-driving capability will be coupled with driver assists like surround-view camera, night vision aid, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure assist.

Under The Skin

Unlike the old car which was based off the last-generation BMW 7-Series, the all-new Ghost rides on a new aluminum space-frame architecture in regular and extended-wheelbase (EWB in Rolls-talk). Whilst similar in dimensions to the current Ghost, the switch to aluminum will help it lose weight, improving fuel efficiency and handling. Dear, I say it’s almost sounding …sporty.

The new Rolls Royce Ghost will be offered in both regular (top) and extended (bottom) wheelbase forms

Those with ‘spinal ailments’ will appreciate the self-leveling air suspension with advanced chassis management. Along with control over stiffness and body-roll, the system also includes pothole-detection assist by using a camera to spot road imperfections on the fly.

Potent V12 Power

As far as Ghosts are concerned, the current one is no slouch with its twin-turbo 6.6-litre V-12. However, this engine is to be dropped in favor of another twin-turbo unit that powers the Cullinan; featuring a 6.75-litre V12, it produces a healthy 563 hp (420 kilowatts) and 627 pound-feet (850 Nm) of torque.

The Ghost will share the Cullinan’s 6.75-liter V12

Power will be fed to all four wheels via a ZF-sourced, eight-speed automatic transmission and will benefit from a 48V electrical architecture assisting lowdown torque and efficiency. Plug-in hybrid and all-electric variants of the Ghost are said to be in the works as well.

Rivals and Reveal

It’s a battle of Goodwood Vs Crew; as arguably the most natural rival to the Ghost is Bentley’s new Flying Spur. Other luxury competitors include the Mercedes-Maybach S 560/S 650 and long-wheelbase versions of the regular S-Class, 7-Series and Audi A8.

Conjecture had a reveal penciled in for later this year as a 2021 model year offering, however, due to the current Covid crises, we anticipate the debut date might now be pushed back until things start getting back to normal around the world.

Finally, does the all-new Rolls-Royce Ghost have what it takes to emerge out of the Phantom’s shadow? Share your views in the comments below.