Say hello to the Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II, an updated and enhanced version of the automaker’s entry-level luxury sedan that’s five times more opulent than other brands’ most expensive offerings. It builds upon the second-generation Ghost that was unveiled in late 2020 as a 2021MY in North America.
Mid-life exterior design changes help further differentiate the Ghost from its Phantom big brother, but is there more going on here than a new set of headlights? To give you a fuller picture, here are five key things you need to know about the Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II.
#1 It’s now easier to recognize
Rolls’ three models – Ghost, Cullinan SUV, and Phantom – previously all used similar front-end designs, and working out whether it was a Ghost or Phantom heading towards you came down whether the grille was deep and upright (Phantom) or wider and shallower (Ghost).
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But the revised baby model is now easier to tell from the bigger Phantom at a glance thanks to a unique headlight treatment. The LED lamps are tapered at their inner edge, almost as if they’re pointing towards the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot. The lower air intake has been reshaped, and at the rear, the Series II gets a new set of taillights inspired by the ones on the Spectre EV.
#2 More thread than Mark Zuckerberg
Like the Cullinan, which was facelifted earlier this year, the Ghost’s cabin has been upgraded with a full-width glass panel containing three separate digital displays and a Spirit of Ecstasy “clock cabinet.” The main screen runs Rolls’ Spirit operating system, links to the brand’s Whispers private members app, and is hooked up to a 1,400-watt sound system with 18 speakers, some of which are hidden in the headliner.
Anyone climbing inside is also treated to a new choreographed interior illumination sequence and fresh material choices including gray-stained ash and Duality Twill, an embroidered bamboo fabric that contains an insane 2.2 million stitches and 11 miles (18 km) of thread. And if that doesn’t make the seats sound like works of art, you really can have art punched into the upholstery via the Placed Perforation option.
#3 The V12 lives on
The good news is that Rolls-Royce hasn’t bowed to environmental pressures and swapped the Ghost’s 6.75-liter bi-turbo V12 for a boring hybridized V8. The less good news is that it makes the same 563 hp (571 PS) and 627 lb-ft (850 Nm) as it did last year. Zero to 60 mph takes 4.6 seconds (4.8 to 100 km/h) and the top speed is limited to 155 mph (250 km/h).
Although Rolls doesn’t claim any engine improvements, it does promise that the ride quality from the air-suspended chassis is better this time around.
#4 The Black Badge gets a black mark for performance
Rolls has slashed its average customer age in recent years, and one of the ways it’s been able to do that is by introducing the sportier Black Badge line. There was a Black Badge version of the outgoing Ghost and the new one follows the same path, swapping glitzy chrome for moody dark colors, tightening and lowering the suspension, and stuffing bespoke 22-inch forged wheels into the arches.
The interior is equally stealthy, featuring a dark Spirit of Ecstasy on the clock cabinet and technical carbon trim throughout. You also get a 28 hp (29 PS) and 37 lb-ft (50 Nm) bump over the regular Ghost to 591 hp (600 PS) and 664 lb-ft (900 Nm). But those numbers are no better than last year’s and Rolls quotes the same 4.6 seconds to 60 mph for the $420,000 Black Badge it does for the ordinary $355,000 Ghost.
#5 The Ghost Extended is for champagne geeks
If you prefer to delegate driving duties but can’t justify the $500k required for a Phantom, the long-wheelbase Ghost Extended could be right up your private security-controlled street. As before, it delivers 6.69 inches (170 mm) of additional rear legroom, something owners can capitalize on by specifying the optional, aircraft-style layback Serenity Seating.
You can also spec a fridge, but this isn’t like your usual SUV fridge. It has two temperature settings because Rolls appreciates that non-vintage Champagne should be served at 42.8 degrees Fahrenheit (6 C) and vintage Champagne at 51.8 degrees Fahrenheit (11 C). Anyone know what Mountain Dew should served at?
