Skip to main content

The All-New Rolls-Royce Ghost Beckons New Buyers with Dazzling Details and Minimalist Design

The term “entry level” never feels as dirty as when referring to a Rolls-Royce, yet the phrase fits the Ghost sedan perfectly.

Serving as a first step into one of the world’s most exclusive brands, the Ghost is burdened by expectation. Since its inception in 2009, the Ghost has welcomed new, younger customers to Rolls-Royce who might otherwise have been steered towards other, lesser luxury vehicles. But 11 years on, the Ghost is in need of an overhaul to retain its appeal in the ultra-premium sector.

Enter the all-new Ghost. Dubbed the most technologically advanced model in the company’s 116-year history, the reborn sedan seeks to shrug off superficial expressions of wealth while treating passengers to the same effortless comfort that hallmarks a Rolls-Royce.

Riding on the same aluminum space-frame platform that underpins the flagship Phantom and Cullinan SUV, the Ghost utilizes both all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering to add dynamics and stability to the posh equation. To improve upon the company’s “Magic Carpet Ride” quality, the Ghost features a new Planar suspension system prompted by a forward-facing camera that scans for road imperfections.

At the heart of this new Ghost is a 6.75-liter twin turbocharged V12 engine producing 563 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. If that potent powertrain sounds like it might disrupt cabin serenity, fret not – the air intake system filters much of the engine noise. To optimize smoothness of power delivery, a satellite-aided transmission selects the appropriate gear based on GPS data.

Design evolves carefully, with a minimalist approach throughout. The hand-welded aluminum structure is devoid of shut lines, affording a flowing physique. The pantheon grille is wider and accentuated by 20 LEDs, giving the car presence at night and emphasizing its wider proportions. A single character line runs from nose to tail, while Rolls-Royce’s squared LED taillights now tilt slightly forward and are unbordered by shut lines.

Inside, the new Ghost maintains the minimalist philosophy while integrating sophisticated technology. New open-pore wood designs pair with 338 panels of carefully selected leather hide. A dazzling illuminated fascia echoes Rolls-Royce’s now famous Starlight Headliner with a highlighted “Ghost” nameplate surrounded by 850 stars. The effect is made possible by 152 LEDs positioned beneath the fascia and controlled by a 2mm thin light guide. Rear passengers aren’t left to envy, however, with Rolls-Royce’s first application of power operated closing and opening doors. By pulling on the handle, passengers can choose how wide to open the door before exiting the vehicle. Once outside, they can simply press a button on the exterior handle to automatically close the rear doors.

Indeed, no part of the new Ghost sounds entry-level, yet we expect the second-generation sedan to remain Rolls-Royce’s best-selling model and invitation to many first-time buyers.

Editors' Recommendations

Miles Branman
Miles Branman developed a passion for cars early on thanks to a neighbor’s collection of rare and exotic vehicles. What…
Lost Ferrari collection rakes in over $16 million at auction (with one surprise standout)
Ferraris are in high demand
RM Sotheby's Lost & Found Ferrari collection

1995 Ferrari F50 Rear 3/4 View Joshua Sweeney/Broad Arrow Auction / Broad Arrow Auctions

Recently, we reported about a herd of Italian thoroughbreds that were lost in time, spending fourteen years from 1990 to 2004 in a Floridian barn. Then, after Hurricane Charley laid waste to the Ferraris' farmhouse, the Italian stallions were moved to a weatherproof warehouse across from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where they ironically laid motionless for nearly the next twenty years until the precious few who knew of this buried treasure decided to finally set these cars free in what RM Sotheby's deemed 'The Lost & Found Collection.'  With some incredibly captivating backstories, these 20 Ferraris were expected to bring in a king's ransom, and no one could have predicted that this collection would bring in enough to buy the whole kingdom.

Read more
UAW Strike cripples the Big Three – GM, Ford, and Stellantis productions grinds to halt
UAW members striking

Over 10,000 automotive workers have walked off the job as the United Auto Workers union begins strike action in Detroit. The UAW strike directly concern three of the world's biggest vehicle manufacturers, Ford, GM, and Stellantis - known as "the big three." Unions have christened the action "The Stand Up Strike," calling it "our generation’s answer to the movement that built our union, the Sit-Down Strikes of 1937."

So far, all three companies have offered a 20% pay rise to staff in an attempt to end the strike, but the UAW union has opted to decline that offer. The union organizing the strike has outlined a number of demands, with the main focus centering on a 40% pay increase stretched over four years for all of its 140,000 members. While that pay increase may seem drastic, union bosses claim it is comparable to raises executives have been awarded in recent years. Going forward, the union is demanding pay raises are also tied to inflation, which could see an equally significant increase in workers' pay rates going  forwards if recent inflation trends continue. Other demands include limits on how long staff can be categorized as temporary workers and denied union benefits, and the establishment of a four-day working week.

Read more
The Tesla Cybertruck is still a complete mess, not production-ready (and won’t be any time soon) says Musk
The long wait for the Tesla Cybertruck continues
Tesla Cybertruck parked indoors in front of a black wall with headlights and taillights on.

When it was announced back in 2019, the Tesla Cybertruck promised an awful lot. It was going to have more towing capacity than anything a 7-liter diesel engine could hope to produce. Its windows were bulletproof. Its 0-60 times would put most historic supercars to shame. And it would be all yours for less than $40,000.

Now, four years on and over two years past the original intended production date, many people are wondering what happened. One of those people seems to be Tesla CEO and self-professed Twit Elon Musk.

Read more