For the ultimate in luxury and personalization, few can match a Rolls-Royce and it’s been redesigned for 2021. The British brand has been specializing in comfort for decades, and the latest generation of its Ghost sedan is one of its most successful efforts ever. The car provides what may be the smoothest ride available. Simultaneously, the massive V12 engine allows it to waft along at highway speeds without breaking a sweat. Rolls-Royce works with customers to design the Ghost to exceed their expectations, with bespoke colors and materials available to suit any desire. The Ghost brings a lot of cache and exclusivity with it. Its imposing exterior design looks at home at a black-tie restaurant or carving rural roads in wine country. Bringing together classic motifs and high-end materials, the Rolls-Royce Ghost is a luxury sedan in the purest sense.
Like other Rolls-Royce motorcars, the Ghost is all about convenience, and that starts with the shopping process. One trim level is available, priced from approximately $312,000, and the Ghost includes many hand-built and custom pieces and cutting-edge technology. The cabin is underpinned by a driver-adjustable air suspension with automatic ride control. Exterior features include 19-inch chrome alloy wheels, rain-detecting wipers with heated jets, programmable LED headlights with auto-leveling, reverse-opening rear doors, and a power trunk.
Step inside the Ghost’s plush cabin, and you are welcomed by premium leather upholstery, genuine wood and aluminum, heated and power-reclining front and rear seating rows, cigar lighters, refrigerated storage, and an advanced air filtration system. Passengers also have access to a 16-speaker premium sound system with CD/DVD and satellite radio.
It is hard to quantify the number of options customers have to configure their Ghost. The leather upholstery is available in nearly any color one could imagine, from Anthracite to Pine Green to Blushing Pink. The exterior has a vast array of paint options, too, like Lyrical Copper and Tuscan Sun. Of course, Rolls-Royce allows shoppers to commission bespoke colors for the inside and outside of the car, with unique wheel colors to match. Even the power-operated Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament can be attired in solid silver or gold-plating.
The Shooting Star headliner package includes thousands of meticulously-placed LED lights set into the ceiling, giving the appearance of the nighttime sky.
As for tech amenities, a Rolls-Royce surround-sound system is available, with a full active 18-channel amplifier and 1,300 watts of power. The system comes with 16 loudspeakers, plus two exciters in the headliner. Other highlights include electronically deployable rear-seat monitors for a rear theater experience; a television tuner is available.
Along with the standard list of options, Rolls-Royce works with customers to bring their ideas to life.
The Ghost shares its platform and powertrain with Rolls-Royce’s Dawn convertible and Cullinan SUV. A twin-turbocharged 6.6-liter V12 produces 563 hp and 605 lb-ft of torque, giving the car locomotive-like power that is smooth and feels never-ending. Premium fuel is required, naturally, and the EPA estimates the Ghost should get 12 mpg in the city and 19 mpg highway. Not particularly great figures, but understandable for a full-size sedan weighing nearly three tons.
Many Ghost buyers will likely not sit behind the driver’s wheel themselves, but if they do, they will find it surprisingly engaging. The engine provides quick acceleration, while the 8-speed automatic transmission has near-perfect shifts. New Rolls-Royce vehicles use a double-wishbone and multi-link suspension system similar to that in high-priced sports cars, giving the Ghost great nimbleness when maneuvering traffic and parking areas, plus sporty handling when it is time for some fun.
The Ghost’s interior feels quite similar in design to other modern Rolls-Royce cars, with a blend of the old and new. There are homages paid to classic airliners and the nautical. Expanses of genuine wood and hints of aluminum line the cabin, meticulously integrated by hand into plush leather. The steering wheel, air vents, and driver controls have a distinctly art-deco feel, transporting users back to the Golden Age. Within the dashboard, the driver gets a digital gauge cluster while the front-seat passenger is treated to “The Gallery,” a blank canvas for bespoke customers to integrate their favorite design theme or artwork.
Naturally, there is more than enough space for passengers in each row, with power-reclining seats that slide and move to the desired position. Seat memory settings are located low in the doors, between the aluminum window switches and door stowage bins. There are also centrally-located refrigerated and cooled bins in each row.
The Ghost has a 17.3-cubic-foot trunk that is carpeted and power-controlled.
Overall, the 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost is a luxury sedan with few rivals built by expert craftspeople to deliver the most sumptuous experience possible. The Ghost’s V12 engine propels it with seemingly unlimited power, and the cloud-like ride is uncanny in how smooth and quiet it is. Shoppers can configure the sedan to their heart’s content, with world-class leathers and exotic materials to help create an oasis from traffic and the busyness of the world.
