Rolls-Royce Ghost adds a bit more spirit

Rolls-Royce’s most affordable corporate express, the BMW 7 Series-based Ghost limousine, has had a subtle makeover boasting enough changes to warrant a new model designation.

The Ghost Series II – as the fresh nosed, more comfortably kitted four-seater will be known when it arrives in Australia late this year – also includes a number of mechanical changes to make it quieter, with sharper performance should the need ever arise.

The new Ghost was unveiled in Geneva this week. Rolls-Royce has tinkered conservatively, altering the LED headlights slightly, framing them in daytime running lights.

There’s also a new tapered stripe (called a wake channel) that runs back from the Spirit of Ecstasy statuette gracing the top of the Parthenon grille which defines the brand. According to the British über-luxury marque, it represents the wake of a boat or the vapour trail from a jet engine.

The Ghost’s facia has been altered slightly, feeding more air into the front brakes, and adding chrome features that give an impression of width, while the ‘waft line’ (a crease running along the door skins, just above the rocker panel) has a slightly more rakish angle than before. It gives the suggestion that if Sir really wanted, Sir could tap the full 420kW and 780Nm from the 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12 resting unchanged under the bonnet.

Cossetting owners who prefer to sit in the back, new hydraulic rear axle bearings have made the cabin even quieter, while redesigned front and rear struts and changed dampers help with cornering.

The Ghost Series II chauffeur also gains more feedback from the front wheels via a thicker steering wheel.

The front seats now include adjustable thigh support, while the rear pews can tilt slightly towards each other, and incline independently.