Rolls-Royce has taken the covers off the Ghost Series II, which is being pitched as “the most advanced, driver-focused V12 Rolls-Royce ever created”.
The “subtle evolution” of the exclusive marque’s ‘entry level’ nameplate receives revised lighting units and bumper designs front and rear, as well as “new chrome embellishments” on the lower part of the front end to “form a ‘floating’ visual plinth for the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot”.
Rolls-Royce also says the new tail lights with vertical light panels are inspired by the new, all-electric Spectre. A pair of new 22-inch nine-spoke alloy wheel designs available, too.
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Debuting on the Ghost Series II is a new exterior paint finish, which joins the existing range of “more than 44,000 prêt-à-porter hues and Bespoke colour service”.
Named Mustique Blue, the metallic finish is claimed to “capture the hues and glamour of the Caribbean island it is named after, using glass and mica flakes to create a shimmer that evokes sunlight reflecting from a tropical sea”.
The new paint also acknowledges “one of the earliest driver-focused Rolls-Royces” which was finished in a similar blue: a 1929 Phantom II Continental prototype, which was created for Henry Royce himself and was “one of the first motor cars in history to use pearlescent paint”, according to the marque.
Back then, the pearlescent effect was created using ground fish scales – the more you know.
Inside, there’s a new pillar-to-pillar glass panel housing what Rolls-Royce calls the Central Information Display running the marque’s latest operating system.
Beyond the usual Bespoke capabilities around colour and trim, the new interface allows buyers to commission their own colours for the digital instrument dials to complement the interior palette or exterior finsih.
It also offers connected services – dubbed Whispers – accessible via a smartphone app and facilitating remote functions. These include the ability to remotely view the vehicle’s location, lock or unlock it, and send a navigation destination to it.
Further, Rolls-Royce says entertainment and connectivity have been “significantly upgraded”. Rear-seat passengers can now connect up to two streaming devices to the rear screens and stream independently on each screen.
The rear displays are running a newly developed interface which can also manage functions like massage, heating and cooling functions for the second-row seats.
Bluetooth headphones “of any type” can be paired with the rear entertainment units, with other features including an upgraded WiFi hotspot and USB-C charging ports hidden in the centre console.
Sound is provided by an 18-speaker audio system with upgraded 1400-watt amplifier, which creates what Rolls-Royce calls “the ultimate auditorium for sound reproduction”.
When specified with the signature Starlight Headliner and Bespoke Audio system, the fibre optic cables in the celestial roof design are compressed with a special acoustic membrane to prevent reverberation and channel sound down into the cabin.
Two active microphones in the cabin also “constantly monitor the balance of frequencies and automatically adjust the amplifier to optimise the sound”.
Under the long bonnet of the Ghost is Rolls-Royce’s 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12, which drives all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel steering complements the standard all-wheel drive.
The company hasn’t detailed any changes to power and torque, indicating the outgoing model’s 420kW and 850Nm outputs likely carry over. Peak torque is available from 1600rpm – 600rpm above idle.
Fuel consumption is rated at 15.7-15.3L/100km on the combined WLTP cycle depending on configuration, with CO2 emissions quoted at 357-346g/km for the ‘standard’ model.
The Ghost Extended Series II ups those marginally to 15.8-15.3L/100km and 358-348g/km respectively.
An Upper Wishbone Damper unit above the front suspension assembly forms part of the Planar Suspension System, working with the continuously variable electronically controlled shock absorbers and self-levelling air suspension to deliver the marque’s hallmark ‘magic carpet ride’.
The Ghost Series II’s Flagbearer System uses camera sensors to read the road surface ahead of the vehicle and prime the suspension for any changes in the road surface. Another tech headline is the Satellite Aided Transmission system, which uses GPS data to select the optimum gear for exiting a corner using the extent of its curvature.
Then there’s the new Black Badge, which has its own take on the Series II formula and dials up the aggression through added performance and enhanced driver engagement.
Dubbed “the most agile, driver-focused and technical Black Badge Rolls-Royce ever,” the Black Badge Ghost Series II gets unique tuning for the Planar Suspension System and brake pedal calibration.
It also gets 29PS (21kW) more power and 50Nm more torque than the standard Ghost, with the additional ‘Low’ button bringing a 50 per cent increase in gearshift speeds when the throttle is depressed to 90 per cent.
Rolls-Royce also touts a “subtly more voluble note” from the exhaust system as well to “dramatise, but never compromise the effortless Rolls-Royce driving experience”.
Style-wise the Black Badge gets blackened accents and 22-inch part-polished forged alloy wheels; a black chrome finish for the new Clock Cabinet; as well as a Technical Carbon interior surface finish.
The latter boasts a diamond-shaped weave using carbon and metallic weave over a black Bolivar wood base. These carbon leaves leaves metal-coated thread are woven in by hand in a diamond pattern which creates a three-dimensional effect.
As you can expect from such a customisable high-end product, a range of materials and trims are available to further personalise your Black Badge Ghost Series II.
Base pricing for the Ghost Series II range hasn’t been detailed for Australia as yet, though the configurable nature of these vehicles mean the base ticket is rarely indicative of transaction pricing.
For reference, the outgoing Ghost started from $645,000 for the standard wheelbase and $744,400 for the Extended, all before on-road costs and options. The Black Badge, meanwhile, started from $750,000.
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