Under the black shroud that covers its features, the Rolls Royce Ghost could be any other luxury car, the shape sleek and the wheelbase lengthy. But when the silken material slowly comes off to reveal the pristine white vehicle underneath, its proportions seem to increase. It is, pardon the pun, white as a ghost, and it is very imposing indeed.
Dubbed the Ghost Series II, this is the second iteration of the vehicle by the British carmaker, and it comes a full five years after the original was introduced back in 2009 (barring a slew of different editions that came out in this period). The car, which was officially launched late last year, was showcased in Kochi recently for the benefit of local buyers.
The changes to the exterior are minimal, the most prominent being the slightly redesigned headlamp, which widens out towards the edge and is framed by LED daytime running lights. The bumpers are also given some sculpting, the air intakes are raised slightly and given chrome accents. But then, this is Rolls Royce, and occupying pride of place at the front of the bonnet is the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy, which slides up from underneath the bonnet in a sleek fluid movement. The Series II features what Rolls Royce call the ‘wake channel’, a thin widening crease that stretches from just behind the Spirit of Ecstasy’s wings all the way to the windshield, meant to emulate the vapour trail left by aircraft. An extended character line on the side (called the waft line), revised tail lamps and new paint and wheel options (the car on display came with black callipers, gunmetal alloys, and the optional 21-inch wheels) complete the package. This is a massive car, and it takes a while to get used to its proportions. The wake channel and extra chrome add a little character to its façade, though the white paint shade does not do the design justice.
Step into the interior, and it is immediately apparent this is a car meant for the well-heeled, literally. The lamb’s wool carpets are probably softer than your bedroom mattress, but this is not a cabin you want to track the slush from your monsoon walk into. Ingress and egress are easy, all seats feature electronic height, headrest and backrest adjust, with the front seats getting adjustable thigh support as well. Interior customisation purists now have the option of Paldao and Walnut Burr cross bands on the dashboard, and fit and finish, as expected, is exquisite. Whether it is wood or metal, quality is top notch, and everything from the coach doors to the air conditioning dials to the steering moves with almost no mechanical resistance.
The Series II retains the 6.6 litre V12 engine that produces 563bhp and 780Nm of torque, making the new edition a mostly cosmetic upgrade barring some suspension improvements to ensure the car’s high ‘wafting’ standards are maintained. The gearbox is an eight-speed satellite-aided unit, capable of using satellite data to scan the terrain ahead and select gears accordingly.
Ask about pricing, and the staff on hand smile and give you an analogy about the limitless customisation making purchasing a Ghost akin to building a bungalow. And that is pretty much what it is, a large stately bungalow on wheels that is for most people, simply impractical. But for those with enormous bank accounts and a craving for the exotic, this is a car that will surely leave its own wake channel on our roads.
