Rolls-Royce Ghost II: ‘An Oasis of calm’ arrives later this year

TORSTEN MULLER-OTVOS, CEO of Rolls-Royce, described the Ghost Series II, unveiled in Geneva this year, as “an oasis of calm in a frenetic business world.”
It took the company four years to facelift its Ghost model, launched first in 2010, and even then the updates were discreet and minor.
The company, however, paid special attention to the technology available inside the car, which is industry-leading and innovative.
The Ghost II arrives in the markets towards the end of 2014 priced at a quarter of a million dollars.
Subtle changes of exterior design include re-sculpted LED headlights encircled by daytime running lights, which lend Ghost Series II a more dynamic visual signature and blend perfectly with revised surface treatments to the front of the car.
A tapered ‘wake channel’ on the bonnet, emanating from the Spirit of Ecstasy, evokes the sight of a jet’s vapor trail or wake of a fast luxury yacht and hints at the car’s dynamism.
Subtle re-sculpting of Ghost’s bumpers creates a stronger stance and a sense of extra width and height, while the contemporary aesthetic is further enhanced with the addition of chrome inserts to the front air intakes, which now feed more air cooling to the front brakes.
In addition, the famous waft line has been re-designed on Ghost Series II to lean further forwards emphasizing the car’s dynamism.
Inside, the Ghost II delivers the ultimate contemporary combination of luxury and technology.
Ghost Series II’s onboard technology ensures it is an oasis of calm in a busy, connected world where an entrepreneur can do business in peace.
Its suite of technologies ensures that both business and leisure time in the car are a super-luxurious effortless experience.
On-board Wi-Fi makes Ghost Series II the most connected, place in which to conduct business on the move, whilst Satellite Aided Transmission (SAT), debuted in Wraith last year, enhances the car’s dynamism — ensuring the car automatically adapts to the car surroundings ensuring a smoother drive.
Updates to navigation systems and the car-user interface ensures accessing Ghost’s features remains an effortless experience, while optional Bespoke Audio – the most exhaustively engineered in automotive history — brings new levels of aural satisfaction to passengers.
The essentials remain the same. The Ghost is powered by a 6.6-liter, twin-turbocharged V-12, which produces 563 HP. This powerhouse, based on the BMW 760i's 6.0-liter V-12, is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. On the Ghost, this gearbox is "satellite aided" in order to predict the driver's next moves and shift or hold gears accordingly. Eight speeds mean a lot of shifting, and the process is quick and almost seamless. When prompted, the pre-refresh version of the rear-wheel-drive sedan sprints to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, and it tops out at an electronically limited 155 MPH.
The Ghost Series II does not only have a revised suspension, it can also be ordered with a "Dynamic Driving Package," which seems to have achieved a very difficult balance. Rolls-Royce claims that it "offers a more involving driving experience with no compromise to ride quality."
The Ghost Series II also benefits from the latest telematics and infotainment systems offered in the BMW lineup.
It understands simple commands, such as "go to" or "call," and it allows data entry by means of a touch pad.
The commands work in many languages including Mandarin. Rolls-Royce has also updated the cabin with more chrome around the instruments, a new seating structure, and a redesigned iDrive controller, now called "Spirit of Ecstasy Rotary Controller,” with an integrated emblem.
The instrumentation gains some chrome as well.
Among the most impressive features are the headlights, which perform better than the outgoing units and default to high beam, dimming only when there is oncoming traffic.