Rolls-Royce Ghost Review
The new Rolls-Royce Ghost is the embodiment of the company's 'post opulence' design philosophy, a triumph of unrivalled craftsmanship and exquisite materials over superfluous detailing, of minimalistic opulence over perceived luxury.
Although ‘post opulence’ is a term only recently coined by Rolls-Royce in launching the new Ghost, it is actually a design philosophy that permeates every model launched since the company’s rejuvenation in 2003.
The concept, pure and simple, of designing a car of such intrinsic quality and craftsmanship, that superfluous detailing is rendered redundant. Indeed, creating such minimalistic purity of design is not only more challenging than the alternative, but also significantly more expensive to achieve.
Furthermore, quality of materials aside, the finer ingredients which create this unrivalled illusion of luxury are not immediately obvious to the untrained eye. A seemingly undefinable aura of opulence surrounds the new Rolls-Royce Ghost, but look closely and the secrets of this mystical formula become clear.
The new Ghost appears incredibly minimalistic and sharp in its exterior design, with a freshness and ‘hewn-from-granite’ appearance that is actually largely attributable to the fact that in a nod to its post opulence philosophy, there are very few panel shut-lines.
To achieve this, hand-welding artisan metalwork techniques are used to create a seemingly fluid metal surface. Hence, rather than adorning its exterior with fussy detailing often used by car manufacturers to create a false perception of luxury, Rolls-Royce have instead chosen the more opulent, minimalistic and significantly more challenging and expensive route to create a cleaner, more imposing and striking design.
The bonnet too is devoid of the traditional shut-line at the top of the radiator grille, giving the impression that the Spirit of Ecstasy is poised to take flight from a fluid expanse of paintwork so highly polished that its reflection resembles the water of a tranquil lake. Botticelli’s Renaissance masterpiece, The Birth of Venus, comes to mind.
Like Leonardo DaVinci’s sfumato painting technique, the new Rolls-Royce Ghost deploys light and shadow to extraordinary effect inside and out. This is perhaps best illustrated by the new LED-backlit radiator grille, a first for Rolls-Royce.
LEDs recessed at the top of the grille illuminate the vertical metal fins, and to ensure that the overall effect is appropriately subtle, the rear of each radiator fin is brushed to diffuse the light and thereby create a glowing illusion rather than an overly dazzling effect. The Spirit of Ecstasy is also gently up-lit using LEDs recessed in the base.
Opening the hallmark Rolls-Royce coach-doors reveals the sumptuously luxurious interior, the subtle waft of extraordinarily high quality leather adding to the wow-factor of the one of the most elegant and undoubtedly beautifully finished car interiors in the world.
Again, post opulence reigns supreme. Rather than adorn the new Ghost interior with overly quilted leather and fussy details, smooth surfaces and clean lines are the order of the day, punctuated by subtle frosted-green art-deco inlays within the door handles and lighting surrounds.
All of the metal brightwork, from the organ stop controls to the wonderfully cold-to-the-touch solid metal air vents twinkle in the sunlight. The massaging seats are the softest and most comfortable you will ever sit in, while innovative new features such as the electrically opening as well as automatically closing doors create an unrivalled sense of occasion and luxury.
Lighting is used equally effectively inside the new Rolls-Royce Ghost to enhance the ambience of the car’s interior. Rolls-Royce’s quest for constant innovation is immediately apparent in the starlit headliner which now features shooting stars which dart randomly across the leather headliner, while the company’s latest show-piece is the Ghost’s illuminated dash fascia.
Surrounded by 850 stars, the illuminated GHOST name glows in crystal clear 2mm lettering, the stars creating a twinkling illusion which perfectly complements the starlit headliner. It would have been considerably less effort for Rolls-Royce to leave the stars visible in the daylight, however in a nod to its post opulence philosophy, signifiant innovation and engineering development was employed using different materials and dark-tinted layers of lacquer so as during daylight hours, the stars are completely invisible, leaving a clear black surface which blends seamlessly into the piano-black dashboard.
It is no surprise that the Rolls-Royce Ghost’s ride-comfort and silence on the move is unparalleled, but the effort invested to achieve this remarkable feat is astonishing. Having removed all sound, even the subtle frequencies generated by air swirling through the vents or from the empty rear boot compartment, Rolls-Royce produced a ride so silent that is was actually disconcerting for passengers. Hence a single frequency note expertly developed to harmoniously resonate with the sound waves generated by the car’s components was developed to ensure that the ride is as silent and comfortable as practically possible.
Such tranquil and opulent surroundings are of course the perfect environment to experience the company’s latest 1300W bespoke audio system, which employs sub-woofers in the car’s sills, and no less than 18 speakers to create extraordinary sound quality.
The new Rolls-Royce Ghost is also more dynamic to drive than its predecessor thanks to new features such as four-wheel steering, and a new Planar Suspension System. The latter combines Rolls-Royce’s ‘Flagbearer’ suspension system whereby cameras analyse the road surface up-ahead to prepare the suspension for impact, with a world first, namely upper wishbone dampers above the front suspension to elevate ride comfort to the next level.
Brisk acceleration from 0-60 mph in a remarkable 4.6 seconds is possible thanks to a 563 bhp twin-turbocharged 6.75 litre V12 engine producing 850 NM of torque from only 1,600 rpm. The fact that such performance is possible in a car weighing almost 2.5 tonnes is astounding.
The new Rolls-Royce Ghost is hence not only the embodiment of its post-opulence design philosophy, but also the most technologically advanced model in the company’s current range. It is also one of the most important, as the forthcoming Wraith and Dawn models, if past precedent is observed, will benefit from the Ghost’s innovative new features, technology and sharp, fresh design language. Rolls-Royce’s future is as bright as the Ghost’s illuminated grille!
Review by Robert Kierans (robertkierans@hotmail.com)
Photography by Dennis Keane: denniskeane.myportfolio.com
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Comments (6)
that is simply stunning
I want mine in that spec but with different rims
This is probably my favorite modern Rolls
I simply adore this car.
Well that would certainly be sufficient for me
😍🥰😘 This is like a classy broad, like Lauren Bacall, not one of those pretty but fake chicks with fake boobs.