ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST SERIES II
Slap-bang in the middle of SA’s richest quarter mile is the Daytona Group, a hub of automotive excellence, a fitting venue to show off the new Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II to the motoring press. The Ghost Series II carries with it the same air of sophistication as other offerings from the exclusive Rolls-Royce brand. The original Ghost, launched in 2009, reinvigorated the brand and attracted a new generation of clients into the Rolls-Royce fold. Not your normal clients, Captains of Industry, people who shape economies.
“Today, in answer to our clients’ demands for the best in effortless dynamism, modern luxury and industry-leading technology, clothed in a discreetly updated design that protects the iconic character of a Rolls-Royce, we proudly introduce Ghost Series II – an oasis of calm in a frenetic business world” comments Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. The Ghost Series II offers the latest technological advances to the growing base of highly successful Rolls Royce customers, consolidating Ghost’s position as the most popular car in the $250,000+ class and a cornerstone of Rolls-Royce’s success.
In Ghost Series II there have been a number of changes both inside and out. At first glance the Ghosts seem rather similar, but a close look reveals many changes. You can’t help but notice the headlights, now an unbroken daytime running light that frames a new, more dynamic shape. On the bonnet we find a tapered ‘wake channel’ emanating from the Spirit of Ecstasy’s wings. New bumpers trick the eye into seeing a wider, higher car with a stringer stance. Chrome inserts were added to the air intakes accentuating them and the function they perform. A defining visual cue on a Rolls-Royce is the famous waft line, which has now been re-designed to lean further forwards. Together with the standard 19-inch (or optional 21”) forged wheels, the Ghost II retains its imposing presence.
The interior is more like a luxury office than mode of transport. There are redesigned seats in the front and rear that offer more support and comfort. The rear has a ‘Lounge seat’ configuration – the seats are gently angled towards each other to create a more intimate setting and allowing passengers to communicate more easily. All are finished in natural grain leather. The trim and finishes have all been changed, as too has the instrumentation. Two new veneers Paldao and Walnut Burr Crossband are now available.
There’s tech, and plenty of it. Mainly accessed through a one-touch call button or the Spirit of Ecstasy Rotary Controller, on-board Wi-Fi facilitates email, file sharing, telephony and video-conferencing. Navigation is accessed by the same call button and is voice controlled, as too are many of the other functions. Then there’s Bespoke Audio; “the most exhaustively designed automotive hi-fi system ever developed” with 18 individually tuned speakers spread in key locations throughout the cabin. There’s also Satellite Aided Transmission that uses
GPS data to anticipate the car’s next move based on location and driving style and then selects the most appropriate gear to ensure the driver is able to appropriately exploit the power from the Rolls-Royce 6.6 litre twin-turbo V12.
Even the handling has seen some tweaks with some redesigned underpinnings, which give the sizable car a nimbleness that is hard to believe. It’s fast, the performance is mind-boggling when you consider The Rolls-Royce is nigh on 18ft long and weighs in at just shy of 2.5 tons, yet it will hit 100km/h in 5-seconds flat and is electronically limited to 250km/h on top. 563hp and a massive 780Nm is responsible for this performance.
The total package? In the cool R7mil range. – CHRIS WALL
The Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II can now be ordered from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Sandton, the sole dealer of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in South Africa.
