At the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars unveiled Ghost Series II to the world. Offered in a discreet and considered update of this iconic car's exterior appearance, Ghost Series II offers the latest technological advances to our growing base of highly-successful customers - the Captains of Industry, entrepreneurs and successful business men and women who are the wealth and job creators in our economies - consolidating Ghost's position as the most popular car in the €200,000+ class and a cornerstone of Rolls-Royce's success.
Ghost: Contemporary Rolls-Royce luxury
Since its launch in 2009, Ghost has become the ultimate symbol of success for leading entrepreneurs across the globe. Winning critical media and customer acclaim and driving the company to four consecutive historic sales records, Ghost has led a new, younger generation of highly successful men and women to Rolls-Royce ownership; a key pillar in the marque's highly successful sustainable growth strategy.
Ghost is a thoroughly contemporary representation of Rolls-Royce luxury - perfectly balancing effortless dynamism and modern luxury in a car that is composed under all circumstances. Owners enjoy a quietly assured, exquisitely refined modern motor car with an interior ambiance that offers a sense of calm and serenity in an often frenetic and chaotic business world.
In essence, Ghost is a Rolls-Royce that meets its owner's every need; an exquisitely appointed business tool for the business week and an engaging and effortless driving experience for leisure at the weekend.
The Power of Simplicity
A single defining principle came to characterise the Ghost design process - to harness the power of simplicity. The notion that no complication should ever distract from driver or passenger pleasure, informed every facet of the design and engineering process.
This bold new generation of Rolls-Royce customer seeks a motor car with a silent assurance - a cosseting, super-premium environment in which to conduct business and augment their leisure time. In Ghost Series II, tradition blends perfectly with this bold, contemporary direction.
An uncompromising approach to materials and craftsmanship remained and traditional visual tenets were re-imagined to express the car's modernity and dynamism. For example, the stately presence of Phantom's grille made way for a softer, less formal design - its subtle curvature more akin to a jet air-intake than traditional pantheon facia.
Flowing 'yacht lines' and powerful flanks hint at the car's inherent dynamism, whilst traditional Rolls-Royce DNA is expressed in the elevated prow, large uninterrupted surfaces, long bonnet and short overhang.
Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II - design evolved
Ensuring Ghost remains at the very cutting edge of an ever-changing world is essential to satisfying Rolls-Royce's demanding customers and Ghost Series II proves a showcase for the most recent technological advances from the marque. Clad in a subtle re-design, Ghost Series II ensures the timeless yet modern quality that the marque's customers cherish.
The eye is immediately drawn towards the re-sculpted headlights, with unbroken daytime running lights framing a new, more dynamic shape, giving Ghost Series II a distinct visual signature from the front. This blends perfectly with revised surface treatments to the front of the car. A tapered 'wake channel' on the bonnet, emanating from the Spirit of Ecstasy's wings, evokes the sight of a jet's vapour trail, hinting at the car's dynamism. Subtle re-sculpting of Ghost's bumpers creates a stronger stance and a sense of extra width and height, whilst 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.
One of Rolls-Royce's defining visual signatures is given an enhanced dynamic edge. The famous waft line has be re-designed on Ghost Series II to lean further forwards - with a view to emphasising the car's effortless dynamism.
These features, married with new optional 21" forged wheels and standard 19" wheels, ensure Ghost remains a perfectly executed, contemporary expression of Rolls-Royce luxury.
New surprise and delight features such as the optional monogrammed stainless-steel fuel-filler cap enhance the car's tactile and visual appeal.
Interior comfort and style are enhanced with re-designed seats. Electronically adjustable thigh supports for front seat passengers complement a new seat structure, enhancing Ghost's unchallenged interior comfort levels. A revised rear seat design ensures absolute comfort for those wishing to conduct business or simply relax. In 'lounge seat' configuration, the seats are gently angled towards each other to create a more intimate setting, allowing passengers to communicate more easily.
The seats are available with three-level heating as standard with optional massage function and can be reclined for comfort. Chrome surrounds to the sun visor lights and a new soft-feel dashboard treatment enhance the car's premium tactility, whilst sumptuous natural grain leather can now be optionally extended to the A and C pillars.
The instrument dials and clock have also undergone subtle enhancements with individually applied polished metal chaplets around the dials evoking the precision design of hand-made, luxury wrist watches, whilst the matt chrome centres 'float' in the middle of each instrument.
Finally, the scope for Bespoke customisation is widened with the introduction of two new, exquisitely crafted veneers; Paldao and Walnut Burr Crossband.
Discreet technology for a calm atmosphere
Throughout the marque's storied history, engineers have sought to refine the experience for drivers and occupants by applying the very latest technologies. Ghost Series II is no different, presenting a full suite of the latest technological updates.
On opening the car's coach doors, one is met with a calming, light and uncluttered space. Occupants can work, relax or simply enjoy the pleasure of driving in a cosseting, peaceful atmosphere, assured that they are fully connected to the outside world of business affairs through the car's peerless connectivity suite.
Calmly connected
Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II is the ultimate contemporary combination of luxury, technology and connectivity available to the successful entrepreneur on the move today. It is an oasis of calm in a busy connected world where he or she can do business in peace. It presents the driver and occupants with a comprehensive example of effortless Rolls-Royce connectivity, a network where communication between car, environment and driver helps lower the pulse, ease the journey and delight the occupants.
Key to this is the discreet placement of the car's technological functions. 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. The user is also able to watch televised business news in order to remain ahead of the game. Navigation assistance is summoned by the same one-touch call button. Then by simply saying "Navigate to Piccadilly in London" or wherever else the owner wishes to go, directions that anticipate and avoid unnecessary delays are offered.
Should a delay occur or our owner needs to talk to their business associates, Ghost Series II makes this as effortless as possible with the same one-touch system. The command "Call Giles" automatically connects the call. At the end of the conversation, a command such as "Play Radio" will return the driver directly to the in-car entertainment options.
Information from the significantly updated Multimedia Interface and Navigation system is displayed beautifully on a new 10.25" high definition screen.