We drive the Rolls Royce Ghost!

Rolls Royce today held an event for members of the media to experience a drive on their newest model, the Ghost. And we jumped at the chance!

But before we jump into the drive, here’s a bit of history. The legendary Silver Ghost launched in 1907, and from which the current avatar derives its name, was often hailed as the best four wheels in the world and was an instant hit with the rich and the famous. The new Rolls Royce Ghost aims to carry forward the legacy of the iconic model.

According to RR, the Ghost is a little less formal than the Phantom (really?!) and is more of an everyday car with a far sportier and dynamic driving experience. From the outside, the baby Rolls does intimidate you (like any ghost would), but step inside, and it instantly swaddles you in its luxurious cocoon.

Rolls Royce Ghost video

The Ghost boasts a host of gadgetry and safety systems (a 600 watt, 16-speaker audio system, two 9.2-inch LCD screens, heads-up display, lane-departure warning, parking cameras…the list goes on) and it still has many of the traditional touches like the analogue clock, violin-key switches, white dials and door-mounted umbrella. Overall, the car is around 400 mm shorter than the Phantom, but inside the difference in space is hardly palpable. For a change, we got into the rear seats first and then something really cool happened—the rear doors closed electronically at the touch of a button!

While the event was held at the sprawling Jaypee Greens complex in Greater Noida (close to upcoming F1 race track), we were a tad disappointed by the actual spot itself where the drive was conducted—a kilometer-long strip that was cordoned off and strewn in with cones to demonstrate the car’s handling and maneuverability.

After a quick demo by a specialist driver that Rolls had specially flown in, it was finally time for us to get behind the wheel. The Ghost is powered by a new 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12 engine that develops a whopping 563 bhp. But what’s more exciting is the 780 Nm of torque that kicks in as low as 1,500 rpm! I decided to push the pedal gently fearing the underlying fury of the engine. But the Ghost is no roadster. This is a Rolls and it goes about business ever so gracefully and poised. The needle shot past a mere 110 kmph before we ran out of road. But to cross the 100 kmph mark, it took only 5 seconds (the official figures are 4.9 seconds)! And while inside, the cabin isolated much of the noise, The Ghost did make a few growling and grunting sounds indicating its sporty character.

The drive continued with the other journalists taking turns to get on the driver’s seat and us getting behind (which actually was more fun). We were on the Ghost for only 20 minutes but we came back from the drive completely possessed!

Rolls Royce Ghost technical specifications

Number of doors / seats	–	4 / 5
Vehicle length (unladen)	mm	5399
Vehicle width (unladen)	mm	1948
Vehicle height (unladen)	mm	1550
Wheelbase	mm	3295
Turning circle	m	13.4
Overhang front	mm	867.5
Overhang rear	mm	1236.5
Track width front	mm	1622
Track width rear	mm	1660
Shoulder room front	mm	1510
Shoulder room rear	mm	1418
Elbow room front	mm	1540
Elbow room rear	mm	1448
Max headroom front	mm	1030
Max headroom rear	mm	990
Effective headroom front with sunroof	mm	995
Effective headroom rear with sunroof	mm	975
Ground clearance (unladen)	mm	150
Width including mirrors	mm	2108
Luggage compartment capacity (ISO3832)	ltr	490
Fuel tank capacity	ltr	82.5
Unladen weight (DIN / (EU)	kg	2360 / 2435
Axle load ratio, rear (unladen)	%	48.2
Gross axle weight /max payload	kg	2940 / 580
Axle payload limit front / rear	kg	1445 / 1575
Engine type / Cylinders / valves	–	V / 12 / 48
Fuel management	–	Direct injection
Engine injector set-up / Aspiration		DI(VVT)/ twin turbo
Displacement	cm3	6592
Stroke / Bore	mm	88.3 / 89.0
Power output @ engine speed	bhp / kW (PS)/min-1	563 / 420 (570) / 5250
Max torque @ engine speed	lb/ft / Nm/min-1	575 / 780 / 1500
Compression ratio / fuel type	–	10.0 / Super unleaded*
Transmission type	–	8 speed automatic
Transmission ratios 1st/2nd/3rd/4th	–	4.717 / 3.143 / 2.106 / 1.667
Transmission ratios 5th/6th/7th/8th	–	1.285 / 1.000 / 0.839 / 0.667
Transmission ratio reverse gear	–	3.317
Final drive ratio	–	2.813
Steering / Total	–	Hydraulic rack and pinion 19.9
Steering wheel revolutions lock to lock		3.1
Brakes front /diameter x thickness	– / mm	Ventilated discs / 410×36
Brakes rear /diameter x thickness	– / mm	Ventilated discs / 402×30
Drag co-efficient cd / A / cd x A	– / m2 / m2	0.33 / 2.60 / 0.863
Top speed	mph / km/h	155 / 250
Acceleration 0-60 mph / 0-100km/h	s	4.7 / 4.9
1km from standing start	s	23.1
Power to weight (DIN-Unladen weight)	kg/kW	5.6
Power per litre	kW/ltr	63.7
Consumption urban (EU)	ltr/100km	20.5
Consumption extra urban	ltr/100km	9.6
Combined consumption / range	mpg (imp. gal.)/ ltr/100km	20.8  / 13.6
Range	m / km	376 / 605
CO2 Emissions (combined)	g/Km	317
Exhaust emissions standard		EU5
Front tyres	–	255/50 R19 103Y 255/45 R20 101Y
Rear tyres	–	255/50 R19 103Y 285/40 R20 104Y
Front wheels	–	8.5J x 19 EH2 8.5Jx20 EH2
Rear wheels	–	8.5J x 19 EH2 9.5Jx20 EH2
Wheel inset (difference between mounting face and centre of tyre section)	mm	25
Capacity of radiator incl. heating / motor oil	ltr	17.2 / 10.5
Transmission oil / final drive fluid	ltr	Lifetime filling
Battery capacity / location	Ah / –	90 (AGM) / Luggage compartment
Alternator output rating	A / W	210 / 2900

*The engine is designed for Octane 95 fuel

North America

No. of doors / seats	–	4 / 5
Vehicle length	mm / inch	5399 / 212.6
Vehicle width	mm / inch	1948 / 76.7
Vehicle height, unloaded	mm / inch	1550 / 61.0
Wheelbase	mm / inch	3295 / 129.7
Turning circle	m / ft	13.4 / 44.0
Track width front	mm / inch	1622 / 63.9
Track width rear	mm / inch	1660 / 65.4
Width at shoulder height, front	mm / inch	1510 / 59.4
Width at shoulder height, rear	mm / inch	1418 / 55.8
Effective leg room, front	mm / inch	1060 / 41.7
Effective leg room, rear	mm / inch	1075 / 42.3
Effective head room, front	mm / inch	1030 / 40.6
Effective head room, rear	mm / inch	990 / 39.0
Trunk volume	ltr / ft3	490 / 17.3
Trunk volume acc. SAE J1100 method	ft3	14
Approx. tank capacity	ltr / gal	82.5 / 21.8
Curb weight	kg / lbs	2470 / 5445
Axle load ratio, rear (unladen)	%	48.6
Gross vehicle weight	kg / lbs	2940 / 6482
Payload	kg / lbs	460 / 1014
Axle load limit, front	kg / lbs	1445 / 3175
Axle load limit, rear	kg / lbs	1575 / 3472
Engine / No. of cylinders / valves p. cyl.	–	V / 12 / 4
Fuel management	–	Direct injection
Engine injector set-up / Aspiration		DI(VVT)/ twin turbo
Displacement, acc. to ECE Reg.	cm3 / inch3	6592 / 402.3
Stroke	mm / inch	88.3 / 3.48
Bore	mm / inch	89.0 / 3.50
Nom. power output / Eng. speed	SAE hp / min-1	563 (420) / 5250
Max. torque / Engine speed	ft lbs / min-1	575 / 1500
Compression ratio / Fuel type	–	10.0 / Premium unleaded
Transmission type	–	8-speed automatic
Gear ratio   1st / 2nd / 3rd	–	4.717 / 3.143 / 2.106 / 1.667
Gear ratio   4th / 5th / 6th	–	1.285 / 1.000 / 0.839 / 0.667
Reverse gear ratio	–	3.317
Final drive ratio	–	2.81
Steering type	–	Rack and Pinion / 19.9
Brake front / diameter	– / mm / inch	Ventilated disc / 410 / 16.1
Brake rear / diameter	– / mm / inch	Ventilated disc / 402 / 15.8
Drag  cd	–	0.33
Drag  cd x A	m2 / ft2	0.863 / 9.3
Top speed	km/h / mph	250 / 155
Acceleration 0-60mph	s	4.8
Acceleration 0 – 1/4 mile	s	13.2
Acceleration 0-100 km/h (Canada)	s	5.0
Fuel consumption city	ltr/100km / mpg	TBC
Fuel consumption highway	ltr/100km / mpg	TBC
Fuel consumption combined	ltr/100km / mpg	TBC
Approx. range	km / miles	TBC
acc. EPA (fuel economy guide)	city/highway/comb.	TBC
Front tyres	–	255/50 R19 103Y 255/45 R20 101Y
Rear tyres	–	255/50 R19 103Y 285/40 R20 104Y
Front wheels	–	8.5J x 19 EH2 8.5Jx20 EH2
Rear wheels	–	8.5J x 19 EH2 9.5Jx20 EH2
Radiator incl. heater / Engine oil	ltr / quarts	17.2/18.2 / 10.5/11.1
Transmission fluid  / Final drive fluid	ltr / quarts	Life-time
Battery capacity / installed position	Ah / –	90 (AGM)  / luggage compartment
Alternator output rating	A / W	210 / 2900