Eight months after its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show, the new Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II has been unveiled at Rolls-Royce Kuala Lumpur's new Quill Provenance Cars pre-owned showroom in Damansara earlier today, nearly five years after the original made the scene. The refreshed "baby Rolls" gets a subtle but extensive makeover both inside and out.
The nip-and-tuck starts with a resculpted front bumper, with the signature Rolls-Royce grille made taller. Also new are the full-LED headlights, featuring a slimmer, kinked shape and daytime running lights around the border, while on the bonnet is a new "wake channel" that flows behind the Spirit of Ecstasy.
Further back, the wheel arches can be filled by larger 21-inch wheel options, while the "waft" line on the lower rocker has a more relaxed angle, giving the Series II a more dynamic profile.
Inside, the driver and front passenger sit on redesigned seats with electrically-adjustable thigh supports and depth adjustment, while the rear pews have been angled slightly inward for better passenger communication. The clock and the instrument gauges have also been refaced with matte chrome centres, dimensional chrome surrounds and polished metal chaplets which have been inspired by watches.
Some new electronic toys have been introduced as well, including an improved voice control system (which, like on newer BMWs, can understand full sentences rather than just two-word commands), an iDrive-like touch-sensitive Spirit of Ecstacy controller and an optional 18-speaker Bespoke Audio System that uses the roof for extra resonance. The Night Vision system can also now detect animals in addition to pedestrians.
Peeking under the bonnet, you'll find the 6.6 litre twin-turbo V12, unchanged from before and producing 563 hp at 5,250 rpm and 780 Nm at 1,500 rpm. Mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, the Ghost sweeps to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds (5.0 seconds for the extended wheelbase variant), before nudging the electronic governor at 250 km/h.
New to the Ghost is the Wraith's Satellite Aided Transmission (SAT) function – which predicts gear changes to suit upcoming corners based on GPS data – as well as hydraulic rear-axle bearings that improve ride quality, stability and refinement, particularly on the larger wheels. Opting for the Dynamic Driving Package, on the other hand, adds redesigned struts, new steering gear and adjusted dampers for better handling.
Meanwhile, the Bespoke personalisation service has been expanded with new paint finishes, wheel options, extended natural grain leather on the A- and C-pillars and a couple of new veneer choices – Paldao and Walnut Burr Crossband.
The price? That was not mentioned, but seeing as the original Ghost would set you back RM2.6 million before options, we reckon the new, improved Series II won't exactly be cheap...
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