2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost: British Driving Machine
By Brian Armstead 

During a recent test drive of the Rolls-Royce Ghost, I constantly felt like another “Spirit” was with me. Could it have been the Silver Spirit model produced from 1980-1998? Or, was it the “Shadow” of the original Roll-Royce Silver Ghost, now pegged as the world’s most valuable automobile? Ghost, Shadow, and Spirit — all former Rolls-Royce model names — evoke a presence. And the new Rolls-Royce Ghost certainly has it.

 Let’s start under the hood, where the traditional British 6.75-liter V12 motor has been ditched for a 6.6-liter unit derived from the 6.0-liter V12 found in the BMW 760. The 48-valve engine features variable valve timing and direct injection, and outputs a massive 563 horsepower and an equally impressive 575 pound-feet of torque. The engine also features dual turbochargers and moves the Ghost forward with alacrity. Zero to 60 miles per hour comes up in a Ferrari-like 4.7 seconds. Less than five seconds in a nearly 5,500 pound car? Ghostly indeed. 

 But what about traditional British luxury? All there and then some. 

 My test vehicle was finished in Metropolitan Blue, with Seashell leather and Wenge veneers (optional). For some reason, I expected a letdown of sorts in the Ghost interior when compared to the Phantom, the ruling king of luxury. After all, a full tilt Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead (convertible) can set you back a half million dollars. But at $245,000 base, and $295,875 as tested,  the Ghost carves out its own space by providing a full palette of luxury, all within a very reasonable cost for a motorcar that still features the hand-built craftsmanship that made Rolls-Royce famous.

 On the road, the driver’s position is commanding, with great outward views front, side and rear. The navigation system can be viewed on the center console screen, and you can also get turn-by-turn directions via the optional Head Up Display unit. 

 Moving to the center stack, the Ghost features a version of the BMW iDrive system, yet it seems far more intuitive. A total of seven cameras can be outfitted to your vehicle, with five viewed on the center screen. The center screen can be hidden behind a beautiful veneer panel should you want a less intrusive driving experience.

Below the center screen is an array of eight programmable buttons. At first glance, these handsome, crystal-like buttons resemble the presets for your radio stations. In fact, while they can serve in that capacity, they can be programmed as direct access buttons for your favorite features. For example, button one was programmed by the Rolls-Royce PR team to help me find my way back to the hotel that served as the base of operations during my test drive. Button two was programmed to provide direct access to control whether I wanted my “Spirit of Ecstasy” hood ornament to rise or lower automatically or manually to prevent theft or car wash damage. Finally, a 16-speaker Lexicon audio system provided the mandatory concert hall listening experience. The system features 16 speakers (with subwoofers), 10 channels and 600 watts of power. Of course, iPod integration, satellite radio and Bluetooth are standard equipment.

The 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost is a very complete driving machine. I never thought I would ever use the term “driving machine” to describe time spent in a Roller, but times have changed and Rolls-Royce has adapted. I don’t see this car as a cheap Phantom. I see it as a driver’s Phantom at a much more desirable pricepoint.   AT