2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost looks the same, but is all new

Rolls-Royce’s “entry-level” model, the Ghost has always received its fair share of flak for being a “glorified 7-Series” as it rode on the latter’s platform, even when the Ghost exhibited proper Rolls-Royce traits in the way it rode. Rolls-Royce has now decided to kill that discussion by rebuilding the second-generation 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost from the ground up.

While it looks like a simple facelift on the outside, the old BMW bits are all out now. The new Ghost rides on Rolls-Royce’s Architecture of Luxury shared with the bigger Cullinan and Phantom.

Though all-new, the 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost has not drifted that far from the original model’s legendary design. As the carmaker attempts to rebrand themselves with a new logo which aims to reject “superficial expressions of wealth,” the Spirit of Ecstasy bonnet ornament has been moved further ahead, although it is apparently the only part carried over (aside from the door umbrellas). The headlamps slightly sweep upwards reminding us of the Ghost’s bigger brother, the Phantom. The lower air intake on the bumper curls inwards on either side. At the rear, the tail lamps also sweep inwards, a small nod to the Rolls-Royce Sweptail one-off coupe from 2017.

The interior of a “little” Rolls-Royce is where all the business is. Rolls-Royce had started to embrace minimalist designs, as seen in the Cullinan and Phantom. Rolls-Royce says that they have utilised 20 half-hides (that’s cow skin in regular speak) to coat the interior bits, making it properly plush.

There is a very intricate pattern on the dashboard that lights up more than 850 individual “stars” around an illuminated “Ghost” motif. Instead of cramming another screen inside the dashboard, Rolls-Royce chose to etch the lettering and pinpricks into a piano black substrate. This is meant to bring a bit of the oomph from the brand’s Starlight headliner onto the dashboard.

Though the infotainment of the 2021 Ghost runs BMW iDrive, the interface evokes a vintage feel. The screens look adequately sized but RR has not published any numbers. Unlike the recently launched Mercedes Benz S-Class W223, the 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost has not gone overboard with electronics, as they have chosen to retain somewhat its classic-luxury demeanour.

Powering this luxury castle is a 6.8-litre turbo V12 engine, probably for the last time before they introduce some sort of electric motivation. The 2021 Ghost’s engine churns out 563 hp, accompanied by 850 Nm of torque. This can power the sedan from 0 to 100 kph in just over 4.7 seconds. This mill is hooked up to an 8-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel-drive.

With the 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost moving away from the 7-Series underpinnings, Rolls-Royce has put even more emphasis on improving the ride even further. For the first time in the world, a damper is placed on the front upper wishbone, allowing more precise suspension control. This allows the engineers to tune the vehicle for more comfort yet keeping the stability intact. The suspension setup on the 2021 Ghost is an army of sensors and dampeners that take inputs from a road-reading camera that actively gauges the road surface to firm up or soften individual wheels. This prevents unwanted body movements, improving comfort.

The 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost’s pricing starts at slightly less than that of the Cullinan SUV. With options loaded, it should comfortably surpass the far “cheaper” Bentley Flying Spur.

Keep track of UAE/GCC prices in the Rolls-Royce buyer guide.