Next-gen Rolls-Royce Ghost to debut later this year

Next-gen Ghost to feature minimalist design elements.

Published On Jul 27, 2020 04:03:00 PM

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Next-gen Rolls-Royce Ghost to debut later this year

Next-gen Ghost to feature an evolutionary design, inside-out
To be powered by a 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12
India launch could take place sometime next year

Rolls-Royce is set to reveal the second-generation Ghost digitally in the autumn (September-December) of 2020. The company is currently putting the finishing touches to the all-new luxury sedan.

How will the new Ghost look like?

The new Ghost is expected to get an evolutionary design language, much like the current Phantom. The second-gen Ghost will retain elements such as the rear-hinged rear doors and prominent grille, while bringing in more modern touches such as ‘laser’ headlights and full-LED tail-lamps.

On the inside, the new Ghost will have a design that is similar to the new Phantom and Cullinan – the digital instrument cluster will be flanked by a new, larger central infotainment screen, which in turn will be flanked by a clock. The air-con vents and other control surfaces will be placed lower on the centre console.

What has Rolls Royce officially announced about the new Ghost?

In a recent open letter to prospective customers, Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös revealed that the second-gen Ghost would be “the purest expression of Rolls-Royce yet” with a design to reflect a new trend towards minimalism.

He revealed that the company’s research had indicated that luxury car buyers in this segment were showing increased preferences for minimalist designs and that the new Ghost would reflect this.

“Ghost is the purest expression of Rolls-Royce yet. It distils the pillars of our brand into a beautiful, minimalist, yet highly complex product that is perfectly in harmony with our Ghost clients’ needs and, I believe, perfectly in tune with the times in which we are all living,” wrote Müller-Otvös.

What about the next-gen Ghost’s underpinnings?

The new Ghost will sit on a new, bespoke platform unlike its predecessor that shared its steel monocoque chassis with the BMW 7 Series. The move is expected to make the new Ghost lighter and stiffer than the outgoing model, though the company is likely to offset the reduction in weight with an increase in tech, equipment and insulation.

What will power the new Ghost?

As with its predecessor, the new Ghost will be powered by a 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12 – which is also featured in the BMW M760Li. The unit is expected to be paired with a new 8-speed automatic gearbox, with four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering also likely to be offered.

Additionally, the new Ghost is also expected to feature a 48V electrical architecture, along with tech such as active roll bars.

What will the new Ghost rival and when will it come to India?

The new Ghost could make its way to India sometime in the future; the first-gen model has been on sale here for almost a decade. The new Ghost will rival the likes of the all-new Bentley Flying Spur and the next-gen of Mercedes-Maybach’s range of sedans, which are set to be unveiled sometime next year.

Also see:

Rolls-Royce Dawn Silver Bullet roadster revealed

Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge launched at Rs 8.20 crore

Rolls-Royce records highest yearly sales in 2019