Last time we saw the new generation
Rolls-Royce Ghost out in the open, it took a break from testing as New Year’s
Eve was only a few hours away. Now, there’s nothing stopping the company’s
engineers from fine-tuning everything and creating what will be a more British
luxury sedan than its predecessor.
While the outgoing Ghost rides on the same
platform as the previous BMW 7-Series, the new one will transition to the
aluminum underpinnings of the latest Phantom, a move that will be mirrored by
the next Wraith and Dawn as well.
The architecture might be electrified,
probably with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, although a zero-emission model is
not entirely ruled out either. Meanwhile the regular variant of the Ghost,
which is expected to use the 6.75-liter twin-turbo V12 found in its larger
sibling, developing 571 PS and 900 Nm of torque
and paired to a very clever eight-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel
steering, active roll bars and probably an optional all-wheel drive could be
offered.
On the visual side of things, the new
generation will remain pretty close to the outgoing model. New elements at the
front and rear will include new lights, bumpers and the characteristic imposing
grille that looks to be larger than before.
Inside, it mimics the look of the
Cullinan, with similar dashboard layout, steering wheel, positioning of the
infotainment screen and air vents, and a few other things. The rotary dial
controls the infotainment system and other features of the car. The new Ghost
is expected to premiere in 2021, 12 years after the first one entered
production.