Luxury is the product of prestige and premium engineering. It comes as no surprise that Rolls-Royce exudes luxury wherever they go. One of the biggest names in British motoring is opening their doors a bit more to the adoring Philippine public with the opening of a new showroom in Bonifacio Global City at the corner of 5th Avenue and 26th Street. The small 323 square meter facility is as austere as the cars it houses. The showroom can accommodate only three cars, but with Rolls-Royce, one is enough to get you drooling. Despite its size, the space showcases the best that the brand can offer and provides a direct line between the customer and the dealers with paint and leather customizations available at the facility itself.
Why stop there? More than holding the ribbon-cutting to his elegant facility, Rolls-Royce celebrated this event by presenting the new Ghost Series II. This new model is a technological marvel housed under Rolls-Royce’s timeless design. But don’t be fooled. This classic design has been upgraded to include LED headlights and daytime-running lights on a slightly enlarged grille. The brand offers more customization options for the Ghost II’s paint, wheels, and leather.
Under the hood, the Ghost Series II retains the monster of an engine that powers its older brother, the first Ghost. The Series II is also powered by the 6.6.-liter, twin-turbocharged V-12 engine, which churns out a massive 563 hp and a 780 Nm of torque. The size of the Ghost is as massive as the number of ponies it powers out. Only a bit smaller than the giant Phantom, the Ghost Series II measures a 5399mm in length, a 1948mm in width, and a 1550mm in unladen height. It weighs in at a heavyweight 2470kg. The standard wheelbase measures a 3295mm, with an even more extended wheelbase option of 3465mm.
Despite its size, Rolls-Royce claims that it can reach a governed speed of 250km/h and can go from 0 to 100 in just 4.9 seconds. Power like this seems to go against Rolls-Royce’s “waftability,” a term the brand coined to describe the combination of ease and perfection of its vehicles. Yet even with this power, the Ghost Series II is determined to keep the ride smooth and easy for both drivers and passengers. The Ghost’s transmission is as automatic as it can get. There is no need to fiddle around with levers. The Ghost Series II is equipped with and eight-speed Satellite Aided Transmission, a GPS-based automation that analyzes how you drive and makes the necessary adjustments to the transmission for you. It claims to have a new hydraulic rear axle bearings which enhance rider comfort so it will still retain the comfort amidst the raw power of its speed.
That’s on the driver’s side. If you feel better being driven around in a brand new Rolls-Royce, the Ghost Series II is pumped with every luxury you can pack into a massive four-wheeler. The Ghost Series II has an improved heads-up display powered by the patented Spirit of Ecstasy rotary controller that navigates through the car’s entire infotainment system. Besides having a controller at the front, the Ghost also has a controller for the rear passengers. They also enjoy their own tables and screens.
It’s not a sports car, but with the Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II, luxury beats out sport. Inside and out, the Ghost Series II exudes waftability and luxury. It’s definitely a vehicle worth getting, if you have the wallet big enough for the massive four-wheeler.
