Rolls-Royce Ghost officially launched in Malaysia
Shortly after announcing its appointment of Quill Motorcars as the official dealer of Rolls-Royce in Malaysia, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars yesterday officially unveiled the Ghost four-door ‘super-luxury saloon’.
Based on the 200EX concept car showcased at Geneva 2009, Ghost (RR press materials specifically omitted the ‘the’ in front of the model’s name) is set to spawn a new family of Rollers separate from the Phantom family.
A media preview took place at the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Kuala Lumpur showroom in Petaling Jaya. Speaking at the preview, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Asia Pacific Regional Director Colin Kelly said, “Ghost is a more informal design that broadens the appeal of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, combining refinement, new technology, and contemporary style. It bears all the hallmarks of other Rolls-Royce cars, using the finest wood and leather materials and employing manufacturing standards which are no different to Phantom. Ghost will be built-to-order.”
The chief selling point for a car like Ghost, and Rolls-Royce in general, is an obsessive attention to detail which leaves no stone unturned in the quest to build a flawless automobile. While most manufacturers consider consistent alignment of panels to be ‘attention to detail’, RR takes it to the point where the bulls from which their leather are sourced are raised in pastures free of barbed wire just so that there are ‘fewer imperfections in the leather’. Consistent panel alignment is just another item in a lengthy list.
In the Rolls-Royce hierarchy, Ghost sits a rung below the Phantom, and it is styled to reflect that. As per RR’s spin, Ghost is said to incorporate the marque’s classic design cues, but portraying a less formal air than its bigger brother.
Nowhere is that trademark attention to detail more obvious than in the plush cabin. You get into the rear through rear-hinged doors that open as wide as 83 degrees, and then close them at the touch of a button. The panorama sunroof helps fill the cabin with natural light, but our suspicion is that Malaysian customers will have the roof closed during daylight.
On the move, Ghost is designed to ensure that its occupants are shielded from any harshness outside. The rear seats are deliberately placed behind the C-pillars for the purpose of privacy – something that most Rolls-Royce customers undoubtedly cherish. In the face of such perfection, details as mundane as quad-zone climate control barely even deserve mention.
We know that 20% of this car comes from BMW’s F01 7-series. Its electronics are carried over almost untouched from Munich, but this is not something we will begrudge Rolls-Royce for. Though the centre console displays graphics that unerringly resemble the iDrive, its control switches appear to exude an unmistakable aura of prestige and luxury each time you flick them.
Excellence continues at the mechanical level, starting with the steel monocoque chassis. The suspension is setup for a ride of unparalleled comfort using double-wishbone front and multi-link rear architecture. It uses air springs with electronic variable damping, able to raise or lower the car by 25mm. Also incorporated into the chassis are various electronic driving aids packaged into what is called the Integrated Chassis Management system.
Powering Ghost is a new 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12 engine producing 563hp @ 5,250rpm and a staggering 780Nm @ 1,500rpm, sent to the aftwards by an 8-speed ZF-sourced automatic transmission. Rolls-Royce claims that Ghost will do the century sprint in 4.7 seconds, and will consume fuel at a rate of 13.6 litres/100km.
Speaking about the car’s commercial prospects in Malaysia, Dato’ Michael Ong, Managing Director for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Kuala Lumpur said, “Ghost is receiving a healthy interest in Malaysia and I have no doubt that this car will be a success in Malaysia with its unique blend of effortless dynamism.”
Brenda Pek, General Manager for South East Asia Pacific added, “I expect Ghost to have strong demand in Malaysia, as well as attract a broader set of buyers who have not considered a Rolls-Royce before.”
As Ghost is a highly customizable built-to-order vehicle with endless possible spec combination, putting a fixed price on print is not possible, though the manufacturer’s suggested retail price is in the region of RM2.6 million exclusive of taxes, insurance, and all the relevant bureaucracy fees.
