2009 Rolls-Royce Ghost 6.6L V12 8AT (563 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Created for those who wanted to drive their expensive, ultra-luxurious toy, the Ghost was introduced on the market in 2009 and was based on the same platform as the BMW 7 Series.

When the British car manufacturer unveiled the 200EX concept car at the Geneva Motor Show in 2009, there were just a few to believe that the production version would look almost identical. And yet, that happened, and six months later, it happened. Despite the world financial crisis, the car sold well thanks to its features, comfort, and amenities. Moreover, it was fitted with modern technologies that brought Rolls-Royce into the digital era.

The car’s exterior was majestic, with a flat front fascia where the “Phartenon” grille dominated. It was flanked by squarish-looking headlights that sported LED daytime running lights. From its sides, the Phantom showed its massive rear-cab design styling with a long hood at the front. Thanks to the rear-hinged doors for those seated in the back, ingress and egress were easier.

Inside, owners could find outstanding technologies for those times, such as night-vision, head-up display, and a screen concealed behind a wooden panel above the center vents. This could’ve been controlled via a rotary knob on the center console. It was, basically, the iDrive system carried over from BMW. Besides the standard length, the automaker also offered the Phantom in a long wheelbase version.

Thanks to its BMW-oriented platform, the Ghost was focused on the driver. Thus, the double-wishbone suspension and the adaptive shocks provided better feedback while driving. In addition, the twin-turbo 6.6-liter powerplant mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission allowed the massive vehicle to achieve sportscar performance.