Rolls Royce announce the launch of the Ghost Extended – is this the new standard in luxury?

Rolls Royce today have announced a new larger, longer Ghost, the Ghost Extended to go into production. The iconic luxury marque states this car to be the most rear legroom (with the exception of the Phantom Extended) with 170mm longer than the ‘standard’ Ghost.

“New Ghost is the result of in-depth dialogue with Rolls-Royce’s diverse and global customer base”

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

All in the design

How they have hidden this extra length is a subtle. A key learning was that Ghost Extended customers stated they wanted no compromise to Ghost’s minimalist design. The interior and images show how the marque’s designers worked to cloak the extra length. They only extended the rear door and body around the rear door apertures, preserving the lines of the car.

Whilst the marques’ history and typical clientele would suggest its usual targeting mature customers, the latest, maybe slightly younger clients of this beautiful marque has taken note of this new generation – the result – this piece of work.

The luxurious interior

This global new generation of entrepreneurs expressed a desire for a chauffeur-driven business tool. For the week that can transform into a serenely comfortable and dynamic self-driven saloon at the weekend. Ghost Extended is the marques response.

The first customer deliveries will be in the last quarter of 2020 – any day soon?

New technology

A suite of enhancements to the rear of the cabin reflects the drive the designers work to extend Ghosts features. For the first time a reclining Serenity Seat can be selected, offering a new dimension of rear seat comfort. That’s about as close to a business jet cabin environment.

Given the current client and world we’re living in, the commitment to delivering a pure, detoxifying space extends to the air within the cabin. To deliver this, the Ghost is equipped with a new Micro-Environment Purification System (MEPS). This new technology enhances existing air filtration systems through software and hardware. Highly sensitive Impurity Detection Sensors detect ambient air quality, automatically activating fresh air intakes into Recirculation Mode.

If unacceptable levels of airborne contaminants are detected, the air is passed through a nanofleece filter. It is capable of removing nearly all ultra-fine particles from the cabin in less than 2 minutes. Maybe this could be standard in all cars and homes?!

A suite of technologies which enhance the driving experience in urban and country settings have been added.

This includes laser headlights with more than 600m of illuminated range; key safety enhancements including vision assist with day and night-time wildlife and pedestrian warning; alertness assistant; a four-camera system with panoramic view, all round-visibility and helicopter view; active cruise control; collision warning; cross traffic warning; lane departure and lane change warning, a lot of features you now expect to see maybe with some extra tweaks you’d expect from a Rolls Royce. A feature that sounds interesting is the 7×3 high definition head-up display and self-park.

New engineering standards

The all-Aluminium Spaceframe and New V12 Engine is the framework on which the new Ghost is built.

The marque’s hallmark “Magic Carpet Ride” is delivered by a new Planar Suspension System. This is the result of more than 10 years’ testing and refinement by specialist engineers. Featuring continuously variable, electronically controlled shock absorbers, self-levelling high-volume air strut assemblies and a world-first upper wishbone damper; this technology has never been previously applied to a production motor car so is certainly one for the luxury market and I look forward to a test drive in when it comes to market. Ghost Extended also benefits from all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering for the first time.

Power is provided by a 6.75-litre twin turbocharged engine developed exclusively for Ghost. It produces 571PS and 850Nm of torque. The requirement for silence when travelling is delivered through 100kg of acoustic damping materials incorporated into the chassis, bodywork and tyres, delivering exhilarating performance without disturbing the serenity within.

Simplicity through complexity

The pursuit of design simplicity requires highly complex engineering and craft techniques. For example, sophisticated bodywork forms are only achievable through advanced generative design and 3D printing. This is the first time this technology has been incorporated within a component production facility and combined with Rolls-Royce’s craft and engineering competencies.

For Ghost Extended, the beam-melted components are welded to the body, while parts made by multi-jet fusion and selective laser sintering are individually fitted at the Home of Rolls-Royce.

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