The Rolls-Royce Ghost is powered by an impressive 6.6L twin-turbo V12 that produces 563 horsepower. It's mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission with a column-style shifter. The engine makes its peak 575 lb-feet of torque at just 1,500 rpm, so the Ghost 'wafts' up to speed in classic English luxury-car fashion, with even less noise in the cabin than in past Rolls-Royce models. Black Badge Ghost models are equipped with the same V12 twin-turbo but with added sport-orientated tuning making it capable of reaching just over the 600-horsepower mark with 620 pound feet of torque. The Black Badge utilizes better internal clutches that provide quicker shift times, more sensitive throttle responsiveness and sport-tuned suspension to help keep all that added power on the road. The Ghost follows Rolls-Royce styling tradition on the outside, for the most part, with a long hood, short front overhand and an upright windshield. The modern Ghost has just a little more modern panache, especially on the inside. The hood, grille and windshield surround can be done in a polished satin finish if desired. Teflon-coated umbrellas are integrated into the front doors, while the rear-hinged rear doors open to 83 degrees and can be closed by just touching a button. A panoramic sunroof lets a lot of light in from overhead as well, while quad-zone climate control makes sure that everyone is comfortable. Optional 'individual lounge' seating provides a massage function for all the positions, as well as ventilated perforated leather upholstery; also available is a chilled cooler box, with added illumination and integrated champagne glasses. Yet another addition is the small wood-veneer picnic tables--fitted to the back of the front seats with leather-covered backs. Cabin materials and craftsmanship have long been Rolls-Royce strengths; with natural veneers, hand-matched woodgrain, hand-stitched interior panels and drum-dyed soft leathers offered in many different colors--along with a number of other custom trims--it's nearly impossible that any two Ghosts will look the same. Rolls-Royces have a tradition of being rather simple when it comes to technology features, but the Ghost pushes that a bit. On the center console, a rotary controller accesses tasks like navigation, communication and entertainment functions, and a roller-ball controller on the steering wheel helps navigate through some of the menus. Voice control is also included. Entertainment is provided by a majestic 600-watt, 10-channel, 16-speaker sound system with two floor subwoofers, hard-drive storage, USB and aux inputs. An entertainment system with two 9.2-inch LCD screens installed in back of the front seats is also offered as an option. The Ghost, which is built on a steel monocoque structure, utilizes a 4-wheel independent suspension with air springs front and back, controlled via an automatic adaptive variable suspension system. The system can even detect the distribution of passengers and adjust accordingly. The Dynamic Stability Control system works together with this system as well as Cornering Brake Control to give the Ghost a nimbler feel than is typical for such a large, heavy sedan. A host of active-safety features are available in the Ghost, such as a night vision system, head-up display, lane departure warning, high beam assist, and active cruise control. Advanced Crash and Safety Management system uses sensors to decide which safety features to deploy.
