Rolls-Royce Has Unveiled The New Ghost And Even Roomier Host Extended

Oxford philosopher Gilbert Ryle critiqued Descartes’ notion that the mind is distinct from the body. The new Rolls-Royce Ghost and Ghost Extended are proof that in enlightened automotive manufacturing, the body and soul of the machine is sublimely intertwined.

- Jonathan Ho

Emblematic of spearheading an era of post-opulence, the first Goodwood Ghost was a response to a whole new generation of clients, both in age and attitude. The Ghost is a slightly smaller, less ostentatious Rolls-Royce with the full flavour and provenance of the legacy and luxury that has exemplified the brand since it was founded in 1904.

The most technologically advanced Rolls-Royce yet, the new Ghost reflects a minimalist philosophy that rejects superficial expressions of wealth, underpinning our conversation with Alex Innes, the brand’s Head of Bespoke.

“With a Rolls-Royce, there’s always this sense of etiquette and a feel for having just the right gesture at the right moment, that it’s perceptive to the situation, whether it’s the careful offering of an umbrella from the door as soon as it starts to rain or the fact the coach doors open to the rear to ensure that you can access and egress the car in the most elegant fashion. There is this subtle sense of what’s right. These details extend to people’s perception.”

As a quintessentially British brand, there’s a civility that permeates every fibre of Rolls-Royce’s rigid aluminium spaceframe architecture. Over its 10-year lifespan, the Ghost has become the most successful model in the marque’s history for good reason.

By listening carefully to its discerning clientele, the Goodwood carmaker set new benchmarks in customer centricity by creating a completely new motor car. Sublimely engineered, hugely charismatic, the new Ghost pushes technological boundaries that appear more the purview of the makers of performance sports cars rather than stately sedans for captains of industry.