2023 Rolls-Royce Ghost Sedan

　　

2023 Rolls-Royce Ghost Review

byKurt NiebuhrSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　The 2023 Ghost serves as the entry point into the Rolls-Royce brand. Smaller in size and more contemporary in design than the legendary Phantom, the Ghost is aimed at a younger, though still fabulously wealthy, clientele. The Ghost offers insane levels of craftsmanship and customization possibilities befitting a Rolls-Royce. It can also be had in a more sporting model, the Black Badge version, and is offered with an extended-wheelbase version for increased rear passenger legroom.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Rolls-Royce Ghost 4dr Sedan AWD (6.7L 12cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$312/mo  for Ghost Base

　　Ghost Base

　　4dr Sedan AWD (6.7L 12cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $340,500 MSRPEWB 4dr Sedan AWD (6.7L 12cyl Turbo 8A) - $388,000 MSRPBlack Badge 4dr Sedan AWD (6.7L 12cyl Turbo 8A) - $393,500 MSRP

　　vs

　　$198/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　

zzdcar' spotlight: Luxury and power

Any fear of the Ghost being anything other than a full-blooded Rolls-Royce should be laid to rest. The 2023 Ghost can be customized to your heart's content (or your bank account's balance) with all manner of paint combinations, an endless array of leather upholstery options, and features including a stainless steel hood, plush wool carpets, wood trim and even monogrammed headrests. The Ghost doesn't skimp on power either. Under the hood is the same 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine as you find in the larger Phantom and Cullinan SUV. That means the Ghost has the same 563 horsepower (592 hp for the Black Badge model) but with less weight to slow it down.

　　

Competitors to consider

The only other vehicle not made by Rolls-Royce that comes close to offering the traditional luxury and extent of personalization as the Ghost is the Bentley Flying Spur. If a more modern interpretation of luxury is what you're after, the BMW 760i and Mercedes-Maybach S-Class are both brimming with technology and offer a slightly more low-key approach to ostentatious luxury.

　　

Which Ghost does zzdcar recommend?

To make the most of the Ghost's smaller size (relative to other Rolls-Royce vehicles) and more dynamic styling, we'd commission ours in the Black Badge specification. That gets you additional power from the twin-turbo V12 as well as carbon composite wheels, blacked-out exterior trim, a sport-tuned suspension and a slightly louder exhaust.

　　

Rolls-Royce Ghost models

The four-door 2023 Rolls-Royce Ghost is available in three basic models: Ghost, Black Badge and Extended Wheelbase (EWB). Regardless of model, all Ghosts are powered by a 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine that makes 563 horsepower and 627 lb-ft in the base Ghost and EWB models and 592 hp and 644 lb-ft in the Black Badge. An eight-speed automatic is mated to an all-wheel-drive system.

　　Almost every aspect of the Ghost can be built to suit, so customization options are essentially limitless. Standard features include:

　　Ghost

　　Includes all the trappings you find on most high-end luxury vehicles, including:

　　Rear-wheel steering Adaptive air suspension 21-inch wheels Laser headlights Electronically retracting hood ornament Power-closing doors Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking) Full leather upholstery Heated steering wheel Heated and ventilated front seats with massage Laminated glass for extra sound and heat insulation Panoramic sunroof Adaptive cruise control Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention) Navigation Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Blind-spot warning (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)Extended Wheelbase

　　Includes all the standard features of the Ghost but features a longer wheelbase that adds nearly 7 inches of rear legroom.

　　Black Badge

　　Boosts engine output, sharpens the handling, and changes the look of the standard Ghost with:

　　21-inch carbon composite wheels Blacked-out exterior trim Sport-tuned suspension Black-painted brake calipers Special carbon-fiber interior trim

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