Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II

FIRST DRIVE The Ghost is a luxury car par excellence, but the new Black Badge edition comes with a note of caution

- By Jordan Katsianis

LOOK at the spec of the new Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II and it'd be easy to think it was a relic of the past. Its V12 petrol engine is unassisted by anything as crude as hybrid modules, or any extra battery beyond the 12V pack that powers its electrically operated doors. Like the Ritz Hotel or a Rolex watch, the Ghost is a nostalgia trip through tradition and splendour – but with a caveat or two.

The car has been updated for its Series II era, and it comes with almost no concessions. It may be considered the entry-level Rolls, but behind its imposing grille sits a 6.75-litre V12 engine with two turbochargers, powering all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. We're driving the Black Badge variant, which lifts power from the standard car's 563bhp to 591bhp. It takes around 4.5 seconds to sprint from 0-62mph.

These look like rather underwhelming figures in an era of 771bhp Bentleys, but they're more than enough for something designed to caress, rather than excite. That much is obvious as soon as you pull away because the entire powertrain focuses on ultimate smoothness, rather than sharp responses.