2013 Rolls-Royce Ghost - Review

The Basics:

Though it may be the "entry-level" Rolls-Royce, the Ghost is anything but common. Aiming to be a dynamic, yet still traditionally luxurious Rolls-Royce, the Ghost is still one of the youngest models in the hyperluxury class.

For 2013, the Ghost carries forward unchanged, though a number of special-edition models, including an Art Deco-inspired car shown at Paris, have demonstrated that with the company's personalization services, no two Rolls-Royces need be alike.

As the driver's car in the Rolls-Royce lineup, the Ghost requires no chauffeur--though you can still get away with one. Despite its size and bulk, the Ghost is fun to drive, with its twin-turbocharged 6.6-liter V-12 engine generating 563 horsepower and 575 pound-feet of torque. That's more power than the larger, more expensive Phantom.

Accordingly, the Ghost can accelerate to 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds and carry on to an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. The Ghost's power and performance (and its size) come at a cost though: gas mileage is just 13 mpg city and 20 mpg highway, despite an eight-speed ZF automatic shifting gears.

Under the skin, completely out of sight, the Ghost shares some of its underpinnings with the BMW 7-Series. This is, in our estimation, a good thing, contributing a tested, proven engineering base that enables the Ghost to be as good a driver's car as it is. The Ghost is also eminently comfortable, as you'd expect of a Rolls-Royce, riding on an air suspension and multi-link aluminum linkages, with active anti-roll and chassis stabilization for better handling and safety.

Whether driving the Ghost or enjoying it from the back seat, rich leathers, fine woods, and ample high-tech information and entertainment systems create an atmosphere of success, perfect for brokering a big business deal or treating the significant other to a Prada spree.

The customization and personalization services offered by Rolls-Royce, as noted, extend to the Ghost. Nearly any desire can be accommodated, from custom colors schemes and materials to one-off equipment or features. Just be sure to bring the digits to your Swiss petty funds account.

Little has changed since our first drive of the 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost--read more over at our luxury and performance site, Motor Authority.