Luxury automotive brand Rolls Royce has revealed the latest model of their Black Badge Ghost. The vehicle was initially launched in 2016 and debuted darker materials and finishes than previous Rolls Royce models. The Black Badge Ghost has been marketed towards the younger generation. Previously, the median age of Rolls Royce consumers was around 60 years old, however more recently, the median age has decreased to the 42 year age mark; Rolls notes that women and men are beginning to interact with luxury on their terms.
Rolls Royce customers can add any of the offered 44,000 colours when customising the vehicle; however, the most popular has been the wholly blacked-out colourway. According to Rolls, this black is the ‘darkest black’ in the industry, the paint alone weighing in at a whopping 45kg (or around 100 pounds), and the finishing process taking about 5 hours. The colour is then double-coated with a clear coat and then hand polished to achieve the opulent paint for which Rolls Royce is known.
The paint job is not the only feature of this car, drawing the attention of luxury car enthusiasts. External hardware, including the Spirit of Ecstasy sculpture and the front grille, is coated in a black chrome electrolyte, and again, hand-polished by Rolls Royce to give the lavish chrome finish. The exterior is finished off with 21-inch carbon fibre alloy wheels, comprising 44 layers of woven carbon fibre. Adding to the profile of the wheels are the visible calipers, which have four colour choices available, of course, at the customer’s choice.
The Black Badge Ghost features a carefully understated and, in fact, mysterious interior whilst still paying homage to the classic nature of Rolls Royce. The dashboard and other interior elements feature what Rolls Royce calls “Technical Fibre”, a carbon-like texture, signature to the brand; there is also an emphasis on the metal, leather and wood elements woven into the design. Rolls describes the interior of the Black Badge Ghost as ‘post opulence’, as the younger market is generally leaning towards silent luxury, trading the superfluous for something more understated without compromising on indulgence. Most customers have continued to opt for an entirely black interior, accented with colour; pictured is the interior of the Black Badge Ghost with blue Turchese leather detailing. The Black Badge Ghost has also upgraded some digital components, and, of course, buyers can add the famous celestial headliner featuring aminated shooting stars.
Mechanically the Black Badge Ghost offers a 6.75l V12 engine and will receive an extra 29hp, bringing the vehicle up to a massive 591hp. The latest model has also seen a torque increase, bringing it up to a huge 644 pound-feet. Another feature that will undoubtedly excite powerful car enthusiasts is the vehicle’s “Low Mode”, which allows the car to access full torque at only 1,700 rpm, which reduces shift when the pedal is 90% engaged time by at least half.
The unbeatable combination of luxury design and a powerful engine is undoubtedly done best by Rolls Royce. The Black Badge Ghost is expected to start at around $500 000 AUD.