Ghost story

surroundings. Optional extras like the new Bespoke Audio (described by R-R as the most exhaustively engineered and nest audio system in automotive history), combined with Rolls famous smooth, quiet ride offer GSII owners one of the most comprehensive and comfortable driving experiences available. Slightly more compact than the Phantom, the Ghost was always intended to be a car ideal for business and for pleasure, and the GSII is a perfect example of this. Whether youre driving or being driven, the ride is exceptional and the interior provides a calming and spacious location for business on the move ideal for successful entrepreneurs with an eye for investment. Indeed, car to me seems too colloquial a word to describe the GSII I think perhaps the Sherman Brothers description of the miraculous Chitty Chitty Bang Bang would be more appropriate here this truly is a fantasmagorical machine. There is so much more to buying a Rolls-Royce, however, than just selecting the model. Once youve set your heart on a Ghost Series II, there are innumerable opportunities to customise your car with the brands famous bespoke options. Each Rolls is completely unique; the interior and exterior nishing touches chosen by you with the aid of R-Rs team of bespoke experts to produce something truly spectacular. Prospective GSII owners are in for an incredible experience, before theyve even been handed the keys to their new vehicle. What have I learnt then, after a day at RollsRoyce? Investing in one is truly an invitation to let your imagination run wild.

Rolls-Royce recently introduced its newest model, the Ghost Series II, to the world. Jennifer Mason was there for the grand unveiling.

he bastion of Rolls-Royces production line, the Ghost has been a hit with lovers of automobile luxury since its launch in 2009. Named in honour of the Silver Ghost (rst produced by R-R in 1906), the Ghost offers a unique motoring experience, with one foot placed rmly in the luxurious, high standards of the past and the other hovering futuristically over some truly mesmerising modern developments. As I arrive at the ofcial unveiling (which is taking place simultaneously timed to the second at Rolls-Royces Goodwood hub and at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show proof, if you needed it, of the brands exacting standards), I am ushered through the main entrance hall. The space is lled with gleaming examples, both past and present, of R-Rs achievements. Although I long to stop and explore, something tells me theres an even more exciting event waiting just beyond the frosted glass doors. Covered top-to-tyre in a delicate silk cloth, Rolls latest model sits unassumingly, waiting for its moment in

As a design statement, Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II continues to transcend time. I am very pleased with the overall sense of design harmony

the spotlight. At this point, I still have no inkling of what Im here to see, but the smooth lines and iconic shape of the Ghost, even under its veil of secrecy, give me some clues as to the identity of the brands latest achievement. I discover that the buzz at the astonishing Goodwood factory surrounds the eagerly anticipated Ghost Series II, which preserves and updates the muchadmired design of the original Ghost, while delivering the latest Rolls-Royce technology to its followers. Giles Taylor, director of design for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, tells me: As a design statement, Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II continues to transcend time. I am very pleased with the overall sense of design harmony [] that lends the car a more dynamic, purposeful stance and hint at the cutting edge technology inside. As the steel-grey coverlet is whisked away, a deep, rich colour is revealed, annotated by the bright chrome accents of the prerequisite Spirit of Ecstasy and the tapered wake channel on the bonnet; designed to evoke the sight of a jets

vapour trail or the wake of a fast luxury yacht, Im told, as I stare greedily at the GSII, eager to take in its glossy, sleek exterior (and be the rst to spot the new upgrades). The most noticeable external change is to the re-sculpted LED headlights (surrounded by daytime running lights) which lend Ghost Series II a more dynamic visual signature and blend perfectly with revised surface treatments to the front of the car. They certainly give the GSII an alert air, as though it is constantly at the ready to give you the drive of your life. This sense of readiness is clear on the inside, too. The interior of this car certainly delivers above and beyond whats traditionally expected. On-board Wi-Fi keeps driver and passengers connected to the world from the luxury and comfort of R-Rs plush seats, while Satellite Aided Transmission (which made its debut in the Wraith last year) ensures the car automatically adapts to its

All images courtesy of Rolls-Royce

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