Used 2012 Rolls-Royce Ghost

Don’t let the 2012 Rolls-Royce Ghost’s “bargain” starting price of roughly $250,000 fool you: It is still a Rolls-Royce through and through – and then some. In fact, when it was introduced in 2010, the Ghost boasted the most powerful engine ever put into a Rolls-Royce automobile, and some of the most sophisticated technology as well. The 4- or 5-passenger sedan is still massive, but is more manageable around town than the larger Rolls-Royce Phantom models. As would be expected in a car of this caliber, interior opulence abounds. Just as impressive is its twin-turbo V12, which effortlessly moves this heavy, rear-wheel-drive sedan. For those who can afford such a vehicle, the 2012 Rolls-Royce Ghost is among the most luxurious ways possible to travel by land.

Piloting the Rolls-Royce Ghost is an absolutely sublime experience. The Ghost provides one of quietest, most comfortable and composed rides we have experienced in a car. This aspect of the Rolls-Royce should not be a surprise, but rather expected of a car costing a quarter-million dollars and whose very brand name is equated with the finest things in the world. What delightfully startled us is the car’s performance. The Ghost’s massive, 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 engine propels this sedan rapidly yet smoothly. Like a razor-sharp knife gliding through butter, the Ghost has a silent swiftness that is nearly unparalleled. In the past, it was unbecoming to mention performance figures in relation to a Rolls-Royce, but nowadays the automaker is happy to report that its hand-built car can hit 60 mph from a standstill in a mere 4.8 seconds – fleet enough shame many sports cars. Cornering is just as pleasurable thanks to a sophisticated air-suspension system that keeps the Ghost planted.

There’s one word you need to know when it comes to the interior of your Rolls-Royce: Bespoke. In other words, the interior you want is the interior you get. Because these cars are handmade in limited quantities instead of rolled off an assembly line en masse, Rolls-Royce vehicles can be highly customized to a client’s taste. Generally speaking, though, you can expect to find the finest leathers, interior wood veneers from a single tree, and built-in umbrellas housed within the Ghost’s front doors. The driver’s seat provides a commanding view, and passengers will feel like they are traveling in a private jet. Rear occupants enjoy superb legroom and can be further coddled with heated and ventilated seats that massage their back, plus an integrated chill unit with integrated Champagne glasses.

The 2012 Rolls-Royce Ghost is a hulking piece of metal with a massive front grille and soft curves front to back. But its most defining feature is seen upon opening its doors, specifically the rear ones. The Ghost uses wide-opening rear-hinged doors in back, sometimes referred to as “suicide doors.” In addition to making for easy entry and exit, they can serve as protection from paparazzi or something worse hurling toward VIP passengers. When the occupants are safely inside, the doors self-close at the touch of a button. Back up front and prominently displayed is the Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament guiding the way. Upon stopping, she automatically retracts into the hood, lest this spirit become the spoil of some passing miscreant.

AIR-SUSPENSION SYSTEM
The 2012 Ghost’s ever-adapting air-suspension is so sensitive that it can detect a rear passenger moving from one side of the seat to the other. The result is a Rolls-Royce that can take corners at speeds much higher than you’d expect.

MULIPLE CAMERA ASSISTANCE
If you own a Rolls-Royce, it is an unwritten rule that you back the big car into a space when parking. That feat is more easily accomplished with the Ghost’s multiple camera system, which combine to create a virtual birds-eye view of the car and its surroundings. The system also is a help when going around blind junctions.

As noted, each Rolls-Royce Ghost can be configured to a customer’s taste, but each comes with a V12 engine, 8-speed automatic transmission, multiple cameras, separate climate zones, a heads-up driver’s display, and a 600-watt audio system with a 10-channel amplifier, 16 speakers and built-in 12.5-gig hard drive for music storage. A rotary dial on the armrest controls functions such as navigation and audio.

Yes, even a Rolls-Royce can be optioned up. Among the extras you can add onto your Ghost are tech and safety features like lane-departure warning, active cruise control and even a night-vision camera that can detect objects nearly 1,000 feet away. In the rear passenger compartment you can have climate-controlled seats, veneered picnic tables and twin 9.2-inch LCD screens for a private theater. For those who must watch “American Idol” or the Super Bowl live, a TV tuner can also be had.

At 5,545 pounds, the Ghost is a heavy car that needs a big engine to push it. That push comes in the form of a 6.6-liter twin-turbocharged V12 that puts out 563 horsepower and 575 lb-ft of torque, the latter from just 1,500 rpm for a broad path of power. All that gusto finds its way to the rear wheels via a buttery-smooth 8-speed automatic transmission. It all works to make the Rolls-Royce Ghost wickedly quick for such a car, with a stated top speed of 155 mph.

6.6-liter twin-turbocharged V12
563 horsepower @ 5,250 rpm
575 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 13/20 mpg