Ghost is the name that Rolls-Royce gave to one of their earliest cars, the Silver Ghost of 1906. At the time, it embodied the spirit of Rolls-Royce that has endured to this day, namely, to slip by as silently and efficiently as possible, much like an apparition. This 2012 Rolls-Royce Ghost hails from the first generation of contemporary Ghost, which was introduced in 2009. With 33,125 miles on the clock, it’s a relatively lightly used example and totally belies its 10 years of age. That’s the thing about Rolls-Royces – they are timeless. Read on to find out why this one deserves your consideration and a space in your garage.

Exterior and Interior

Sporting a Midnight Sapphire paintjob, this 2012 Rolls-Royce Ghost is well equipped to slip through the night, rolling on its 20-inch chromed alloy wheels with self-righting RR center caps. Its adaptive headlighting will pierce the darkness, and the chromed visible exhaust allows the monstrous powerplant beneath the hood to breathe easily, albeit not in a noisy fashion – that would be uncouth and unbefitting of a Rolls-Royce. The Spirit of Ecstasy mascot proudly adorns the top of the grille, and if you try to meddle with it while the car is parked, it will disappear within the grille in the blink of an eye as an anti-theft measure. Enter the car via the comfort access and if you’re a rear seat passenger, you’ll notice the rear-hinged coach doors. The predominant color theme is called Seashell in Rolls-Royce parlance, with Dark Wenge trim, seat piping, and the RR logo on all seats. Extended leather and door pocket lighting has been specified on this car, and if you look down as you cross the threshold, you’ll notice the polished stainless steel tread plates. Rear passengers also get their own climate zone and picnic tables. A panoramic sunroof allows everyone to enjoy the sunlight, and front seat occupants receive electrically adjustable seats with massage function, their own climate zone, and a sophisticated infotainment system to play with. The driver faces a trio of white-backed dials, with the notable absence of a tachometer. In its place is a power reserve dial. A front and rear camera system means that maneuvering and parking this 213-inch car is made as easy as possible.

Engine

What dark magic lies beneath the hood of this 2012 Rolls-Royce Ghost that enables it to slip swiftly yet seamlessly? That’s the job of the twin-turbocharged, BMW-derived 6.6L V12 engine that produces 562hp and 575lb-ft to the rear wheels via an ZF 8-speed automatic transmission. This means that zero to sixty is easily a sub-5 second affair, and the top speed has been electronically capped at 155mph.