Thursday 9th January 2014

V-Specification launched for Rolls-Royce Ghost

A V-Spec car in a very deep purple? Someone at Rolls-Royce must like Nissan...

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Now this is a confusing one from Rolls Royce. Standard form sees its special editions given evocative titles like Aviator, Art Deco and Phantom Chicane Coupe. OK, the last one may not stir the emotions particularly (that was Goodwood themed) but Rolls Royce doesn't follow others when it comes to naming policy.

It's Infinity Black, not Midnight Purple. Honest

So to call its latest Ghost a 'V-Specification' is strange. Because immediately the connotations of a 'V-Spec' are with Japanese metal, Skylines and Eunoses in particular. Indeed the car you see here in 'Infinity Black' is rather reminiscent of the Midnight Purple seen on GT-Rs, isn't it?

Anyway. The most significant change from the standard Ghost for the V-Specification is the addition of 30hp from the 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12, up from 570hp to 600. It doesn't have any tangible effect on performance though, with 0-60mph still taking 4.7 seconds.

Other distinguishing features hinting at the car's 'inherent dynamism' include the 21-inch wheels and V-Specification motif coachlines. The motif can also be found dotted around the interior, on the sill plates, rear armrests and the infotainment screen inlay.

As well as Infinity Black, the colours unique to the V-Specification are Graphite, Black Sapphire, Black Kirsch and Arctic White. And if black, grey or white don't appeal, Rolls-Royce will happily paint your Ghost in a shade from its 44,000-hue palette.

Available in standard and extended wheelbases, the V-Specification Ghost is available now 'for customers to commission' until June. Brilliant. No prices have been released yet, but a 'standard' Ghost starts at £170,250 if you have to ask.

[jfcole]

Awful.

Pointless BHP increase to satisfy the small willy brigade.

Alloys are also pretty ugly and will appeal to footballers.

Did RR need to stoop to this level? This dilution of the brand?

Edited by jfcole on Thursday 9th January 11:07

[JamesD1]

Love the colour

Edited by JamesD1 on Thursday 9th January 11:35

[rohrl]

Ridiculously inappropriate for a Rolls-Royce. They'll be fitting a boot spoiler, side skirts and splitter to the next one.

[Marwood79]

Caaaareful Rolls. Not sure this is the right direction for you. Leave the footballer-baiting to the Bentley-boys and let's keep the lady focused on the grown-ups.

I'd prefer to see a new flagship gliding noiselessly in above the Phantom at about the £500-£600k mark.... 'men from boys' etc.

[365daytonafan]

Name aside I like it, somehow reminds me more of a modern Bentley Turbo R than Bentley's own offerings.

[Tuvra]

Them wheels, my god them wheels.....

[renaultgeek]

It's Euni, not eunoses.

[scubadude]

Rather vulgar to actually publish a BHP figure for a Rolls, most ungentlemanly of them.

[AngryPartsBloke]

Marwood79 said:

Caaaareful Rolls. Not sure this is the right direction for you. Leave the footballer-baiting to the Bentley-boys and let's keep the lady focused on the grown-ups.

I'd prefer to see a new flagship gliding noiselessly in above the Phantom at about the £500-£600k mark.... 'men from boys' etc.

But are you going to buy one? What everyone would 'Prefer' to see and what pople actually putting up thee £500k+ you're talking about want is different.

It's always funny, the poeple who hapr on about 'diluting the brand' etc. aren't ever actual customers.

[E65Ross]

Wheels aside, I think that's fantastic. Absolutely love the hue as well. I'd take mine in that purple with a cream interior with a black dash top please....

[Sampaio]

Here you go then:

[garypotter]

If it selld why not? Talking of diluting the brand Mini has done very well for BMW even if it is a turd

[keith2.2]

As with the Veyron, I fail to understand how a one-off-build vehicle that is so infinitely customisable by the purchaser can warrant "Special Editions"?

I presume that were a Rolls buyer to speak to their RR consierge (I assume they don't have antyhing so vulgar as a Salesman) and say "I'd like it in that purple, and I want a coachline with this little monogram that I like, and I want it on Snoop Dogs wheels, with this leather and the same monogram in the headrests" then they'd make it for them.

So I can only assume therefore that special editions of such individual build cars are for those customers who have absolutely no imagination?

[pSyCoSiS]

That colour looks lovely but I'm not sure if I really like the Ghost, compared to some f the rivals.

The interior in that colour combo looks executive, but doesn't have the oppulence of other colour shades.

I'd still have an S65 AMG over this though!

[SpeckledJim]

keith2.2 said:

As with the Veyron, I fail to understand how a one-off-build vehicle that is so infinitely customisable by the purchaser can warrant "Special Editions"?

I presume that were a Rolls buyer to speak to their RR consierge (I assume they don't have antyhing so vulgar as a Salesman) and say "I'd like it in that purple, and I want a coachline with this little monogram that I like, and I want it on Snoop Dogs wheels, with this leather and the same monogram in the headrests" then they'd make it for them.

So I can only assume therefore that special editions of such individual build cars are for those customers who have absolutely no imagination?

It isn't one-off-build or infinitely customisable at all. There are probably more combinations of 5-Series.

The only things you can really muck about with is colour, and people rarely bother. Too much choice is scary, since people:

• Don't know what they want until they see it.

• Are scared stiff of making a bad choice, so trust the manufacturer to do it for them.

And dealers aren't bothered about pushing it, because of the extra faff, and the risk that the customer doesn't like it when it arrives, and having to buy the monstrosity back in 3 years in order to sell the customer another one.

Edited by SpeckledJim on Thursday 9th January 12:44

[Nick644]

jfcole said:

Awful.

Pointless BHP increase to satisfy the small willy brigade.

Alloys are also pretty ugly and will appeal to footballers.

Did RR need to stoop to this level? This dilution of the brand?

Edited by jfcole on Thursday 9th January 11:07

Should do a power downgrade to satisfy the rich BIG willy brigade.

[nelly_h]

I think a previous comment about it being more Bentley Turbo R than the current Bentley range is spot on.

For the first time I'd prefer a new RR to the current Mulsanne or Flying Spur from Bentley, which look terrible to me.

It feels like RR are chasing new customers with this and it would work for me if I had an urge (or financial ability!) to replace my old Bentley.

[Europa1]

Of rather more concern is the report in the Business section of the BBC News website about Rolls looking at 4x4 designs. Unless they are thinking of looking back at their heritage in off roaders - something with a turret hosuing a Vickers on top.....

[Devil2575]

garypotter said:

If it selld why not? Talking of diluting the brand Mini has done very well for BMW even if it is a turd

The Mini is a turd?

Not what most of the reviews have said IIRC

[Devil2575]

Europa1 said:

Of rather more concern is the report in the Business section of the BBC News website about Rolls looking at 4x4 designs. Unless they are thinking of looking back at their heritage in off roaders - something with a turret hosuing a Vickers on top.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_Armoured_...