bespoke rolls-royce ghost series II first drive at château la coste

rolls-royce ghost series II first drive

Gliding through Provence’s rolling vineyards, the Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II is a perfect pairing for its surroundings. At Château La Coste – a sanctuary for contemporary art, architecture, and wine – the car continues a journey rooted in creative excellence and culture, stretching far beyond the Ghost’s visit in 2023 and launch in 2009. designboom’s drive is a fitting pilgrimage – just a couple hours from the winter retreat of Rolls-Royce co-founder Henry Royce in Nice, France – celebrating the spirit of innovation and bespoke craftsmanship that defines the marque.

Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II first drive in Provence, France

all images courtesy of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

refined monolithic exterior design

Externally, the Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II retains its renowned elegance while embracing subtle evolution. The illuminated Pantheon grille, framed by reimagined chrome embellishments, now features a floating plinth for the marque‘s Spirit of Ecstasy statuette. This creates an even more striking visual centerpiece. Redesigned headlight graphics, with their flowing lines, accentuate the vehicle’s generous width by dropping its height to follow the grille.

the chrome frame of the illuminated Pantheon grille creates a floating plinth for the Spirit of Ecstasy

The rear shapes a harmonious new tail lamp configuration, where its own lines extend those of the body. Two new 22-inch wheel designs – one fully polished and one part-polished – complement the streamlined side silhouette, adding a jewelry-like quality to the view. It shows how every detail has been reconsidered to heighten the Ghost’s refined monolithic character.

the lines of the body surfaces extend into the new tail lamp configuration

interior interwoven with innovation and heritage

The interior of Ghost Series II acts as a canvas for bespoke craft. At the front, the Illuminated Fascia mimics a starry night or can be customized to a client’s vision, continuing the effect of the now iconic Starlight Headlining. Adjacent on the dashboard, the Spirit of Ecstasy Clock Cabinet displays a miniature of the statuette, placed against reflective matte and glass surfaces.

mimicking a starry night, the Illuminated Fascia continues the effect of the now iconic Starlight Headlining

After debuts in Cullinan Series II, a collection of contemporary takes on traditional luxury is also available in Ghost. Duality Twill – a fabric innovatively woven from bamboo – threads up to 11 miles of stitching to enrich the tactile and visual experiences. As does the Grey Stained Ash and Place Perforation, where artwork can be created through differently sized perforations on the leather seats.

Duality Twill – made from woven bamboo – debuts in Ghost following its launch in Cullinan Series II

Anchored by a new pillar-to-pillar Central Information Display, the car bridges analogue craftsmanship and digital functionality. Bespoke customization extends to the color of digital instrument dials, enabling clients to match it to exterior or interior hues. Rear passengers enjoy device streaming independently on both screens. Through these personal touches and services, Ghost empowers drivers and passengers alike to curate their experience in ultimate comfort.

clients can coordinate the color of digital instrument dials to match the interior stitching, for example

dynamic yet serene driving experience

At its heart lies Rolls-Royce’s iconic 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine, delivering 600PS and 900Nm of torque with near-silent precision. The Planar Suspension System, enhanced by an Upper Wishbone Damper, ensures the marque’s signature magic carpet ride even on Provence’s winding roads. All-wheel steering and drivetrain provide unparalleled control, creating an experience for the driver that feels simultaneously dynamic and yet serene. The drive – just a few hours from Henry Royce’s winter home in Nice – felt like a poetic tribute to the legacy of a man who revered perfection, precision, and beauty.

Like Chateau La Coste, the Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II is an emblem of artistic and engineering excellence. It is an evolution that continues the marque’s most popular model.