2014 Rolls-Royce Ghost II Photos, engines & full specs

After almost five years on the market, Rolls-Royce refreshed the Ghost lineup and named it Ghost II. It was not a common brand to use the mundane words "facelift" or "life-cycle impulse."

The British automaker introduced the refreshed version of the Ghost's first generation in 2014 to make it comply with the Euro 6 emission standards and, at the same time, changed some parts of the vehicle and made it more appealing to its customers. In addition, it made it with an extended wheelbase version that became the most expensive Rolls-Royce manufactured in that year, even though the SWB Ghost was the most affordable from the stable. Moreover, it enhanced the car's look, the interior, the infotainment system, and the drivetrain.

Based on BMW's CLAR architecture, the Ghost II featured a slightly redesigned bodywork with redesigned headlights where the automaker installed uninterrupted daytime running lights surrounding the headlamps. Moreover, the hood sported a new design that evoked a ship trail created by the Spirit of Ecstasy's wings proudly mounted on top of the radiator. From its profile, both the SWB and the LWB versions featured a similar front area up to the B-pillars. The cab-rearward design was more obvious for the extended version that featured longer rear doors. Still, at the back, the car sported the same sloped-down trunk lid, while on the rear fascia, Rolls-Royce added trapezoidal chromed tips for the exhausts.

The interior of both vehicles was dominated by massive wood veneers and leather upholstery. For the former version, Rolls-Royce used four meters (12 ft) of wood, while for the leather, it used specific parts from eight cows. Moreover, the wood carpets ensured no exterior sound would make those seated inside raise their voices. At the front, the driver fronted a simple instrument cluster where the most particular dial was for the power-reserve gauge. There was no tachometer, and drivers didn't need one. In addition, a color screen for the infotainment system revealed its connection with those installed in BMWs due to their graphic design. In the back, the SWB version offered enough room for two adults seated on the bench seat. For those who wanted more legroom was the LWB, which added 17 centimeters (6.7") to the wheelbase, and all that dimension was reserved for the rear seats' legroom.

Under the hood, Rolls-Royce installed a choice of two engines with the same basic setup: a turbocharged 6.6-liter V12. The lesser-powered version provided 570 PS (562 HP), and the most potent one released 612 PS (604 HP) for those who craved more power. The maximum torque for both versions started at around 1,500 revolutions per minute, which meant the car could leap forward at any engine speed when needed. The car manufacturer didn't hurry to build the Ghost II. It chose some of the most challenging methods to make it and to provide the best quality on the market. It took Rolls-Royce 20 days to manufacture one vehicle. Even the paint needed a week to meet the automaker's quality standards.