New Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II Launches With Subtle Improvements, $355,000 Starting Price

Stepping up to the Black Badge means $420,000 at the very least. As implied, the Black Badge moniker indicates a bit more power from the BMW-produced V12 engine, a sportier tune for the suspension, a better exhaust sound, a raised braking bite point, and slightly decreased pedal travel.

Black Badge further stands for 50 percent quicker gearshifts, but only when the loud pedal is depressed to 90 percent or more. Being controlled by a German automaker, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars lists 29 more pferdestarke and 50 more newton meters than Ghost Series II, resulting in peak output figures of 592 mechanical horsepower and 664 pound-feet (900 Nm) of twist.

By comparison, the Ghost Series II makes do with 563 horses and 627 pound-feet (850 Nm) from its N74 engine, with maximum torque available from 1,600 revolutions per minute. As ever, both the Ghost and the Black Badge rely on ZF's ubiquitous 8HP eight-speed automatic transmission. Said auto premiered quite a few years ago in a BMW, namely the F01- and F02-gen 760i and 760Li.

From the standpoint of exterior design, the biggest change from the pre-facelift model comes in the form of a pair of revised headlights. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars also worked its magic on the Pantheon front grille, which is now illuminated for that extra bit of visual drama. Out back, the most obvious development from the Ghost Series I is the lighting signature of the taillights.

Stepping inside the ultra-luxury sedan reveals a massive glass display panel that extends from one pillar to the other. It brings together an illuminated front-passenger fascia, touchscreen infotainment, and – somewhat disappointingly – a digital instrument cluster.

Spirit is what R-R calls the operating system, which is much obliged to work in conjunction with a smartphone app dubbed Whispers. According to Goodwood's favorite son, Whispers is a private members application that allows Ghost Series II owners to view the vehicle's location, manage different functions remotely, and send navigation destinations via their iOS or Android smartphones.

As far as rear-seat entertainment is concerned, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars upgraded the luxobarge to dual streaming. More specifically, the rear passengers can stream independently on each of the rear screens. The screens in question also feature a graphical interface for the massaging, heating, and cooling functions of the rear seats.

USB-C ports also need to be mentioned, along with Bluetooth connectivity and an improved Wi-Fi hotspot. Oh, and by the way, the Ghost Series II now comes with an 18-speaker audio system packing a 1,400-watt amplifier, up 100 watts from the pre-facelift model.

Sustainable interior trims have been added to the options list, along with a metallic paint color known as Mustique Blue. On the mechanical front, Rolls-Royce updated the front upper wishbone damper unit for an even smoother, more composed ride. Although R-R hasn't said a word about delivery estimates, we do know that the order books for the North American market are open.