Car Report: The Rolls-Royce Ghost is a driveable sedan at the height of luxury

By Mike Parris
September 16, 2019 | 5:59 AM

At $428,900, the 2019 Rolls-Royce Ghost is an ultra luxury car at a heavy price. — The Ghost is the least expensive way to drive a Rolls-Royce sedan. It has a starting price of $315,000. But there are many options and packages to choose from, and my test car clocked in at an eye-popping $428,900. While you might think the Rolls-Royce is a better car to be driven around in as a passenger, that’s not the case with the Ghost, which provides an exquisite driving experience. While a large car, the Ghost is smaller than other Rolls-Royce sedans, making driving easier overall. It takes a few minutes to get used to the light steering and larger size, and you sit up higher than a normal sedan. While large, the Ghost is no slouch thanks to a twin-turbo V12 engine with 563 horsepower.

Hand made interior with leather everywhere. Seats are heated/ventilated with massage. — I would like to say, “crazy, who would dare?” — because of that asking price. But I really can’t, since the interior is simply exquisite — only the best materials are used. Leather covers the seats, dash, door panels and the center console. The interior came with three colors. The primary color was a Selby Grey with black as the secondary color and lastly, Consort Red which plays as a beautiful trim color on parts of the dash and steering wheel. What is not covered in leather is covered in Smoked Chestnut wood and aluminum trim pieces.

Real wood for the trim on the Rolls-Royce Ghost. — Even the radio pre-select buttons are glass and not plastic.

The view from the passenger seat in the Rolls-Royce Ghost. — You don’t really hear anything from inside the car. No wind, road or tire noise spoil the serenity. The suspension soaks up almost every road imperfection and bump without notice, only the bumpiest of bumps slightly intrude. The Ghost isn’t a sports car in the curves, its larger size and heavier weight means it's happier being driven in a gentler fashion. I sure didn’t care to push it as I soaked up the special feeling this car gives you from behind the wheel. This Rolls-Royce also comes equipped with useful tech: The night vision with object recognition warned me about a deer in the way that I couldn’t see.

The Lady of Ecstasy hood ornament is on full display. — I think Rolls-Royce was the originator of the larger front grill — it’s bright and rich-looking, made of metal with not a piece of plastic in sight. The heritage of the brand is there, but the look is modern with LED lighting that gives a somewhat sleek front face. The hood is long and the Spirit of Ecstasy is front-and-center and retracts when parked or with a touch of a button.

Testing the optional rear compartment Coolbox. It kept frozen treats cold for the ride home. — There is also a rear compartment cool box that keeps beverages chilled. Trunk space isn’t as big as you would expect for a car of this size and the middle back seat isn’t very comfortable, but that just about rounds out my nitpicks.

This car will definitely draw a crowd. — The Rolls-Royce Ghost is that ultimate statement luxury car for drivers. Its hand-made luxurious interior, combining power and technology, make a special experience for those who demand nothing but the best.

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This week we step into a dream car for many — a brand that says, “you have made it.”

What if you want the most luxurious ride you can find and still drive the car yourself? Lucky for you Rolls-Royce has just the ride: the 2019 Rolls-Royce Ghost.

Car Review: You can plug-in for better mpg with BMW’s new version of the X3

By Mike Parris
August 31, 2020 | 4:16 AM

Compact luxury crossovers are big business as buyer's trade in luxury sedans for the popular high riders. BMW redesigned its X3 a couple years ago to better compete in a more crowded marketplace. I drove the sporty X3 M40i in 2019 and was impressed with its potent performance. New for 2020 is a plug-in hybrid version that allows for 18-20 miles of electric-only driving. But when you combine the gas engine and that electric motor, the xDrive30e is transformed into a fun performance ride.

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