Ghost

Segment
Sedan

The current Rolls-Royce Ghost has been on sale for over a decade, but the production of the "entry-level" limousine came to an end last year, commemorated with the launch of the exclusive Zenith Collector's Edition. As the next-generation Rolls-Royce gets closer to production, our spies have caught two prototypes being tested with less camouflage than before, revealing more of its elegant shape.

This time, the standard 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost has been spied alongside the new Extended Wheelbase version for the first time, which has noticeably longer rear doors. Compared to the standard version, the current-generation Rolls-Royce Ghost Extended Wheelbase is seven inches longer, offering more rear cabin space.

As we've seen with previous prototypes, the 2021 Rolls-Royce will be all-new, but the exterior design will be an evolutionary update, with slimmer headlights and a larger grille to make the design language match the Phantom and Cullinan.

Inside, the luxurious cabin will be heavily inspired by the Cullinan SUV, meaning it will be loaded with tech including a wide infotainment screen paired with a fully digital instrument cluster. Like the Cullinan and the Phantom, the new Ghost will ride on Rolls-Royce's Architecture of Luxury aluminium platform, which should make it significantly lighter than its predecessor.

As for the powertrain, the next-generation Rolls-Royce Ghost is expected to pack a 6.75-liter twin-turbo V12, which produces 563 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque in the Phantom. The current Ghost, on the other hand, is powered by a 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Rolls-Royce was planning to reveal the all-new Ghost in the second half of this year, but the ongoing coronavirus pandemic could delay its long-awaited debut. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rolls-Royce closed its manufacturing facility in Goodwood, UK, last week. The shutdown is scheduled to last for two weeks, but planned maintenance over the Easter holiday means that production won't resume until May at the earliest.