Rolls-Royce Ghost Extended

Scope of this guide

This guide is scoped to the standard Rolls-Royce Ghost Extended of the second generation, the long-wheelbase saloon announced in September 2020 and sold from 2020 onwards. It does not cover the first-generation Ghost, which is a different car with a different platform and its own guide on this site. It also does not cover the Black Badge Ghost, which is a separate variant. Where the standard-wheelbase Ghost or the Black Badge car differ in a way that matters to an owner, we say so in a dedicated section below.

We have not driven this model for this article. Everything here comes from the manufacturer's own announcement, from published specification pages and from a used-car buying guide. We have not inspected a car, so treat the ownership notes as a checklist of questions to ask, not as a verdict on any individual car.

What the Ghost Extended is

The Ghost Extended is the second-generation Ghost with a longer wheelbase. Rolls-Royce states that it is 170 mm longer than the standard Ghost, and that the extra length goes into the rear cabin, so the rear doors and the body around them are extended while the front half of the car stays the same. The aim is more legroom for rear-seat passengers, which is why the car is aimed at owners who are driven as often as they drive.

First customer deliveries were announced for the fourth quarter of 2020. Production is not shown as ended in the catalogue, so we list it as ongoing from 2020 and give no production count, because we found no source for one.

Engine, power and performance figures

The Ghost Extended uses a 6.75L twin-turbo V12 petrol engine, described by Rolls-Royce as developed exclusively for the Ghost. The manufacturer quotes 571 PS and 850 Nm. PS is the metric horsepower unit, so we convert it: 571 PS multiplied by 0.98632 gives 563 bhp. That is the figure we use throughout, and it is the same output expressed in British horsepower, not a different tune.

Published specification pages give a displacement of 6,749 cc, which rounds to the 6.75 litres in the manufacturer's wording. For acceleration, the figure we use is 4.8 seconds from rest to 100 km/h. Rolls-Royce's announcement gives no acceleration or top speed, so this comes from independent specification listings, and an owner should treat it as a quoted figure and not as something we have measured. The quoted top speed is 250 km/h.

In short, the catalogue figures for this guide are 563 bhp, 850 Nm, 4.8 seconds to 100 km/h and 250 km/h. A car this size and this quiet is not bought for its numbers, but the figures do tell you the engine is working well within itself in normal use, which is part of the appeal.

Drivetrain and steering

The Ghost Extended is an all-wheel drive car. The manufacturer says the Extended benefits from all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering for the first time, so the drivetrain is all-wheel drive and not rear-wheel drive. An earlier catalogue entry on this site listed it as rear-wheel drive, and we have corrected that. If you see a listing or an older review that says rear-wheel drive, it is either describing a different car or it is wrong.

Power goes through an automatic gearbox in published specifications. The all-wheel steering matters for ownership because it adds components and calibration to the steering system, and it helps a long car turn in tight spaces. Ask a specialist what a steering or alignment fault would involve on a car with this layout before you commit.

Ride and suspension

The ride is the main reason people choose this car. Rolls-Royce calls it the Magic Carpet Ride and says it is delivered by a new Planar Suspension System. The manufacturer describes continuously variable electronically controlled dampers, self-levelling air struts and an upper wishbone damper that it calls a world first.

For an owner, air suspension is both the benefit and the main long-term question. Ask whether the car has any history of warning messages about the suspension, whether it sits level after being parked overnight, and whether any air strut or damper work has been done and by whom. We have no figure for the cost or interval of this work, so we give none.

Rear cabin and equipment

The rear is where the Extended justifies itself. The manufacturer says a reclining Serenity Seat can be specified for the first time, and that a Champagne fridge sits between the rear seats with two cooling modes of six and 11 degrees Celsius. It also cites a large amount of acoustic damping material in the chassis, body and tyres, and a cabin air purification system that switches to recirculation when air quality drops.

Because rear equipment varies by order, check exactly what the car you are viewing has. Test the reclining seat, the fridge, the rear controls and every screen, and ask for the original specification sheet so you can compare it with what is fitted.

What to check before buying

We were not able to find a used buying guide written for the Extended itself. The PistonHeads guide we cite is mainly about the first-generation Ghost, with only brief notes on the newer car, so we use it for general ownership context and not for any specification. Anything below is a sensible question to ask, and is not a documented fault.

• Full service history from a franchised dealer, with the dates of each visit.
• Whether any software updates or open campaigns have been carried out.
• The condition of the air suspension, including whether the car sits level.
• The behaviour of the all-wheel steering at parking speeds, including any warnings.
• Tyre age and condition, because the acoustic tyres are part of the car's quietness.
• Every rear-cabin feature working as the original specification says.
• Any accident repair, with the repair work documented and carried out by a recognised body shop.

Running costs and servicing

This is a large, heavy car with a big engine, and the manufacturer lists combined fuel consumption of about 15 litres per 100 km on the older NEDC basis and a little over 15 litres per 100 km on the WLTP basis. That puts consumption in the range of 18 mpg, so fuel is a real cost. We quote no prices, service costs or insurance bands, because we have not verified them and they vary by owner, car and supplier.

Ask the seller or a franchised dealer about the service schedule and the warranty position for the specific car, since both depend on age, mileage and market. A car that has been maintained by the book is worth more attention than one with gaps.

Recalls and safety checks

Before buying any used car, run its registration through the official government recall check at the link in our sources. It tells you whether a manufacturer recall is outstanding on that vehicle. We have not run a recall check for this article, because we have no specific car to check, so we cannot say whether any recall applies to the Ghost Extended. Do the check yourself, and ask a dealer to confirm that any recall work has been completed.

Where the standard Ghost and Black Badge differ

The standard-wheelbase Ghost shares the engine, the all-wheel drive layout and the Planar suspension with the Extended, but it is 170 mm shorter in the wheelbase, so it has less rear legroom. The Serenity Seat is described by the manufacturer as selectable on the Extended for the first time, so do not assume it is on every Ghost.

The Black Badge Ghost is a separate variant with its own character and its own published figures. We do not quote its power, torque or performance here, and the numbers in this guide must not be applied to it. If you are comparing the two, use the Black Badge specification page for that car.

What we could not verify

We could not confirm the acceleration figure from the manufacturer, which is why we describe it as a quoted figure. We found no production count, no official kerb weight in a source we trust and no verified list of changes made during the production run, so we make no claim about them. We also could not reach the manufacturer's own specification page, and we did not try to get around that. The figures come from the announcement and from independent listings instead.

If a figure in this guide matters to your decision, check it against the car's registration documents and the manufacturer's current specification before you buy.

Sources and how we checked

The engine, output, torque, drivetrain, steering, suspension and rear-cabin details come from the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announcement. The displacement and the acceleration and top speed figures come from independent specification pages, and the used-car context comes from the PistonHeads buying guide. The recall check is the government service named above. Where the sources and the previous catalogue entry disagreed, we followed the manufacturer on drivetrain and the conversion above on power.