It is highly unlikely that anyone needs explanations when it comes to the Rolls-Royce brand. We have all heard about it. We all know it’s expensive. A club for the selected elite. Rolls-Royce never built cars for volume. It has always been about being uniquely tailored to the individual.
The Ghost
The Rolls-Royce Ghost was introduced in 2010. With over a decade of building custom versions, Rolls-Royce decided to take the Ghost to the next level. Every vehicle needs customization, but what if there was an even tighter kept secret in the British luxury brand? What if there was a category reserved only for a few of the 1%?
When you get to the point where you don’t even bother keeping track of your finances, everything’s a playground. And toys are big and expensive. Yet, what do you do when you still want to stand out?
Introducing Black Badge
With all-black designs, paintjobs weighing 100 lbs and some of the most expensive materials, RR Black Badge models come for those that are at the peak.
Rolls-Royce markets the Ghost Black Badge as built for subversive clients. For those who built their empire and weren’t afraid to break the rules and say “screw your limits”.
The engine sports large numbers slightly upgraded from the “standard” V12, but nobody really cares about that. The humongous turbocharged V12 gives out 592 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque. Almost enough to get that yacht unstuck from the shallow waters surrounding one of your private islands.
None of the RR cars feel sporty despite their supercar-grade figures. Powerful and quick, yes, but not sporty. And why would they? It’s built for luxury. You don’t get to make a bold statement by passing fast but rather by going slow enough so that everyone can stand in awe.
The Statement
The Ghost Black Badge does make a statement. Huge carbon wheels slowly turn without missing the position of the RR logo in the center. Everywhere you look, everything is dark. Chrome has been darkened, black has been taken a few tones lower on the spectrum. Even the privacy glass pushes all light away. The Ghost lives up to its name. Cold and mysterious, it wanders unbothered by its surroundings, gliding to a destination known only by itself.
The paint sitting on the chassis weighs 100 lbs on its own. The paint is first atomized then applied to electrostatic body elements, then oven dried. To keep it immaculate, two layers of clear coating are applied. Yet, the signature piano black finish isn’t there yet. To achieve it, 5 expert craftsmen hand-polish the entire surface of the car, leaving no spot unchecked.
On the inside, there is a striking combination of black wood veneers, black technical fabrics. Obviously, there are no preset trims. The Black Badge lifestyle isn’t about what’s already there on offer, but rather about what one can get only for himself and no one else can match it. The 850 stars on the ceiling, visible only at night, fully compliment the philosophy. Only in a Rolls-Royce you will see the sky without seeing the sky.
The Purpose
Overall, the Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge isn’t there to boast with the price. Nor to impress by engine specs. It exists as a statement for those who made it all the way to the top and desire something they can customize to fit their phantom side and drive off into the night on a journey unknown.
