There’s something sinister about thinking that Rolls-Royce is offering a Black Badge version of the Ghost for the ultra-rich to enjoy.
The question isn’t truly about whether or not this car is worth it for most of the world, but for those who expect greatness and demand the very best in their car. The Black Badge models offered are meant for those that want to enjoy driving, not for the owners that want to be driven around by a chauffeur, making them special cars from a name that has always symbolized the very best in the automotive world.
What Does this Badge Treatment Mean for the Ghost?
The first time we saw the name Black Badge on a car that bore the Spirit of Ecstasy emblem on the hood was in 2016. This treatment is mostly a style package that adds darkened aesthetics to the high-end car that we want to drive. Since it first arrived, this new package has become a huge success for the brand, giving us several amazing items that allow the cars that have this package included to appear a little more sophisticated, elegant, sinister, and interesting than the other versions.
Rolls-Royce has used the Black Badge name for the Ghost, Cullinan, Dawn, and Wraith to give us a full lineup of models that can enjoy the dark features and qualities that give us the dramatic impact we admire in the automotive world. This kit includes a set of lightweight wheels with carbon-fiber barrels, impressive aluminum inlay in the Bolivar wood trim, and a more powerful setup that includes a stiffer chassis for sportier driving.
The question for this package becomes, “Is this the right way for a car of this magnitude to drive?” This is a question we intend to answer.
An Amazing Style Awaits You
The look of the Rolls with the Black Badge treatments is so incredible that it makes you wonder why anyone would buy any car from this brand with any other style. Of course, that’s an opinion of someone that would never have the cash or cache to own one of these high-end cars (save for a lottery jackpot winning, fingers crossed). Off the rack, this car can be had with either a two-tone black and charcoal gray finish or a completely murdered-out paint job to give you the dark style you can admire that is accentuated with a light smattering of black chrome in all the right places.
Is the Drive Right in this Ghost?
We are only looking at what the Black Badge version of the Rolls-Royce Ghost has to bring, but this package is offered for all models from this brand. The driving dynamics have been altered from the chauffeur-driven smooth, quiet, pillow-like feeling on the road to something that’s a bit closer to what we might expect in a car made to be more athletic. The challenge is that this car is large and cumbersome, and changing the driving dynamics won’t fix that part of the equation.
Even so, the Black Badge version of the Ghost does have a power bump added to the 6.7-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine. You’ll find 592 horsepower and 664 lb.-ft. of torque. This gives you more horsepower and torque than what you find in a standard model of this car (if there is such a thing).
In addition to the added power, the transmission is tuned for quicker shifting, and the steering is tighter to make this car more agile during your drive. The chassis has been tightened to give you firmer air spring tunning and roll control, along with a stiffer feeling in the brakes. These changes are made in the software included in this package, which means all of the hardware is the same as what you find in the regular version.
Will You Notice the Various Updates During Your Drive?
The question of whether or not you’ll notice the changes made to give you the Black Badge version of a Rolls-Royce is one that is difficult to answer. During normal driving, what you might notice is the ride is a little stiffer, making it slightly less comfortable. Most of the updates in this package are made to perform for you when you’re reaching maximum power levels, not when you’re only using some of the power of this car.
With this in mind, driving this car with the Black Badge package included might not prove to be worth the added cost, but it sure does look amazing. You’ll be glad to have less body roll and sharper brakes, especially if you’re doing the driving and giving your chauffeur the day off, but most of the time, the ride will be slightly less comfortable and smooth when compared to a regular version of this car.
Should Rolls-Royce Turn to BMW for Some Advice
Because Rolls-Royce falls under the BMW umbrella, it might be a good idea to turn to the experts at making athletic vehicles to figure out how to make this version of the Ghost better on the road. This might be a difficult task considering the weight and build of this big car, but if there was a team that could make performance upgrades and improve the ride quality of this car, it would be the team in the M-Division of BMW.
Another Option…
Of course, the Black Badge version of this Rolls-Royce Ghost could simply be broken down into parts, and clients could select the best items from the package for their car. Most of the models that are made by this company are custom-built and extremely unique when compared to other cars. Those the buy from this company are not shy about spending money to have exactly what they want in a vehicle.
With this in mind, the Ghost with the Black Badge treatment could be given the ride quality desired by the ultra-rich. Of course, those that don’t spend time behind the wheel often just might find the joy of the drive in what this version of the Ghost has for their driving pleasure.
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