After the takeover of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars by BMW in the early 2000’s, it was becoming apparent that the flagship Phantom VII (2003) was in need of an affordable alternative to compete against other full-size saloons in the luxury segment. In 2009, the 200EX prototype was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, and by the end of that year, the new Ghost started appearing in Rolls-Royce showrooms.
Built on the same platform as the BMW F01 7-series, the Ghost only shared 20% of parts with its German brethren, and was built —still is— at the Rolls-Royce Goodwood plant in UK, sharing the same finishes as the more expensive Phantom series. Twelve cylinders, displaced to 6.6 litres, powered the Ghost with 563bhp, propelling the 2.5-ton saloon to 100kmp in less than 5 seconds; the ZF gearbox, at the other end, managed all this power through eight gears, all in whisper-quiet comfort.
In 2014, the model underwent a cosmetic facelift with minor changes to body, interior and lighting. In this second generation, the higher-performance Black Badge Series, characterised for the black-plated brightwork accents and higher performance output (603hp), was made available to clients looking for a sportier look and experience.
This particular car was sold new in Japan in 2016 through Cornes Rolls-Royce. Finished in an elegant combination of two-tone Silver Sand II over crème leather, it has recently received a service at Rolls-Royce Dubai (May 2024), new runflat tyres, and it is cosmetically immaculate. The car comes with books, tools, records, warning triangle, first aid kit, and both its iconic door umbrellas.