2021 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost launches in Australia

UPDATE, January 28, 2022: The 2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost has arrived in Australia, priced at $745,000 plus on-road costs.

The super-luxury vehicle, of which there are only two currently in the country – with others to arrive on a strictly by-commission basis, was launched in Melbourne today sporting arctic white paint rather than the more popular signature black.

Our original story below has been updated to include more information now available.

The story to here

October 30, 2021: Rolls-Royce has pulled the covers off its Black Badge Ghost, the latest in a range of shadowy ultra-luxury vehicles.

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Black Badge was launched in 2016, using darker materials and finishes in comparison to regular Rolls-Royce vehicles.

According to CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös, the treatment came as an “officially sanctioned response to a new kind of client”, and now makes up 27 per cent of all commissions. In the past decade, the average age of a Rolls-Royce buyer has dropped from 60 to around 40.

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While any of Rolls-Royce’s 44,000 colours are offered on the Black Badge Ghost (alongside any other custom hue), most have so far opted for piano black.

Touted as the car industry’s darkest, it uses 45 kilograms of atomised black paint. After being oven-dried, it’s covered with two coats of clear and then hand-polished by four craftsmen for a deep-gloss finish. Both the grille and badging are plated in black chrome.

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A new set of composite 21-inch wheels use 44 layers of carbon fibre on an aluminium hub. Like the regular Ghost, they feature a ‘floating’ centre hub to ensure the Rolls-Royce monogram is always facing upward.

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The ‘Post Opulent’ design philosophy carries inside the car, with a black heavy finish applied to fittings like the air vents and clock. Black Bolivar wood veneer features heavily, topped with carbon fibre-like ‘technical fibre.’ Rolls-Royce says most customers are opting for a black interior with coloured accents.

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The champagne cooler lid features six layers of lacquer, encasing a lemniscate symbol within. The mathematical representation for potential infinity is repeated throughout the cabin, including on the seats and star-illuminated dash fascia (optional) and headliner.

The spacious boot, accessible through a powered tailgate, has a 50-litre capacity.

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Rolls-Royce has tweaked the twin-turbo 6.75-litre V12 to produce an extra 21kW, boosting total output to 441kW. Torque has also been upped by 50Nm for a total 900Nm, which is available from a sedate 1700rpm. The V12 is mated to a bespoke eight-speed ZF automatic transmission.

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Like all Black Badges, the selector features a ‘low’ button. This changes the eight-speed auto’s shift points for a more responsive driving experience.

Measurement-wise, it stacks up at 5546 millimetres long, 2148mm wide, 1571mm high and has a wheelbase of 3295mm.

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Brakes remain the same as the regular Ghost – albeit with the pedal’s bite point and travel reduced for stronger feel. The air springs have been enlarged to reduce body roll during spirited cornering.

The new Ghost has a claimed top speed of 250km/h and can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.7 seconds.

Combined fuel consumption is rated at 15.8L/100km.

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The second-generation Ghost was launched globally in October 2020, and joins the Cullinan, Dawn, and Wraith in receiving the Black Badge treatment. It is one of the marque's fastest-selling models ever, with more than 3500 units shifted in the first 12 months.