The Ghost arrived in 2009 as the Rolls-Royce for owners who intended to drive themselves. It sat below the Phantom deliberately, in size and in price, and brought a younger set of buyers to the marque.

The engine is a 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12: 563 horsepower at 5,250 rpm and 780 Nm from 1,500 rpm, through an eight-speed automatic. 0 to 100 km/h takes 4.8 seconds, with the top speed limited to 250 km/h — all of it delivered quietly enough that the speed is easy to underestimate.

The proportions are traditional: the Parthenon grille swept slightly back, a long hood, and the Spirit of Ecstasy standing at the end of it. This car is finished in two-tone paint, which suits the shape.

Inside are analog gauges, weighted switchgear and an analog clock in the center console, with mirror-matched wood veneers running through the cabin and deeply cushioned leather seats.