How important is the all-new Rolls-Royce Ghost? Well, in the illustrious 116-year history of the famous luxury marque, a period studded with some of the most spectacular vehicles ever made, the outgoing Ghost emerged as the most successful product of them all. The new Ghost, which was teased for the first time a month ago, therefore has some huge, leather-lined, Christian Louboutin shoes to fill.

It gets off to a fantastic start by nailing a Rolls-Royce design prerequisite: presence. With its ‘Post Opulent’ design philosophy, the new Ghost is instantly identifiable as a Rolls. It has grown marginally over the car it replaces, being 3.5 inches longer and 1.2 inches wider. The aesthetic is minimalist and pure, with details such as the metal grille bars brushed for just the right amount of light reflection.

The contour of the headlights is cleaner, with a simple rectangular shape. These LED and laser lights provide an illumination range of close to 2,000 feet. Another 20 LEDs sit beneath the radiator grille, gently lighting up its veins.

Along the flanks, one straight stroke enhances the impression of length, and the glasshouse features two equally sized front/rear windows. This is a subtle hint at the Ghost’s positioning both as a driver’s car and a car to be chauffeured in. The rear is classy, fuss-free, and with almost square-shaped light clusters.

With its spaceframe architecture and aluminum construction, the Ghost has been engineered as one of the most silent cars in the world, with over 220 pounds of sound-deading materials.

Adding to the car’s refinement is its silky 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V12 with 563 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque, which are similar outputs to the previous model.

However, the new Ghost now gains both all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering, aiding dynamism while also working with the Magic Carpet Ride suspension system to provide an unmatched ride. An evolvement of this is the Planar Suspension System featuring a world-first Upper Wishbone Damper unit in front, contributing to a smoother, more stable ride.

The marque’s Flagbearer system can scan the road ahead and react proactively to surface changes, while the eight-speed automatic Satellite Aided Transmission uses GPS data to make gear selections. Rolls claims a 0-60 mph time of 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph.

The exquisite cabin is everything you’d expect from a Rolls-Royce, from the Starlight headliner to the stunning illuminated dashboard. For the first time, customers benefit from powered doors that can also be opened at the touch of a button, not just closed. G-force sensors ensure that parking on an incline poses no issues with the operation of the doors.

Immaculately trimmed with available open-pore wood, the cabin provides access to features like active cruise control, a four-camera system with panoramic view, lane departure warning, a Wi-Fi hotspot, self-parking, and an 18-speaker Bespoke Audio system. 20 half hides are required for each Ghost cabin, and there’s a spacious 41.9 inches of rear legroom.

What is the price of opulence? Well, the new Ghost carries a base MSRP of $332,500, but that’s before delving into the brand’s vast customization catalog. An on-sale date remains unknown but should be announced imminently.