The new Rolls-Royce Ghost sedan came out last month, getting an all-wheel-drive system for the first time on its record. Why wouldn’t the company’s flagship, the Phantom, follow suit? The mic goes to Johnathan Simms, Chief Engineer of the Ghost Project.
Nearly all executive saloons offer AWD modifications nowadays. This includes the Bentley Flying Spur, the BMW 7 Series, the Maserati Quattroporte, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class (including Maybach) and the Porsche Panamera. As for the Audi A8, it does not come in a 2WD form at all.
Furthermore, the Ghost even utilizes the same Architecture of Luxury as the Phantom Mk8 and the Cullinan. The platform enables it to go AWD and support ride height adjustment. So why not? According to Johnathan Simms, nothing prevents the company from producing just such a car – but the demand appears to be near zero. Take Russia, for example, where the clientele is excited to see a full-fledged Rolls-Royce SUV, but much less so a four-wheel-drive executive saloon.
Another important point to consider is that the system would make the car heavier than it already is and also increase its unsprung weight, potentially compromising its otherwise superb suspension softness.
One last reason is a matter of social class: the Phantom has been very specifically designed to be driven by a professional hired driver. Should the car owner wish to drive his own AWD luxury vehicle, they could always add a Ghost or a Cullinan to their collection.