The town of Banff, Alberta is no stranger to the monied set, but when three Rolls-Royces pull up on the main street to discharge a group of auto scribes, passers-by stop and stare, and pull out their phones for photos.

Most people rarely ever see one Rolls-Royce, never mind a trio of them, and that’s how the British automaker wants it to be. Even warp-speed supercars wouldn’t garner much attention if there was one on every corner, and the exclusivity of that Spirit of Ecstasy ornament and the vehicle she rides upon is a major part of the appeal. Across its three model lines, the company only builds about five to six thousand vehicles each year. The number isn’t limited by orders received, but by the unique touches each owner wants, which in turn determines how long each takes to build.

I’m here to drive the 2022 Black Badge Ghost, a new addition to the company’s offerings and based on the new-for-2021 Ghost sedan. It isn’t an option package, but considered a separate model on its own.

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost, with its unique wheels switched for winter tires Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost includes unique carbon fibre wheels Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost, showing its rear coach doors Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost in-door umbrella holder Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost includes woven aluminum fibre Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

They share the same body and 6.7-litre V12 engine. But while the regular Ghost’s version puts out 563 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque, the Black Badge is tuned to 591 horses and 664 lb-ft. Both have all-wheel drive and four-wheel steering.

Both have an eight-speed automatic transmission, linked to satellite GPS so it can adjust its gears in advance should a hill be on the horizon. The car usually accelerates from a stop in second gear, simply because it’s smoother, but the Black Badge has a “low” button — on its surprisingly mundane black plastic shift-stalk handle — that starts in first gear for sportier performance. It also puts a rumble to the exhaust, but the cabin is so quiet that I strained to hear the difference.

The chassis and handling are further redefined for sharper feel and performance. This was the first Rolls-Royce I’ve driven, so I didn’t have a benchmark, but behind the wheel you immediately understand the car’s appeal beyond its badge. The steering is sharp and precise, acceleration is effortless, and despite weighing more than 2,500 kilograms, it corners flat like a smaller sports sedan. The company representative described the car as “51 per cent image, and the rest is performance to back it up.”

Certainly there is image on this car, with visual cues to differentiate the Black Badge approach, starting with the grille and the Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament in black chrome. Apparently enough owners were painting their chrome black that Rolls-Royce decided to offer it — but instead of paint, which could potentially chip or peel, the chrome is darkened with a chemical process. Mind you, that change wasn’t a split-second decision. The ornament — a woman who doesn’t have wings, but flowing sleeves — has been around since 1911. Because Rolls-Royce is all about tradition, the company’s board of directors first had to approve her transformation to the new shade.

The wheels are unique to the car, made of 22 layers of carbon fibre (not for weight savings, just for looks) attached to the aluminum hub with titanium fasteners, and with the standard spinning centre cap so the “RR” logo is always upright. For the first time on a Rolls, the brake calipers are a contrasting colour. Inside, the dash is finished with a diamond-weave of aluminum fibres, and the “shooting star” headliner that’s optional on other models, with pinpoints of light to resemble the night sky, is standard equipment. But no exterior colours are reserved for Black Badge, and you can choose from the company’s palette of some 44,000 factory-available shades.

Now this is a Rolls-Royce, so you can have pretty much whatever you want added if you’re willing to pay the price. Contrary to popular belief that the automaker won’t accept way-out-there requests, you can ask for just about anything — although if it’s outside the factory’s usual offerings, such as a non-stock leather dye that hasn’t been assessed to see if it could possibly weaken the seat structure, you’ll have to pay for the testing.

The 2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost uses “coach doors” Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

All of the Ghost’s doors open and close electrically, using buttons in the cabin or in the exterior door handles Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

The Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstacy slips below the hood to prevent its theft Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

The Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstacy slips below the hood to prevent its theft Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost with winter wheels Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost with winter wheels Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

autos, cars, reviews, rolls-royce, car review: 2022 rolls-royce black badge ghost

2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Photo by Jil McIntosh

You can outfit your Black Badge with different wheels (on my tester the carbon-fibre ones were swapped for winter tires and wheels), or wood instead of aluminum weave, but you can’t go the other way and order any of the Black Badge-specific items on a regular Ghost. In Canada, the Ghost starts at $393,500 and the Black Badge at $460,400, and of course no one wants to spring for the upscale edition and then see an entry-level look-alike parked nearby.

Few other automobiles prepare you for the coddling you get in a Rolls-Royce. The doors open and close electrically, and silver-handled umbrellas are tucked into the doors. The seats massage your butt; you can chill your champagne in the on-board refrigerator; and rear-seat passengers each get a deployable screen to activate the car’s infotainment functions.

That cabin can be as opulent as you like. One couple even ordered theirs with the “stars” in the headliner configured into how the sky looked on the night they met. Say what you want, but that has to beat eternity rings or matching tattoos.

Black Badge is also available in the Cullinan SUV, but not in the extended-wheelbase Ghost, nor the larger Phantom sedan. Globally, about 30 per cent of Ghost buyers are opting for Black Badge, and the take rate is even higher for Cullinan. It’s that extra on a vehicle that’s already an extra on its own. I remember when people marvelled that a Rolls-Royce cost more than a house, although these days, the $552,050 for the version I drove falls well short of a starter home in Toronto. But it’ll still get the looks when you pull up on the main street of Banff, open those electric doors, and everyone stops short and simply has to see.

Keyword: Car Review: 2022 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost

CAR'S NEWS RELATED

To Get The First US Rolls-Royce Spectre, Michael Fux Had To Buy Two

The longtime collector took delivery of his first Spectre EV in Miami.

View more: To Get The First US Rolls-Royce Spectre, Michael Fux Had To Buy Two

1955 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn Standard Steel Saloon

The rationalization policy initiated in the late 1930s at Rolls-Royce continued post-WWII, resulting in an increased reliance on externally sourced components rather than in-house manufacturing. A significant development during this period was the introduction of factory bodywork, which catered more to owner-drivers than traditional chauffeurs. This factory body, produced by ...

View more: 1955 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn Standard Steel Saloon

1961 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II Becomes 640-HP Retromod For SEMA

Ringbrothers also brings 1965 Ford Mustang Convertible and 1969 Dodge Charger restomods to the show.

View more: 1961 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II Becomes 640-HP Retromod For SEMA

Urban Automotive Brings Bespoke Range Rover & Rolls-Royce Ghost to SEMA

The team at Urban Automotive have brought their latest and greatest pair of bespoke British menaces to SEMA in Las Vegas, introducing the world to their blacked-out takes on the Rand Rover and Rolls-Royce Ghost. Urban Automotive’s showcase at SEMA is designed to show North American buyers what the British ...

View more: Urban Automotive Brings Bespoke Range Rover & Rolls-Royce Ghost to SEMA

1966 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Flying Spur Saloon

This Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III, a left-hand drive model, showcases the exquisite ‘Flying Spur’ four-door coachwork designed by H J Mulliner. Originally featured on the Bentley Continental in 1957, it made its debut on a Rolls-Royce chassis shortly after the introduction of the Silver Cloud III in 1962. Notably, the ...

View more: 1966 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Flying Spur Saloon

Rolls-Royce Made 30 Attempts To Paint This Bespoke Cullinan

But eventually, it achieved the perfect result and tested the paint under the Middle Eastern sun.

View more: Rolls-Royce Made 30 Attempts To Paint This Bespoke Cullinan

1952 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn Drophead Coupe

The rationalization policy initiated in the late 1930s at Rolls-Royce continued post-World War II. During this period, the company opted to procure more components externally rather than manufacturing them in-house. For the first time, they introduced factory bodywork, which catered better to owner-drivers rather than chauffeurs. This ‘standard steel’ body, ...

View more: 1952 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn Drophead Coupe

Top Fascinating Rolls-Royce Cars

1. Phantom Solid Gold, 2. Rolls-Royce 10hp, 3. Hyperion Pininfarina, 4. Ghost Fenice Milano, 5. Phantom “Year of the Dragon edition”, 6. Phantom Mansory Conquistador, 7. Phantom Drophead Coupe, 8. Phantom Hearse B12, 9. Phantom, 10. Phantom Coupe. Rolls Royce is one of the leading luxury car brands. It started ...

View more: Top Fascinating Rolls-Royce Cars

Rolls-Royce’s Ghost Ékleipsis is an Eclipse Inspired Limited Edition

Best-selling car from every brand in South Africa

Rolls-Royce Reveals The Black Badge Ghost Ekleipsis

Rolls-Royce Ghost Gets Animated Headliner For Stellar Solar Eclipse Tribute

New Rolls-Royce Teaser Suggests A Bespoke Ghost Will Debut Tomorrow

Rolls-Royce CEO Retires, Chris Brownridge Named New Boss

At $60,000, Is This 1983 Rolls-Royce Camargue A Stately Steal?

1931 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Regent Convertible Coupé

One-Of-One Rolls-Royce Phantom Inspired By Italian Villages

One-Off Rolls-Royce Phantom Takes Inspiration From Italian Fishing Villages

1925 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Piccadilly Roadster

Rolls-royce Silver Dawn (1951)

OTHER CAR NEWS

; Top List in the World https://www.pinterest.com/newstopcar/pins/
Top Best Sushi Restaurants in SeoulTop Best Caribbean HoneymoonsTop Most Beautiful Islands in PeruTop Best Outdoor Grill BrandsTop Best Global Seafood RestaurantsTop Foods to Boost Your Immune SystemTop Best Foods to Fight HemorrhoidsTop Foods That Pack More Potassium Than a BananaTop Best Healthy Foods to Gain Weight FastTop Best Cosmetic Brands in the U.STop Best Destinations for Food Lovers in EuropeTop Best Foods High in Vitamin ATop Best Foods to Lower Your Blood SugarTop Best Things to Do in LouisianaTop Best Cities to Visit in New YorkTop Best Makeup Addresses In PennsylvaniaTop Reasons to Visit NorwayTop Most Beautiful Islands In The WorldTop Best Law Universities in the WorldTop Richest Sportsmen In The WorldTop Biggest Aquariums In The WorldTop Best Peruvian Restaurants In MiamiTop Best Road Trips From MiamiTop Best Places to Visit in MarylandTop Best Places to Visit in North CarolinaTop Best Electric Cars For KidsTop Best Swedish Brands in The USTop Best Skincare Brands in AmericaTop Best American Lipstick BrandsTop Michelin-starred Restaurants in MiamiTop Best Secluded Getaways From MiamiTop Best Things To Do On A Rainy Day In MiamiTop Most Instagrammable Places In MiamiTop Interesting Facts about FlorenceTop Facts About The First Roman Emperor - AugustusTop Best Japanese FoodsTop Most Beautiful Historical Sites in IsraelTop Best Places To Visit In Holy SeeTop Best Hawaiian IslandsTop Reasons to Visit PortugalTop Best Hotels In L.A. With Free Wi-FiTop Best Scenic Drives in MiamiTop Best Vegan Restaurants in BerlinTop Most Interesting Attractions In WalesTop Health Benefits of a Vegan DietTop Best Thai Restaurant in Las VegasTop Most Beautiful Forests in SwitzerlandTop Best Global Universities in GermanyTop Most Beautiful Lakes in GuyanaTop Best Things To Do in IdahoTop Things to Know Before Traveling to North MacedoniaTop Best German Sunglasses BrandsTop Highest Mountains In FranceTop Biggest Hydroelectric Plants in AmericaTop Best Spa Hotels in NYCTop The World's Scariest BridgeTop Largest Hotels In AmericaTop Most Famous Festivals in JordanTop Best European Restaurants in MunichTop Best Japanese Hiking Boot BrandsTop Best Universities in PolandTop Best Tips for Surfing the Web Safely and AnonymouslyTop Most Valuable Football Clubs in EuropeTop Highest Mountains In ColombiaTop Real-Life Characters of Texas RisingTop Best Beaches in GuatelamaTop Things About DR Congo You Should KnowTop Best Korean Reality & Variety ShowsTop Best RockstarsTop Most Beautiful Waterfalls in GermanyTop Best Fountain Pen Ink BrandsTop Best European Restaurants in ChicagoTop Best Fighter Jets in the WorldTop Best Three-Wheel MotorcyclesTop Most Beautiful Lakes in ManitobaTop Best Dive Sites in VenezuelaTop Best Websites For Art StudentsTop Best Japanese Instant Noodle BrandsTop Best Comedy Manhwa (Webtoons)Top Best Japanese Sunglasses BrandsTop Most Expensive Air Jordan SneakersTop Health Benefits of CucumberTop Famous Universities in SwedenTop Most Popular Films Starring Jo Jung-sukTop Interesting Facts about CougarsTop Best Hospitals for Hip Replacement in the USATop Most Expensive DefendersTop Health Benefits of GooseberriesTop Health Benefits of ParsnipsTop Best Foods and Drinks in LondonTop Health Benefits of Rosehip TeaTop Best Air Fryers for Low-fat CookingTop Most Asked Teacher Interview Questions with AnswersTop Best Shopping Malls in ZurichTop The Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens In L.A.Top Best Mexican Restaurants in Miami for Carb-loading rightTop Best Energy Companies in GermanyTop Best Garage HeatersTop Largest Banks in IrelandTop Leading Provider - Audit and Assurance In The USTop Best Jewelry Brands in IndiaTop Prettiest Streets in the UKTop Best Lakes to Visit in TunisiaTop Highest Mountains in Israel