While I use the term “performance variant” loosely - since the Ghost isn’t chasing lap times or aiming for the top of the 0-62 mph leaderboard - the Ghost Black Badge represents how Rolls-Royce ensures the driver in the front matters as much as the one in the back.

It will take a keen eye to spot the exterior details that differentiate the “regular” Ghost from the Black Badge, but it follows the industry-wide trend of using chrome trim for luxury models and black trim for performance variants. Unsurprisingly, this begins with a black badge. The famous double-R logo features silver lettering on a black background, reversing the usual scheme. This sits below the remodelled Spirit of Ecstasy and above the Pantheon Grille, which is finished in black chrome. For the first time, the go-faster Ghost also gets a unique lower grille, with five angled slats on the outer edges to channel air into the brake cooling ducts.

As one would expect, the theme continues across the car, with the front wing-mounted logo, door handles, window surrounds, exhaust pipes, and boot lid trim finished in dark chrome. These elements aren’t painted; they’re plated with a specific electrolyte that achieves the dark shade. Each component is then hand-polished to a mirror finish.

The lights have also received new detailing. The rear clusters now feature a twin-strip design, while the headlights lose their C-shaped running light in favour of a flat L-shaped style, identical to what you’ll find on the current Vauxhall range - which, surprisingly, isn’t an insult. One lighting feature that hasn’t changed is the backlit Pantheon Grille, which I think is fantastic. Across all variants, the lower grille has been slightly reprofiled, with the removal of the horizontal chrome strip below the headlight clusters giving the limousine’s face a cleaner look. New 22-inch wheels complete the exterior tweaks, with the part-polished thin spokes revealing more of the large brakes behind them.

Powering the Black Badge is the venerable 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12, which in standard guise delivers 563 bhp and 627 lb-ft (850 Nm) of torque. The Black Badge gets an uprated tune, with an additional 29 bhp and 37 lb-ft (50 Nm), bringing totals to 582 bhp and 664 lb-ft (900 Nm). Power is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. While there’s no “Sport Mode,” there is a “LOW” button on the gear selector that increases gearshift speed by 50% when the accelerator is fully pressed, while also opening a valve in the exhaust to make the normally near-silent engine more audible.

To increase the driver appeal, the brake pedal biting point has been raised to offer more feedback, and a unique version of the Planar Suspension takes care of the delicate balance between composure and comfort. This sees an upper wishbone damper being placed above the front suspension, which works in tandem with the electronically controlled shock absorbers and self-levelling air struts. Air suspension features at the rear, and all four corners can take advantage of the Flagbearer technology which uses cameras to analyse the road ahead and adjust the suspension accordingly. Even the gearbox works with real-time data, as the Satellite Aided Transmission takes the car’s position and chooses the right gear for smooth and effective corner exits. The Black Badge-specific active suspension, the more potent V12 engine and the all-wheel steering system are the right ingredients for a surprisingly engaging limousine.

While the Ghost Black Badge is available in standard wheelbase guise only, there is still a vast expanse of space for the driver and passengers to enjoy. As well as leather upholstery, textiles are now part of the material menu with a bamboo-based fabric known as Duality Twill. A complete fabric interior comprises 2.2 million stitches and 11 miles of thread, requiring 20 hours to complete, and can be customised with 51 colours. Personalisation is the name of the game for a Rolls-Royce cabin, with Ghost customers spending a significant amount on customising their cars. If a leather interior is chosen, 3D-effect artwork can be incorporated into the seats with up to 107,000 perforations ranging from 0.8-1.2 mm.

The cabin carries over the exterior theme of darkened trim elements with a black dashboard being the home for the Spirit of Ecstacy, analogue clock and new SPIRIT infotainment system. Digital dials are found in the instrument cluster, but these can be personalised to match the interior theme of each specific car. Although I’d much prefer to see wood trim, Rolls-Royce have made a surprisingly tasteful carbon fibre trim which sees a diamond weave of carbon and metal above a Bolivar wood base. This is laid down by hand to create a 3D-effect, cured under pressure at 100 degrees, and sand-blasted before six layers of lacquer are applied to the surface. Just like with the exterior trim, the carbon fibre detailing is hand polished to create a mirror finish and reward those who choose to look closely.

The options are limitless with the brand’s Bespoke customisation programme, but typically my time on the configurator resulted in an emerald green exterior with a tan four-seat interior and a double-coachline to match. I’m sure that some more expressive examples will be leaving the Goodwood factory in the coming months.

The new Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge Series II is available to configure and order now, with prices dependent on how far you go with the Bespoke customisations. The updated model takes a step further away from the “regular” Ghost with unique bodywork detailing setting the stage for the uprated V12 powertrain and modified suspension to deliver on the promise of a more driver-focussed Rolls-Royce. I absolutely love making large limousines move quickly on back roads, and although a new Bentley Flying Spur would certainly cross the Forest of Bowland quicker, the sight of a Ghost Black Badge being hustled at pace could only be described as spectacular.