Ghost

The Ghost is the Rolls-Royce for those who drive themselves. Pared-back lines, profound substance: the ideal saloon for a Sardinian stay that alternates business and the sea. A meeting in Cagliari in the morning; the SS195 towards Chia in the afternoon, salt pans and flamingos sliding past the window; dinner in Villasimius come evening. It is no coincidence that the route we trace in our guide to touring southern Sardinia in a grand tourer could have been drawn with this car in mind.

There is a subtler reason, too: the Ghost commands attention through authority, not clamour. On an island where conspicuous luxury is everywhere, arriving in a Ghost means speaking an altogether different grammar. If you are starting from the capital, Rolls-Royce rental in Cagliari includes delivery to your hotel, the port, or directly to Elmas airport.

The 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12 exists, but you have to take it on trust: at idle it is a murmur, and under load a distant breath accompanying the 0–62 mph sprint of 4.8 seconds. The Planar Suspension — with an additional damper on the upper wishbone of the front axle, a world first — irons out the imperfections of Sardinian asphalt, including the less manicured provincial roads of the interior.

The 8-speed automatic confers with the navigation system and readies the right gear before the corner arrives; the steering is light yet never vague, and all-wheel drive renders every surface neutral. The result is a state of calm unlike any other saloon: after an hour you notice you are driving more slowly. Not out of caution — out of pleasure.

The Black Badge is the Ghost at its sharpest: darkened finishes, a keener throttle response, an attitude that rewards those who genuinely love to drive. It is the natural configuration for anyone choosing the Ghost to savour the island's roads, not merely to reach a destination.

The EWB, with its extended wheelbase, shifts the centre of gravity of the experience to the rear seat: precious extra legroom, ideal when someone on board prefers to be driven — for events, or for evenings that matter. Both belong to a fleet of more than 100 models and over 150 versions: the full picture of the category is on our page dedicated to luxury sedans for hire in Sardinia.