DMC Tuning’s proclivity to offer customized programs for its customers has helped endear it to a large swath of celebrity clients. Recently, the German tuner took up the task of customizing a Rolls-Royce Ghost owned by Korean actor Jang Keun-Suk.

The two parties agreed that this program wouldn’t carry the flashy upgrades of some of DMC’s past works. Instead, focus was paid on giving the Ghost->ke3434 an understated aerodynamic kit that doesn’t take too much away from the Ghosts standard looks.

The result is what DMC calls the Ghost “SaRangHae” Edition, a nod to the Korean definition of love. It may look like a standard Ghost for the most part, but it’s got a handful of modifications on the body and engine that helps improve its overall character and performance capabilities.

I don’t know who Jang is, but if his acting is as good as his taste in cars and aftermarket tuners, then maybe it’s time to give to go watch one of his movies — with subtitles, of course.

Continue after the jump to read the full review.

Exterior

Performing exterior modifications on a Rolls-Royce can be tricky. There’s always that risk of overdoing it. To its credit, DMC recognized that risk and purposefully tried to create a kit that subtly enhanced the Ghost’s visual appeal without taking away any of its renowned design spirit. The trim work on the front fascia is understated to the point that it’s hard to notice the difference. But it’s there, which is the really important thing. Even the side profile only gets a straight lined side skirt that continues the minimalist tone of the kit. If anything, it’s only the Ghost’s rear section where you see a noticeable change. There’s a new trunk spoiler, diffuser, and rear trim that adds that touch off sportiness that DMC is known for.

Rounding out the exterior package are a new set of 24-inch diamond forged wheels wrapped in Pirelli tires. Those 24s are actually pretty big for the Ghost but they do help enhance the luxury car’s stance. They’re also the same ones DMC used for its wide body G Class G63 Zeus program.

Interior

DMC is offering a comprehensive list of interior modifications that customers can take full advantage of. The personalized nature of the cabin allows clients to really dress up the interior depending on what they want to see. Leather options are available. Carbon fiber too, and in case someone’s looking for some rare materials, the German tuner is also offering things like Sting Ray, which I presume to be one of those exotic leathers.

Drivetrain

Keeping with the program’s straightforward theme, DMC’s engine modification on the Ghost involves just two components: a revised ECU and a high performance exhaust system. The former helps increase the output on the luxury car’s 6.6-liter V-12 engine from 563 horsepower and 575 pound-feet of torque to an impressive 632 horsepower and 634 pound-feet of torque. That’s an increase of 69 horsepower and 59 pound-feet of torque. It’s not as much as some of the other kits available in the market, but it’s powerful enough to help the Ghost sprint from 0 to 62 mph in just 4.5 seconds to go with a top speed of 183 mph.

Price

DMC isn't releasing pricing details for this program because the kit does leave a lot to a client's taste and preference. Should you be interested, the German tuner prefers that you reach out to it directly so you can discuss the finer details on what you'd like in your program, especially as it relates to the interior modifications.

Competition

Mercedes S-Class Coupe Ethon by Fab Design

There are only a handful of cars that qualifies as a worthy rival to the Rolls-Royce Ghost. Once of those cars is the Mercedes S-Class Coupe, the German automaker’s flagship model that has established its own reputation as a bonafide luxury-performance coupe. Earlier this month, noted Mercedes tuner FAB Design presented its latest program for the S-Class Coupe. It’s called the “Ethon” and it’s got plenty of aerodynamic and performance upgrades that really brings the fight to the Ghost.

It has a revised grille with mesh inserts and a new bumper design on the front. It has side skirts and a new rear bumper with an integrated diffuser. A new set of 22-inch forged EVOLUTION II alloy wheels wrapped in Pirelli tires are also part of the package.

Just like DMC’s work on the Ghost, the engine upgrade on the S-Class Coupe didn’t involve too many complicated details. Instead, FAB Design went with the straightforward approach of just increasing the output of the car’s 4.7-liter bi-turbo V-8 engine from the standard 449 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque output to an impressive 630 horsepower and 678 pound-feet of torque. The uprated output is right around where the Ghost is post tuning and the the S-Class Coupe’s 0 to 60 mph of 4.5 seconds and top speed of 186 mph are both too close to call.

Read our full review here.

Bentley Continental Sanguis by Mansory

Wouldn’t it be cool if the Ghost SaRangHae lined up against the S-Class Coupe Ethon and the Bentley Continental Sanguis by Mansory for a nice race?

All three cars come with upgraded engines that fall under the same output. Mansory, for its part, also prepared an engine upgrade made up of an ECU retune, a new air filter, and a sports exhaust system that resulted in the Continental’s 6.0-liter W-12 engine getting 672 horsepower and 575 pound-feet of torque. It’s got the highest horsepower of the three programs, but it’s torque number falls short compared to the Ghost and the S-Class Coupe. That allows all three cars to have 0-to-62-mph times that are almost identical to each other. For the record, the Continental’s sprint time to 62 mph takes 4.5 seconds.

If the Bentley does have an advantage, it’s in the top speed as its 200-mph top speed is a little higher than the Ghost and the S-Class Coupe. But other than that, these three programs are about as similar as you’re going to get on three different models from three different tuning firms.

Read our full review here.

Conclusion

This is one of those programs that fall into that love/hate vortex that tuners prefer not to get caught up in. On one hand, the subtlety of the entire kit speaks to the attention DMC pain into keeping it that way. Except for that rear spoiler and the aggressive-looking diffusers, there’s not a lot about the exterior that really stands out. Some like it that way because they want to keep the Ghost’s luxurious visage intact. But there are others who prefer a kit with a little more flavor to it. They’re the ones that are going to look at this program, shrug their shoulders, and move on without any hesitation.

For what it’s worth, I belong in the first group. I love this program, not because of the subtlety it has, but because DMC really went out of its way to make it so. It could have gone the way of its other kits and did something over-the-wall, but with the guidance of Jang Keun Suk, it decided to dress up the Ghost in the most unimaginative way possible, except that in doing so, the Rolls ended up actually looking better than it did in standard guise.