“I am delighted to unveil a new model that promises to have the boldest design, the most dramatic performance and most powerful Rolls-Royce that has ever played host to the famous Spirit of Ecstasy figurine. Naturally, the starting point is luxury, refinement and exclusivity, traits that have made
Rolls-Royce the world’s pinnacle luxury brand for the last 109 years. But this is also a car defined by a timeless elegance, one that encapsulates a sense of power, drama and just a hint of the noir. It is the car we believe our great founding forefather and adventurer, Charles Rolls would have chosen to drive were he alive today" commented Torsten Müller-Ötvös,
CEO Rolls-Royce Motor Cars at the unveil of the all new Wraith! Let's meet her...
Rolls-Royce Wraith
....when it does not exist design it
There was the company’s founding forefather, the Honorable Charles Rolls, a man whose appetite for adventure drove him to success in motor racing, ballooning and aviation. He became the first man in history to cross the English Channel and return without stopping in a powered aircraft, an achievement that earned him the highest praise of King George V.
Wraith echoes the spirit of these historic endeavors, pushing the boundaries of design and engineering, challenging perceptions and delivering the most dynamic, involving driving experience in the marque’s history.
It didn’t exist, so
Rolls-Royce designed it.
Lines and Drama
In shape, Wraith presents an element of elegant simplicity, the swept lines of the fastback, a style whose origins can be found in 1930s automotive design, most clearly signal its character. Bold lines, tension in the panels and a raked rear screen evoke the image of an athlete poised in the starting blocks. Further expression of dynamic intent can be seen in Wraith’s deeply recessed grille, wide rear track and dramatic two-tone presentation.
Coach doors open to reveal a sumptuous interior complete with softest leathers and expanses of wood called Canaled Paneling. Named after the famous cove in the South of France (their version of Jetta grotto) where Sir Henry Royce and his design and engineering teams spent their winters, this contemporary and tactile finish sweeps through the interior.
The
Rolls-Royce principle of effortlessness has informed designers’ thinking throughout. Perfectly appointed storage compartments for two iPads add convenience for rear seat passengers, whilst automatic door closing buttons located behind the A-pillar aid those in the front.
Welcoming four occupants, Wraith’s interior has additional ambient lighting which comes on request with waterfall roof lights that deliver increased but unobtrusive illumination with a hint of Art Deco influence.
And to fit our actual Christmas mood, add to it one of the marque’s most popular Bespoke features to complete the glamour that befits this fancy interior, it's the Starlight Headliner which presents a starry night sky within the cabin, an effect that is achieved with 1,340 individual fiber optic lights hand-woven into the leather roof-lining by craftspeople in the
Rolls-Royce Leather shop. I know, I know what you guys are thinking of, yes they have electricity at all time in
Rolls-Royce motorcars, unlike a place where we live, guess where???
The dynamic theme is reinforced when viewed from the driver’s seat. Black chrome dials are framed by a black horseshoe sweep. Blood orange tips to gauge indicators pay homage to the brand’s aviation heritage whilst the steering-wheel is thicker to build dynamic intent.
The finest Phantom-grade natural grain leather adds even more luxury, armrests and panniers reinforce the opulence, inspired in their design by fine saddle-making.
Machine and Noir Power
Performance should follow Wraith’s styling. Power delivery is effortless, but dramatic, thanks to a V12 engine married to 8-speed automatic ZF transmission (why are you smiling? yes also in cars we have marriage, with more or less the same "bond" principle), 624 hp is available to the driver while the 0-60 mph sprint is achieved in 4.4 seconds, compared with 563 hp and 0-60 in 4.7 seconds for Ghost, which offered its platform to Wraith.
From 1,500 rpm 800 Nm of torque is available (780Nm for Ghost), while a wide rear track, shorter wheelbase and lower roof height further contribute to the most powerful, involving driving experience of any
Rolls-Royce in history. The car’s suspension has also been tuned to minimize body roll and discreetly amplify feedback when cornering; while steering weight is heavier at high speeds and lighter at low speeds adding to the spirited drive.
However, Wraith is not a GT, now if you're rich but you pour one liter of hair gel and you open 8 of 9 buttons of your white or black shirt showing the quantity of Lancaster consumed during the day, don't waste your time with Wraith, she will kick you out... you have to be classy, laugh at English jokes and speak slowly, walk slowly, actually do everything slowly...
Agility improvements have been achieved with absolutely no compromise to the sensation of riding on a bed of air. Furthermore, the debut of Satellite Aided Transmission (SAT) technology takes the powertrain to a new level of effortless delivery. SAT uses GPS data to see beyond what the driver sees; it anticipates his next move based on location and current driving style, then selects the most appropriate gear for the terrain ahead. Corners, motorway junctions and roundabouts are all anticipated in advance, hahahaha I would love to see this thing on Tayouneh or Dora roundabout!
Lifestyle in the Dark
In 2013, the famous Spirit of Ecstasy figurine celebrates her 102nd birthday. More than any other symbol of luxury, the flying lady stands as a genuine icon, one whose image continues to adorn the grille, but is now also reproduced within Wraith’s cabin, gently rotating on-screen when the engine is started. It is also depicted within the crystal glass surface of the new rotary controller, which has the ability to ‘write’ characters by finger, as well as the ability to scroll through function menus by turning the chrome dial and pressing down to select its functions.
Effortless navigation is extended to searches with a mobile device when away from Wraith – once a client has downloaded the free
Rolls-Royce Connect App.
Voice activation commands can also be used to send emails and text messages, safely, conveniently and directly from the car. Wraith’s on-board hard drive holds 20.5 GB of storage, meaning it can host approximately 5,700 items of music downloaded via the USB port located within the center console or glove compartment. IPod and iPad connection allows the importation of music, but also podcast and audio book downloads. Bluetooth audio streaming is an option too, from one of two phones that can be paired with equal functionality. The fully active 18-channel amplifier delivers surround sound through 18 speakers. This includes two central bass speakers located in the boot, seven tweeters, seven mid-range and two ‘exciter’ speakers in the headliner bringing the sound sensation to ear level with up to 1,300W.
As one would expect of a
Rolls-Royce, no technical avenue has been left unexplored to ensure occupant safety. The Advanced Crash Management system (ACSM) for example, utilizes sensors placed around the car to make 2,000 measurements per second. This data ensures the car deploys the correct safety features in the event of an accident.
Effortless motoring in both the city and on the open road is augmented by a sophisticated series of cameras discreetly placed around the car. Rear, front and 360 degree top view cameras ensure total ease of maneuverability.
When Rolls-Royce Motor Cars came to update its family of models, the words of company co-founder Sir Henry Royce informed everything that designers, engineers and craftspeople set out to achieve: "Take the best that exists and make it better", he even went further: "when it does not exist design it"... that's how these artists work at Goodwood, that's how they hand-build every single
Rolls-Royce!
I spent with her few days in Vienna, amazing launch location, we stayed in Palace, and she made me listen to Mozart and Johann Strauss while cruising alongside the Blue Danube in the mysterious Noir of Vienna's nights... You may like her or not, but you can't not be intimidated when you face her, and here you enter in a long chapter of emotions which very rare things in life generate, one thing is for sure a Rolls Royce is always different than any other motorcar on the road!
Nadim Mehanna