It’s said to be inspired by the golden age
of automotive design, and when it goes into production late this year, it will
be the most powerful Rolls-Royce currently on offer. As we learned at the 83rd
Geneva motor show, the rakish, fastback coupe known as the Wraith is striking
to look at, too.
2014
Rolls-Royce Wraith
Though technically based on the chassis of
the “entry-level” Ghost, the Wraith’s specs are worked over quite a bit. With a
7.2-inch- shorter wheelbase, 0.9-inch-wider rear track, lower ride height, and
increased power over Ghost, the Wraith is designed to be a Grand Touring car
that hints at more driver involvement, but never at the expense of luxury and
isolation. The familiar BMW-designed, 6.6-liter, twin-turbo V-12 has been
massaged to 624hp and 590 lb-ft of torque significant increases over the Ghost while
the eight speed ZF automatic transmission remains. The 0-60mph sprint is said
to take fewer than 4.6 seconds, and the electronically limited top speed is a
somewhat meager-sounding 155 mph, The side windows are B-pillar less, to create
a completely open space when front and rear windows are down a nice touch.
Small revisions are made to existing Ghost design: The Spirit of Ecstasy hood
ornament sits at a different position and angle on a front grille set back into
the nose of the car.
The
Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament sits at a different position and angle on a
front grille set back into the nose of the car.
Inside the Wraith, Rolls promises
Phantom-grade” materials, including what will likely be several cows’ worth of
leather and the option of special Canadel wood paneling on the doors and other
surfaces. Rolls will also offer its Starlight headliner in the Wraith, with
small fiber-optic lights in the roof upholstery simulating a starlit sky. The
Wraith’s steering wheel is thicker than the Ghost’s, a nod to its sportier
specifications, and its Art Deco-inspired interior illumination is in keeping
with the 1930s exterior design theme.
It’s
said to be inspired by the golden age of automotive design, and when it goes
into production late this year, it will be the most powerful Rolls-Royce
currently on offer.
More than just a style icon, the Wraith is
serving as a showcase for Rolls’ very latest technology, which ranges from 0MG
to ordinary: The Satellite Aided Transmission system definitely in the former: category
uses GPS-based knowledge of the road profile ahead to preselect gears. The car
also introduces a new rotary controller/touchpad infotainment interface that
allows for traditional dial-based scrolling of options along with the ability
to “write” characters on the touchpad using a finger. A full array of modern
conveniences, including a large 10.3-inch display and 360-degree-view parking
cameras, is also offered.
The
Satellite Aided Transmission system definitely in the former: category uses GPS-based
knowledge of the road profile ahead to preselect gears.
The Wraith will be available this winter,
and while pricing has not yet been announced, our best guess places it significantly
above the Ghost, but not so much as to encroach on the Phantom coupe. Figure a
base price of roughly $300,000.
The
Wraith will be available this winter, and while pricing has not yet been
announced
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Specification
§ Base Price: $300,000 (est)
§ Vehicle Layout: Front-engine, RWD,
4-pass, 2-door coupe
§ Engine: 6.6L/624-hp/5904b-ft
twin-turbo DOHC 48-valve V-12
§ Transmission: 8-speed automatic
§ Curb Weight: 5200 lb (mfr)
§ Wheelbase: 122.5 in
§ L x W x H: 2074 x 76.7 x 59.3 in 0-62
mph 4.6 sec (mfr est)
§ EPA City/Hwy Fuel Econ: 11/24 mpg
(est)
§ CO2 Emissions: 1.33 lb/mi (est)
§ On Sale in U.S.: December 2013
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