Rolls-Royce Motor Cars may be a company steeped in tradition, but judging by the specs of the Rolls-Royce Wraith, making its debut at the Geneva Motor Show this week, the company is definitely forward-thinking. The Wraith is similar to the Ghost, but the two can be differentiated by the Wraith’s fastback design, which givs the super-luxury coupe a sportier look while the beauty is still decked out with the customary suicide doors, the most powerful engine ever in Rolls and quite a few infotainment options.
Under the Wraith’s hood is Rolls-Royce’s most powerful engine to date for a Rolls, a V12 monster with an 8-speed automatic ZF transmission that delivers 624 bhp / 465 kW. This makes the Wraith faster and more powerful than the Ghost, whose specs are 563 bhp / 420kW. The Wraith shaves a little 0-60 time as well, managing it in 4.4 seconds as compared to Ghost’s 4.7 seconds. It also also packs slightly more torque than the Ghost (1,500 rpm 800 Nm as opposed to 780 Nm) and has other distinct characteristics from its sister vehicle: wide rear track, shorter wheelbase and lower roof height.
The Wraith derives its name from Sir Henry Royce and his team’s winter hideout in the South of France. It definitely has a warmer appearance, with a unique grille a noir-esque contrasting two-color exterior. Meanwhile, the interior is ultra-luxury, as expected of a Rolls-Royce, featuring leather that can be found in a Phantom and distinctive Canadeling panelling wood. Another luxury feature is the Starlight Headliner, hand-woven optic lamps in the roof lining, which up to now could only be found in the Phantoms. They give the interior a night sky appearance.
Also new here – and a first for Rolls-Royce in any vehicle – is the innovative telematics feature called Satellite Aided Transmission, which correlates GPS with the transmission, allowing gear-change to accommodate the approaching terrain.
Rolls-Royce is making the Wraith available in Europe only by the fourth quarter with a price tag of 245,000 euros. Availability and pricing for other markets will be announced later this year.
Photo Credit: Newspress
