2014 Rolls Royce Wraith

[King T]

Now I really like this, a fastback Rolls! Love large coupes (the Phantom coupe too)!

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars proudly presents the world debut of Wraith, the most powerful and dynamic Rolls-Royce in history. At its heart lie hallmark Rolls-Royce attributes of luxury, refinement and hand-craftsmanship, but the new model from the world’s pinnacle super-luxury marque also presents a unique character defined by power, style and drama. With just a hint of the noir.

“Today we launch the ultimate gentlemen’s gran turismo, a car that embodies the spirit of Charles Stewart Rolls,” commented Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “The most powerful Rolls-Royce in history, Wraith promises the sense of adventure and speed that drove our founding forefather. But of course, Wraith’s starting point is luxury, refinement and quality, traits that remain as important to Rolls-Royce customers today as they were more than a century ago.”

Rolls-Royce Chairman and BMW Group board member Harald Krüger added the following: “The BMW Group today reconfirms its full commitment to the future of Rolls-Royce. Growth and a prosperous future lie ahead thanks to continued investment, careful brand stewardship and the launch of groundbreaking new models like Rolls-Royce Wraith, a magnificent addition to the product range.”

In profile, Wraith’s sweeping fastback design gives the car its unique character. Bold lines, tension in the panels and a raked rear screen evoke the image of a world class 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 Phantom-grade leathers and expanses of wood called Canadel Panelling. Named after the famous cove in the South of France where Sir Henry Royce and his design and engineering teams spent their winters, this contemporary and tactile finish sweeps through the interior, cosseting four occupants in a space bathed in light and warmth.

The interior ambiance is complemented by Starlight Headliner, a Bespoke feature available beyond Phantom family cars for the first time. 1,340 fibre optic lamps are hand-woven into the roof lining to give the impression of a glittering, starry night sky.

Performance delivers on the promise of Wraith’s styling. Power delivery is effortless, but dramatic, thanks to a V12 engine married to 8-speed automatic ZF transmission. 624 bhp / 465kW is available to the driver while the 0-60 mph sprint is achieved in 4.4 seconds, compared with 563 bhp / 420kW and 0-60 in 4.7 seconds for Ghost.

From 1,500 rpm 800 Nm of torque is available (780 Nm 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 minimise 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 no GT bruiser. 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, one that perfectly suits the Rolls-Royce brand.

Satellite Aided Transmission 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 meaning Wraith is constantly poised to deliver on its promise of performance.

A more polished, effortless driving experience and even better response brings a new, more dynamic dimension to the famous Rolls-Royce trait, waftability.

For over a century a Rolls-Royce motor car has featured technologies designed to support occupants discreetly, delivering a peerless driving experience epitomised by the term ‘effortlessness’. In every Rolls-Royce these assist the driver when called upon, but are prepared to return without fuss to the background when no longer required.

Advances in mechanical and electrical technology deliver systems like head-up display, adaptive headlights and Wraith’s keyless opening boot. But improvements in connectivity have taken the human-machine interface to a new level of sophistication, a suite of aids that could be likened to a contemporary on-board valet.

Voice activation commands, for example, come with a one-touch call button located on the steering wheel. A destination no longer requires manual input from a navigation menu and route assistance begins immediately, on-screen and via audio guidance following a voice command such as “navigate to Piccadilly in London.”

Additional improvements in communications come in the design and functionality of the elegant Spirit of Ecstasy Rotary Controller. This allows navigation through on-screen functions using a touch pad that features pinch and pull functionality to echo smart phone usage. Letters can also be ‘drawn’ onto the pad by hand rather than by scrolling through a series of available characters on-screen.

In Europe, Wraith will be priced at c. €245k. Confirmation and further pricing details in all markets will be revealed later in the year.

First deliveries of Wraith will be made to customers in the final quarter of 2013.

[King T]

First Look: 2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith

Rolls-Royce does not want you to look at the all-new 2014 Wraith coupe as a logical extension of the brand, nor does it want you to think of it as a two-door version of the Ghost sedan. What the Wraith is to Rolls-Royce is an amalgamation of the automaker's history of racing, design, and bespoke automobiles.

Spiritually a Phantom

The storied marque wants its customers -- and those who dream of being its customers -- to look at the Wraith as a baby Phantom Coupe rather than a rakish variant spun from the Ghost's bones. To drive this point home, the Wraith uses frameless, power-operated, rear-hinged "coach" doors—complete with stainless steel door pulls—that are similar to those on the bigger Phantom. The Wraith also forgoes B-pillars; the daylight opening is ringed in bright chrome that, Rolls says, "adds length and a sense of waftable debonair to the car's character." Inside, the cabin is swathed in the same high-quality leather used in the larger Phantom Drophead coupe rather than the "lesser" hides used for the Ghost sedan. Also borrowed from the Phantom range -- and available for the first time in any Rolls other than the Phantom -- is the Starlight Headliner, which presents a simulated starry night sky inside the cabin. Individual fiber optic lights – 1340 of them -- are hand-woven into the leather headliner to create the magical effect. There are other options for those who don't want to relive a Van Gogh–like masterpiece, including a fixed glass roof with a full-leather shade.

The Wraith's cabin actually one-ups the Phantom with its exotic new wood treatment. Named Canadel Panelling, the porous wood trim has a light satin finish and a tactile texture. Matte wood may not be groundbreaking -- Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and even Jeep offer it now – but Rolls-Royce orients the straight grain is at a precise 55-degree angle throughout the interior and bookmatches the paneling so that the passenger's side mirrors the driver's side perfectly. (Rolls and Bentley have both been bookmatching trim for a number of years.) Most stunning is the door treatment: the armrests and door controls appear to float in a single square piece of the beautifully crafted wood.

Not-So-Ghastly Bones

No matter how much leather and wood or how many twinkling stars Rolls stuffs into the Wraith, there is no getting past the fact that this coupe is based on the less-expensive Ghost sedan (which is, in turn, based on the current BMW 760Li). However, the Ghost's underpinnings are solid, especially the twin-turbocharged 6.6-liter V-12 engine, which for the Wraith has been retuned to produce 624 hp and an exorbitant 590 lb-ft of torque at just 1500 rpm; that's 61 more horses and 15 more lb-ft than the Ghost. Rolls-Royce estimates that the sleek coupe will be able to dash from 0 to 62 mph in just 4.6 seconds and achieve an electronically limited 155 mph top speed.

The Wraith also shares the ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission with its sedan sibling, but it has an innovative new trick up its sleeve -- Satellite Aided Transmission (SAT). Developed by Philip Harnet, who was previously an electronic and systems engineer for BMW's Formula 1 team, SAT will hold a gear if the satellite GPS data indicates an upcoming turn, hill, or highway entrance.

To maintain Rolls-Royce's trademark "magic carpet ride," the Wraith uses the Ghost’s double-wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear suspension, which work with an electronically variable air suspension system at all four corners to smooth out imperfections. It also shares its in-cabin technology, including a head-up display; adaptive headlights; night vision technology with hazard alerts; 360-degree cameras; and 10.25-inch high-definition infotainment screen controlled by a "Spirit of Ecstasy Rotary Controller" (it's an iDrive controller) that includes a new touchpad for writing letters and numbers. Tech changes from the Ghost to the Wraith include the addition of the Rolls-Royce Connect iPhone application, which adds RSS, Google search, and social media capabilities; a voice-activated text-to-speech feature for composing emails and text messages; and a specially designed 1300-watt, 18-speaker sound system. Don't be surprised to see these upgrades in the sedan in the not-too-distant future.

Designed Like a Wraith

“Wraith” is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as "a likeness of a living person seen as an apparition." Looking at the 2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith could be likened to looking at the Ghost sedan but with the edges blurred. Compared with the sedan, the coupe is 0.9 inches wider at the rear, has a wheelbase that is 7.2 inches shorter, is down by 5.2 inches in overall length, and stands 2.0 inches lower. While the Wraith’s front fascia may look similar to the Ghost's, Rolls made some subtle changes: a larger intake, a 1.8-inch-deeper grille, and a tilt of five degrees for the Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament.

However, when the Wraith is viewed from the side or the rear, the design differences are much more clear. Not only is the car a two-door, it wears a sloping fastback that flows directly from the backlight to the trunklid. A defined shoulder line delineates the upper body from the lower, and it looks quite dashing when dressed in a two-tone paint scheme, as pictured here. Slightly swollen wheel wells are filled with standard seven-spoke 20-inch wheels, although two 21-inch wheels are optional: either a polished seven-spoke or a part-polished, bi-color five-spoke design. The overall design is stunning – it looks both modern and timeless.

Pricing has yet to be announced, but given the Ghost's $250,000 point of entry, we expect a starting price of around $300,000 before any customization options.

[motorhead]

Sorry not a fan at all.

[tramtwo]

Damn and some here complain about hill assist....

Satellite Aided Transmission 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 meaning Wraith is constantly poised to deliver on its promise of performance.

[King T]

Originally Posted by tramtwo

Damn and some here complain about hill assist....

[King T]

[sspolo]

I saw a Rolls Royce when I passed by Beverly hills, they are a beauty to see up close. Pictures, IMO, don't do justice for these cars. Although, like Porsche, their style doesn't change much.

[upflying]

See one at a NBA player parking lot soon.