We expect that buyers of the new Rolls-Royce Wraith (~$325,960) will be equal parts man of mystery and crazy affluent. Just unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, the Wraith maintains the brand’s upper-crust heritage while delving into a level of visible aggression that’s new and refreshing, not unlike Queen Elizabeth with a Tanto sword strapped to her back.
The two-door beast is based on the Rolls-Royce Ghost, but the Wraith’s driving intentions are a bit more on the sporting side. It’s shorter, lower and wider than the Ghost; suspension has been altered to increase feedback and decrease body roll. Powered by a 624-hp V12 that generates 590 lb-ft of torque, it can accelerate from 0-60 MPH in 4.4 seconds. The Wraith also boasts a new technological aid that should lend to optimal use of its eight-speed ZF automatic transmission: It utilizes GPS data and your driving style to pre-select the best gear for the road ahead. Talk about innovation.
The exterior, though echoing the Rolls line, is far more expressive than its four-door brethren. The deeply recessed (but still huge) grille, slightly scalloped long suicide doors and near-fastback rear glass set this car apart from the rest. Of course, the interior isn’t wanting in any semblance of the word. High-grade wood and leather and a mood-inducing starlight headliner with 1,340 lights woven into the fabric remind you that you’re in an unordinary car. What better opportunity than to release such an opulent car in these times of global financial crisis? It’s Rolls-Royce’s way of saying, “We see the struggles, but we see them from the good seats”. Sales will commence in the fall of 2013.
from GEAR PATROLBy AMOS KWON Photo by ROLLS-ROYCE
