April 8, 2013. Copyright 2013, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Rolls-Royce Wraith; extravagant, luxurious, amazing performer too
By Neil Winton

LONDON, April 8, Graphic News:  The new Rolls-Royce Wraith is so magnificently extravagant and over-the-top luxurious that you can almost forgive company media writers for losing control as they describe exciting features of the car.

"Like a world-class athlete poised at the starting blocks, Wraith presents a picture of anticipation and quickens the pulse when viewed for the first time", says Rolls-Royce.

That’s a strange simile, given that the Wraith might be impressive to look at, but world-class athletes are usually spare and lithe, while this car looks rather well-fed and bulky. 

The high-technology satellite navigation and communications system with voice commands is talked about as though it’s one of the family servants, perhaps called Jeeves.

"Voice activated connectivity augments effortlessness and is the on-board valet. The driver with a lunch date at the Ritz Hotel in London will simply command Wraith to 'Navigate to Piccadilly in London'," Rolls-Royce said.

There is a Starlight Headliner, which features 1,340 tiny fibre optic lamps hand-woven by "craftspeople" into the roof lining. That means the lack of a removable roof has its compensations.

The interior gets the treatment too. "The contemporary finish represents an interior space that hints at an ultra-luxury yacht. The horseshoe sweep of the Wraith’s cabin also echoes the cove at Le Canadel in the South of France where Sir Henry Royce and his design team spent their winters".

But beyond the extrovert and shameless bling, there is a serious automobile. The engine is a 6.6 litre V-12 behemoth producing 623hp which catapults the Wraith from a standstill to 60mph in 4.4 seconds, and on to 155mph or 250km/h, at which point the computer intervenes to say that’s fast enough. The air-suspension should provide enough comfort to live up to Rolls-Royce’s claim about its "waftability".

If that all sounds very traditional, Rolls-Royce, owned by BMW of Germany, is at the forefront of modern technology too, embracing the latest industry buzzword of "connectivity". There is even a Rolls-Royce Connect App to help with texting and email. The Satellite Navigation is linked to the eight-speed automatic transmission, which uses GPS data to see beyond the driver’s horizon on the road, factor in his driving style and upcoming obstacles like corners, motorway junctions and roundabouts and select the best gear for the job. There is a head-up display, which projects data into the driver’s line of vision, while adaptive headlights peer around corners. The 18-channel amplifier delivers sound through 18 speakers and 1,300 watts.

Since Mercedes Benz decided to dump its Maybach limousine, Rolls-Royce has lacked a direct competitor, with the closest rivalry coming from the top-of-the-range and relatively understated Mercedes S-class, VW Bentleys, Porsche Panameras and Audi A8s, and the Maserati Quattreporte.

None of them have the "look at me" outrageousness which allows Rolls-Royce to get away with this.

"The Wraith presents a unique character defined by power, style and drama. With just a hint of the noir."
/ENDS

Rolls-Royce Wraith
Engine – 6.6 litre V12 twin-turbo
Power – 623hp @ 5,600
Torque – 800 Nm @ 1,500-5,500
Drive – rear wheels
Gearbox – 8-speed automatic
Acceleration – 0-62mph-100km/h 4.6 seconds
Top Speed – 155mph-250km/h (limited)
Fuel consumption – claimed combined – 20.2mpg-14.0-l/100 km
C02 – 327g/km
Suspension – doublewishbone/multilink-air-electronic variable damping
Length – 5,269mm
Width – 1,947mm
Height – 1,507mm
Wheel-base – 3,112mm
Weight – 2,360kg
Boot capacity – 470 litres
Competition – Mercedes, Bentley, Porsche, Maserati  
Price €245,000-$313,000-£207,000 – global deliveries start in the fourth quarter of 2013