Rolls-Royce Wraith makes Geneva world debut

Fans of the sci-fi series Stargate Atlantis know the Wraith as a race of bloodsuckers native to the Pegasus Galaxy. In reality, ‘wraith’ is the Scottish slang term for ghosts, and it is the name that Rolls-Royce adopted for its latest model.

Dubbed the most powerful and dynamic model in the company’s history, the Rolls-Royce Wraith has a fastback bodystyle and is described by Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, as ‘the ultimate gentlemen’s gran tourismo’.

Access to its typically sumptuous interior is via a set of coach doors, and passengers will be greeted by a luxurious choice of materials that include the softest grade leathers and Canadel wood panels. Its roof is finished by the Starlight Headliner that was once exclusive to the Phantom range. Some 1,340 fibre optic lamps are hand-woven into the roof lining to give the illusion of a starry night.

Occupants can interact with the car’s system by voice command or fiddle with what Rolls-Royce calls the Spirit of Ecstasy Rotary Controller. It also features a touch pad with handwriting recognition and pinch and pull functionality similar to how you zoom in and out of your iPhone’s screen.

A V12 engine supplies the Wraith’s considerable thrust, with some 624hp at the driver’s command to achieve the century dash in 4.4 seconds. Effortless acceleration is ensured by the availability of some 800Nm of torque from just 1,500rpm onwards.

Mated to the engine is an 8-speed automatic transmission incorporating Satellite Aided Transmission (SAT) technology whereby GPS data is used anticipate the terrain ahead and select the best suited gear based on driving style.

Seeking to deliver a more involving driving experience than previous Rollers, Wraith’s suspension is tuned to minimize body roll and discreetly amplify feedback during cornering. Steering assist also varies according to speed, getting heavier the faster you drive.

In Europe, Wraith will be priced at around €250k. Confirmation and further pricing details in all markets will be revealed later in the year. Deliveries will start in the final quarter of 2013.

KON

Pictures: Official Rolls-Royce release.