Tuesday 5th March 2013

Geneva Motor Show 2013: Rolls-Royce

After a constant stream of teasers, Rolls-Royce's next big coupe is finally revealed

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It might be the day before press day at the Geneva Motor Show, but some of the show’s biggest cars are appearing online already.

First up was the 911 GT3, then the Lamborghini Veneno, and now this: the Rolls-Royce Wraith. And with a 624hp, 590lb ft V12 that’ll allow it to accelerate from 0-60mph in 4.4 seconds, it’ll be the most powerful car the company has ever built.

It's a big car and there's a big buzz around it

That engine will be matched to the ubiquitous ZF eight-speed gearbox, which will use GPS mapping to aid it in its job. Whuh? That’s right – the gearbox will actually work out where you are, correlate that with your driving style, and work out the optimum gear for the road ahead, allowing it to pre-select that gear before you’ve even arrived at that section of road. Blimey.

Underneath, the floorpan’s derived from the Ghost saloon, but Rolls is quick to point out that the Wraith features stiffer suspension to make this a more driver-focussed car than the Ghost. To that end, the steering weighting has also been changed to make it heavier at high speeds, and lighter when driving more slowly.

The most notable feature of the Wraith, though will be its styling. That fastback body’s set to divide opinion, but Rolls Royce is hoping it conveys a combination of speed, power and agility. Interestingly, it seems the company will also be encouraging its customers to buy the Wraith in a two-tone colour scheme, as seen here.

Swing open those enormous suicide doors, and you’ll find there’s just as much opulence as you’d expect inside. Leather trim taken from the Phantom and wood panelling that’s inspired by materials more usually at home on superyachts will dominate, while the rather bling ‘Starlight’ headlining that debuted on the Phantom is also available, should you be that way inclined.

The Wraith will hit these shores in Autumn, with prices starting from around £215,000.

[g3org3y]

Looks lovely. Certainly a much classier alternative to the Bentley Continental imvho.

Edit to add, 0-60 in 4.4 seconds! You'll need some serious metal to beat this off the line.

[lankybob]

Glorious.

[ParanoidAndroid]

Really like that!

[Amirhussain]

Want

[MonteV]

Funny how Rolls have been enamoured with the original Bentley R-type Continental's fast back coupé look. It also looks like a squared of rear end of the 60's Saab 96, sans the wrap around rear window.

[RosscoPCole]

I really like this, though I think it would work better with a more vertical rear screen and flying buttresses.

[ridds]

That has to be the laziest piece of design I have seen on a car for a long time. Not a fan tbh.

[0a]

Fantastic. There is no way that could be anything other than a Rolls Royce, and a good one at that.

Mine would have a smaller door handle, and smaller wheels though.

[JRH1]

Absolutely love that. Never been able to picture myself in a Roller before, but could definitely see myself in that one day! (After a significant amount of depreciation, of course)

[RosscoPCole]

Is it me or is the wing mirror folded in on the main (first) picture?

[edinph]

Gorgeous! I never thought a Rolls would make me smile!

[moskvich427]

Looks lovely... though the rear lights make me think "Rover 75" for some reason!

[lightthefuse]

That is lovely. Lottery car if ever I saw one.

[edinph]

ps. Caption for interior uses " luxuriant". I do hope you mean luxurious. I wouldn't want thick abundant greenery in my Rolls.

[Killer2005]

Stunning

[MonteV]

OK, so I like that wood on the interior of the doors. Then I noticed - it looks like the ceiling is covered with starry night micro lights. If true, I find that very, very tacky; something pimps will like.

[j_s14a]

Best looking luxury coupe since the original DB9?

[David87]

Lovely, but I think I'll have mine in just one colour.

[number1nesta]

ridds said:

That has to be the laziest piece of design I have seen on a car for a long time. Not a fan tbh.

Couldn't agree more and there's far too much metal making up the rear pillars, in the profile shot it's the first thing my eyes went to, which isn't a good think, in my opinion.

Also, I can't help thinking the overall dashboard shape is not looking disimilar to those in the BMW's, I know everything is different but the main 'sweep' is a parent company-ish. Tread veeery carefully BMW please, this is a brand that needs to be just right.

[1974foggy]

Nice, but not a fan of the wooden door panels and that awful starry headlining- very cheshire footballer - may as well have a camo-wrap as well!