RE: Wraith Black Arrow marks end of R-R V12 coupes

RE: Wraith Black Arrow marks end of R-R V12 coupes

Monday 20th March 2023

Wraith Black Arrow marks end of R-R V12 coupes

One last special edition as Goodwood gears up for Spectre EV


From Mercedes to Bentley, seemingly nobody can escape the demise of the 12-cylinder engine. Rolls Royce is no different; this Black Arrow not only signifies the end of Wraith production after almost 10 years, it’s also the final V12 Rolls-Royce coupe ever to be made. A pretty momentous occasion. Now, Rolls-Royce being Rolls-Royce, the imperious powertrain remains in service elsewhere - as in every other model currently in the line up - but the writing is clearly on the wall. The Spectre will be the first electric Rolls Royce, but it sure as heck won’t be the last one.

This Wraith is a big deal, then, and the specification reflects that. It’s based on the Black Badge model, already the most powerful R-R ever at 632hp, with a design concept inspired by Thunderbolt, a land speed record car from the 1930s. That’s not just been randomly plucked from the archives, either; not only was the Thunderbolt powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce V12 aero engines, it’s the fastest V12-powered car ever built. Captain George Eyston drove the seven-tonne, eight-wheeled ‘bolt to 357mph in 1938 (!), after which everyone was a little occupied to worry about land speed records. Once activity resumed after WWII, different powertrains were used to go crazy fast, and the Thunderbolt’s place in history was assured.

85 years ago, Eyston’s machine was polished aluminium with a black arrow on the side that incorporated a yellow circle. As a homage to Thunderbolt, the Wraith features something called gradient paint, Celebration Silver morphing into Black Diamond from the front of the car to the back. And that’s just the start: Rolls has used a glass-infused ‘Crystal’ paint to enhance the motion blur effect as well as creating a ‘subtle texture inspired by the crusted surface of the Bonneville Salt Flats, set beneath a high gloss lacquer’. A year and a half has been spent by the Bespoke Collective team getting the paint right, and it’s described as ‘one of the most technically complex paints that Rolls-Royce has ever created’. Half a day is spent just polishing to make sure the finish is perfect. Special mention ought to go to the yellow accents as well, which extend as far as the Spirit of Ecstasy, the struts behind the grille and wheel pinstripes. It’s hard to imagine the time and effort that’s gone into the paint - surely nobody will actually risk such craftsmanship driving it anywhere.

Not least with so much to look at inside. The Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow is treated to Black Wood for the doors - of course - albeit made up of ‘over 320 multi-directional and lasered marquetry pieces that mimics the cracked, irregular surface of the Bonneville Salt Flats’. The dashboard (though that sounds woefully prosaic for such a creation) brings the V12 into the cabin and was another two months’ work, engraving into black coated aluminium to again evoke the land speed record car. The outline of the Thunderbolt can be seen behind glass in the transmission tunnel; and new ‘Club Leather’ mimics the hide preferred by Eyston, with a greater sheen and even deeper black to Rolls’ natural leather. Where yellow leather isn’t employed, obviously. The Black Arrow also gets its own ‘Final Coupe Collection’ plaque for the engine, a clock inspired by Thunderbolt’s instruments (with the 357.497mph record inscribed underneath) and arrows on the treadplates. It’s an absolute treasure trove of masterful details.

One last thing, just to show off the lengths that have Rolls-Royce have gone to for its last V12 Coupe. The famous Starlight Headliner has been given a special twist for the Black Arrow. It features the most ‘stars’ ever seen in a Rolls-Royce (2,117), with the constellations of the Milky Way shown precisely as they would have looked over the Salt Flats in Utah on September 16th, 1938.

Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Muller Otvos had, understandably, a lot to say about the Black Arrow: “Wraith is one of the most significant and influential cars we have ever made at Goodwood. Its extraordinary power, performance and presence opened the Rolls-Royce brand to an entirely new group of clients. It created its own following within contemporary culture and then expanded that further in its alternative Black Badge guise.

“As the last examples of this landmark motor car get ready to leave Goodwood, we commemorate Wraith’s status as the last series V12 coupé we will ever make. Both Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow and its inspiration, the V12-powered land speed record-holding Thunderbolt of the thirties, represent the culmination of many long years of achievement, and the end of their respective eras. This magnificent final V12 coupé Collection captures both the significance and spirit of Wraith through the marque’s hallmark and peerless Bespoke capabilities. A fitting finale for this transformative motor car.” Note the use of ‘last series V12’ there, implying that maybe more limited edition two-doors could follow. These ones are already spoken for, after all, and you only need look at the clamour for 12-cylinder engines elsewhere to know that the demand is there. And for those of us not in Rolls-Royce’s Black Badge black book, there are regular Wraiths available for just over £100k in the classifieds - with the 6.6-litre V12 absolutely present and correct…


 

Author
Discussion

Hairymonster

Original Poster:

1,418 posts

104 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
Incredible level of detailing. Amazing craftsmanship. The dash looks a mess with that engine engraving though. The yellow leather looks horrible as well. Needs something far more restrained!

F1GTRUeno

6,334 posts

217 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
The Wraith is horribly naff anyway but this takes the cake.

Jonmx

2,535 posts

212 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
I've only ever seen these being driven by absolute bell weapons. That interior is foul, and far more befitting of the type of individuals I've seen hooning them around.

Turini

415 posts

165 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
Yellow detailing seems to be the flavour of the month. Oh dear, I would have thought this and the Ferrari would have stood out in their own merits without questionable detailing gimmicks

JumpinJack

403 posts

177 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
not a colour scheme I would choose for my Wraith. Got to admire the craftmanship though.

Anyone know why the drivers seat is different to the passengers?

Darnoc95

432 posts

29 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
That paintwork is absolutley stunning. Why then spoil it all & put banana skin seat covers on it. Its a Rolls for christ sake give it some dignity!

smilo996

2,754 posts

169 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
The germans and their obsession with yellow again.
A Barbara Cartland of a car.

shih tzu faced

2,597 posts

48 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
Can’t decide what’s worse; the paint job, the wheels or the fking yellow seats.

And on a practical note the ChipsAway man will fill his pants when the poor sod turns up to sort a dent in the door.


pycraft

764 posts

183 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
JumpinJack said:
not a colour scheme I would choose for my Wraith. Got to admire the craftmanship though.

Anyone know why the drivers seat is different to the passengers?
The driver is a man, and his seat has additional penis support.

T1berious

2,242 posts

154 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
I remember a YouTube video of a Wraith against its peers, it got a thorough hidding. I'm pretty sure with Rolls you can spec them to the nth degree to your personal taste but this looks a bit "Halfords".

I'm sure it's an Emperious way to travel but I'd hold out for the BEV Rolls.

I can't see past the wheels, they just look a bit try hard...

epom

11,396 posts

160 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
Ideal for transporting your Biiiiiatches and Hoe's....

Wab1974uk

981 posts

26 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
Really don't like them. Much rather have a Bentley

DaveyBoyWonder

2,465 posts

173 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
Thought I'd click the link and see what £113k of used Wraith looks like. Slightly less in your fact but black/silver exterior and a cream interior - bleugh. And that drivers seat looks as baggy as the leather seats in my 100k mile Mini did - I'd expect a LOT more for a RR with 44k miles on it.

Midgster

568 posts

233 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
Proves money can't buy class.

MDMA .

8,849 posts

100 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
JumpinJack said:
not a colour scheme I would choose for my Wraith. Got to admire the craftmanship though.

Anyone know why the drivers seat is different to the passengers?
And the drivers side rear too.

PerformanteNonGrata

16 posts

12 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
From Mercedes to Bentley, seemingly nobody can escape the demise of the 12-cylinder engine.

You wrote an article last week about how Lamborghini are doing just that.

As for the Rolls Royce... What a missed opportunity.

Water Fairy

5,475 posts

154 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
Only seen one Wraith up close in the wild. Liked it. The interior of this is, erm, challenging.

Howard1650

313 posts

190 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
I do love this, but I have a feeling that I be robbed at knifepoint if I stepped out of this car and walked 20 meters, or asked for drugs


Quhet

2,409 posts

145 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
Would be quite fun taking one to dentmagic or similar and asking them to touch up a scratch

BIRMA

3,803 posts

193 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
F1GTRUeno said:
The Wraith is horribly naff anyway but this takes the cake.
Couldn't agree more, I regularly see them being test driven around where I drive, I think they all look hideous. I can appreciate the workmanship but it is a turd of a car.