2013 Geneva - Rolls-Royce Wraith makes its world debut

Rolls-Royce might be revered for being the pinnacle of automotive luxury, but their model range for much of the last decade was pretty much restricted to just the Phantom and the many variants derived out of it. Later, when the Ghost, a smaller and lesser expensive luxury sedan joined the lineup, Rolls-Royce was still left without a model to pit against it's arch-rival Bentley's Continental series. All that is history now, as the Rolls-Royce Wraith finally made its world debut amidst the glitz and grandeur of the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

The Wraith is thus an important model for Rolls-Royce, not just for being the third new nameplate for the brand since it started rebuilding cars in 2003 under BMW's ownership. It also takes Rolls-Royce one step closer to competing with the full Bentley line-up, a brand with which Rolls-Royce shares a lot of history. The Wraith is a coupe version of the Ghost luxury sedan and based on the same platform.

You probably wouldn't be able to differentiate the Wraith from other Rolls-Royce models at first glance, but look closer and you will notice the deeply-recessed grille which gives the car a bold and powerful look up front. In profile, the Wraith's sweeping fastback design gives the car an unique character, that is further accentuated by the two-tone paint job and the pronounced cut that splits the car into two distinct portions. Coach doors, as Rolls-Royce calls the rear-hinged doors, let us access a cabin that has the finest leather, wood and craftsmanship on offer. Yes, the Wraith might be the fastest, most powerful and the most dynamic Rolls-Royce till date, but it's basic character is still 'luxury'. Highlighting that to the world are the Starlight headliner in which 1340 fiber-optic lamps are woven by hand into the roof lining, giving the impression of a starry night sky and the Canadel Panelling, a contemporary wood finish that sweeps through the interior cosseting the occupants in ultra luxury and comfort.

The V12 engine under the hood of the Wraith churns out 624 bhp of maximum power and 800 Nm of peak torque from as less than 1500 rpm, good enough for sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds. That's not all. Also making its world debut is a Satellite Aided Transmission that connects with GPS to pre-select the correct gear for the road ahead. Rolls-Royce claims that this 8-speed ZF automatic transmission in tandem with GPS will even detect corners, road junctions and roundabouts in advance and engage the appropriate gears. Extensive usage of voice commands and a touch pad controller with pinch and pull functionality ensures that the Wraith is a true Rolls-Royce in every sense of the word.

With deliveries slated to begin in the second half of this year, the Wraith is all set to add a new chapter in the iconic British brand's rich legacy.