MIAS 2014: Rolls-Royce presents Wraith coupe

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars presents Wraith for the first time in the Philippines at the 10th Manila International Auto Show. The brand’s attendance at the show follows the recent inauguration of the first Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ dealership in the Philippines. 
Asia Pacific Regional Director Paul Harris said: “We present Wraith as the Ultimate Gran Turismo for the Philippines. This is a true, four seater super-luxury motor car that exhibits both the most contemporary and dynamic aspects of the brand, without sacrificing Rolls-Royce’s trademark refinement and pinnacle craftsmanship. We feel the timing is now appropriate to showcase our latest model at the Manila International Auto Show, as it is one of the most prominent motor industry events in the Philippines.”

Willy Tee Ten, President for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Manila, said: “We are very excited to bring Wraith to the Philippines. Our official presence at the Manila International Auto Show underlines our commitment to bring more awareness of the brand’s benchmark excellence to this market. We’re also delighted to be able to host our media friends and customers on the stand for the duration of the motor show.”

Official Philippines debut for Wraith 


The new model from the world’s pinnacle super-luxury marque presents a unique character defined by power, style and drama. With just a hint of the ‘noir’. 
In profile, Wraith’s sweeping fastback design gives the car its unique character. Bold lines, tension in the panels and a raked rear screen evoke the image of a world class athlete poised in the starting blocks. Further expression of dynamic intent can be seen in Wraith’s deeply recessed grille, wide rear track and dramatic two-tone presentation.

Coach doors open to reveal a sumptuous interior complete with softest, highest quality-grade leathers and expanses of wood called Canadel Panelling. Named after the famous cove in the South of France where founder Sir Henry Royce and his design and engineering teams spent their winters, this contemporary and tactile finish sweeps through the interior, cosseting four occupants in a space bathed in light and warmth.

The interior ambiance is complemented by Starlight Headliner, a Bespoke feature available beyond Phantom family cars for the first time. 1,340 fibre optic lamps are hand-woven into the roof lining to give the impression of a glittering, starry night sky.

Performance delivers on the promise of Wraith’s styling. Power delivery is effortless, but dramatic, thanks to a V12 engine married to 8-speed automatic ZF transmission. 624 bhp / 465kW is available to the driver while the 0-100 km/h sprint is achieved in 4.6 seconds, compared with 563 bhp / 420kW and 0-100 km/h in 4.9 seconds for Ghost.

From 1,500 rpm 800 Nm of torque is available (780 Nm for Ghost), while a wide rear track, shorter wheelbase and lower roof height further contribute to the most powerful, involving driving experience of any Rolls-Royce in history. The car’s suspension has also been tuned to minimise body roll and discreetly amplify feedback when cornering; while steering weight is heavier at high speeds and lighter at low speeds adding to the spirited drive.

However, Wraith is no GT bruiser. Agility improvements have been achieved with absolutely no compromise to the sensation of riding on a bed of air. Furthermore, the debut of Satellite Aided Transmission (SAT) technology, where available, takes the powertrain to a new level of effortless delivery, one that perfectly suits the Rolls-Royce brand.

Satellite Aided Transmission uses GPS data to see beyond what the driver sees; it anticipates his next move based on location and current driving style, then selects the most appropriate gear for the terrain ahead. Corners, motorway junctions and roundabouts are all anticipated in advance meaning Wraith is constantly poised to deliver on its promise of performance.

A more polished, effortless driving experience and even better response brings a new, more dynamic dimension to the famous Rolls-Royce trait, waftability.

For over a century a Rolls-Royce motor car has featured technologies designed to support occupants discreetly, delivering a peerless driving experience epitomised by the term ‘effortlessness’. In every Rolls- Royce these assist the driver when called upon, but are prepared to return without fuss to the background when no longer required.

Advances in mechanical and electrical technology deliver systems like head-up display, adaptive headlights and Wraith’s keyless opening boot. But improvements in connectivity have taken the human-machine interface to a new level of sophistication, a suite of aids that could be likened to a contemporary on-board valet.

Voice activation commands, for example, come with a one-touch call button located on the steering wheel. A destination no longer requires manual input from a navigation menu and route assistance begins immediately, on-screen and via audio guidance following a voice command such as “navigate to Piccadilly in London.”

Additional improvements in communications come in the design and functionality of the elegant Spirit of Ecstasy Rotary Controller. This allows navigation through on-screen functions using a touch pad that features pinch and pull functionality to echo smart phone usage. Letters can also be ‘drawn’ onto the pad by hand rather than by scrolling through a series of available characters on-screen.