Rolls-Royce is digging deep into its history books to revive the Wraith nameplate for its new Ghost-based coupe, which has been earmarked for a debut at the Geneva Motor Show in early March.

Not much has been confirmed about the Wraith, although Rolls-Royce has indicated that the car will be its most "dynamic and powerful" production car ever built. As such, it's expected to crank out at least 600 horsepower from its twin-turbo 6.6-liter V12 engine, a unit derived from that used in the BMW 760Li. A stiffer, more sport-oriented suspension is also expected, as is a weight reduction over the hefty 5,500 lbs. sedan.

The new coupe's name was announced this morning at the Rolls-Royce World Dealer Conference in London.

“Rolls-Royce Wraith will draw superlatives when it is unveiled in Geneva,” Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos said in a prepared statement. “Expect the boldest design, the most dramatic performance and the most powerful Rolls-Royce that has ever played host to the famous Spirit of Ecstasy figurine. We will present a model whose starting point is luxury, refinement and exclusivity, traits that have made Rolls-Royce the world’s pinnacle luxury good for the last 108 years. This is a car not only defined by a timeless elegance, but one that encapsulates a sense of power, style and drama."

That's heady language, but so is the decision to revive the Wraith nameplate. First used in 1938 on a Rolls-Royce, the word "wraith" translates to a sinister "ghost" or "spirit" in dialectical Scottish.

The automaker says that hints about the new Wraith will be released throughout February ahead of its formal debut in Switzerland on March 5.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has contributed to the myth and legend of the contemporary music scene since the birth of Rock & Roll. Over half a century later, this long-standing love affair lives on, with some of the world’s most celebrated artists choosing the marque as the ultimate affirmation of their success. In this spirit, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is delighted to present Wraith ‘Inspired by Music’.

Since the launch of Wraith in 2013, customers have been able to commission their Rolls-Royce Wraith with Bespoke Audio; the most exhaustively designed sound system in automotive history. Like every element of a Rolls-Royce motor car, its construction blends the finest components with the skill of the most eminent experts in their field. Now, with Wraith ‘Inspired by Music’, these characteristics, and the precious materials used in the Bespoke Audio system, are brought very much to the fore, creating ‘the most exclusive music venue’ that delivers an unrivalled aural experience.

“Wraith ‘Inspired by Music’ appeals to those looking to Rolls-Royce for unique and creative motor cars. Its effortlessly cool appearance complements the superior Bespoke Audio system; the contemporary use of copper creates an atmospheric setting for the most encompassing music system on the market,” commented Torsten Müller Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

A Lyrical Copper exterior paint finish, presented with a blend of brushed and polished textures elegantly hints at the use of copper in only the very best audio systems. On opening the car’s coach-doors attention is drawn to re-imagined speaker grilles, here presented in copper theme, and engraved with the words ‘Bespoke Audio’. The door panniers and floor mats have been crafted from finely-woven leather to add an additional depth of tactility to the car’s interior cabin. Copper-coloured door inserts, which start at the front of the cabin before tapering at the rear, have been included in the design to emphasise Wraith’s characteristic internal curves.

A book matched copper finish features for the first time on Wraith’s fascia, boldly extending the car’s theme. The same copper tone extends to Wraith’s signature seat bullets.

The fastidious detail that went into the development of the car’s sound-system is employed in every facet of the construction of the car. For example, the chaplets on the clock have been designed and meticulously crafted with a combination of warming copper and silver, whilst the radial lines of the outer bezel playfully emulate the look and feel of vinyl records.

The Bespoke Audio system was created from scratch by a team of the world’s very best automotive audio engineers. The two-year development process saw the team work closely with Rolls-Royce interior designers to ensure the system was perfectly tuned to the interior of the cabin. Indeed, this pursuit of aural perfection was deemed so important the interior designers had to consult with the Chief Audio Engineer before making any changes.

The extraordinary clarity of sound and dynamic range is delivered via a 1300W, 18 channel system comprising two highly powerful bass speakers, seven tweeters and seven mid range speakers. Two ‘exciter’ speakers hand-fitted in the car’s headlining play a vital role in bringing the sound to the listener at ear-level; ensuring the output perfectly imitates the way music is experienced in a live setting. Microphones constantly monitor ambient and exterior noises and will adjust volume and tone settings automatically to ensure no external agent detracts from the user’s listening pleasure.

Wraith ‘Inspired by Music’ completes a trilogy of striking and distinctive Bespoke Collections. The first, Wraith ‘Inspired by Film’ celebrates Rolls-Royce’s long association with the silver screen whilst, Wraith ‘Inspired by Fashion’ allows customers to commission a true piece of automotive haute couture inspired by the materials and motifs of cutting-edge high fashion.

Rolls-Royce: the ‘Rock & Roll’ years:

In January 1961, Elvis Presley walked into the Beverley Hills Rolls-Royce dealership. Flush with the success of his music career and a five-year movie deal, he ordered a Rolls-Royce Phantom V; the only motor car in the world that could possibly befit his status as the ‘King of Rock & Roll’. From that day on, a Rolls-Royce motor car became the conveyance of choice for the music scene’s burgeoning elite.

Many of these cars have taken their place in automotive and music folklore. John Lennon, for example, acquired a Phantom V in 1965. During his ownership he commissioned a number of cutting-edge additions for the time including; a television, portable refrigerator, record player and the first blacked-out windows to appear on a car in England. He was so enamoured with the interior comfort of the finest riding car in the world, he is reported to have converted the rear bench-seat into a double bed.

However, it is his car’s exterior that ensures its place in the pantheon of famous Rolls-Royces. Not satisfied with the Phantom’s stately Valentines Black finish, he commissioned a Dutch art collective to re-paint the car in a psychedelic motif designed to mirror the decorations on fairground caravans. The result was not met with universal acclaim, with Lennon often recounting the tale of a woman who chased the car, shouting, “You swine! You swine! How dare you do that to a Rolls-Royce!”

One particular story resulting from the music world’s love affair with Rolls-Royce has segued from folklore to infamy. It concerns The Who drummer, Keith Moon and the night of his 21st birthday at the Holiday Inn in Flint Michigan. Legend goes that a somewhat high spirited Mr Moon drove his Rolls-Royce into the hotel’s swimming pool. This is categorically untrue and is probably an overblown conflation of two stories.

The first, involves a regrettable yet entirely understandable lapse of concentration, with Mr Moon failing to fully secure his Rolls-Royce’s handbrake. Unfortunately he had parked on a slope leading to a half-constructed swimming pool. The car made a characteristically graceful descent down the hill before coming to rest at the bottom of the unfilled pool.

The second is a little closer to the legend. On purchasing a new American car he tried to charge it to the band’s account, naturally they refused to indulge his request. Mr Moon expressed his displeasure by parking the car in an ornamental pond before telephoning the dealer to take it away. Not something he would ever have done to his beloved Rolls-Royce.

When the established rules become a constraint to creativity, it takes individuals of vision to carry the game forward. It was this spirit of individuality that has inspired the creation of two Great British institutions – Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and the game of rugby. Celebrating the illustrious history of the latter, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is delighted to introduce the Rolls-Royce ‘Wraith – History of Rugby’, a unique creation from the company’s Bespoke Design Studio in Goodwood, England.

Usually tasked with reflecting the individual taste and lifestyle of a bold new generation of customer, Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke team has drawn inspiration from the rich history of the quintessentially English sport to create a unique car. The Rolls-Royce ‘Wraith – History of Rugby’ celebrates England’s fundamental attachment to the great game, through an expression of individuality in keeping with the pioneering inspiration behind the game of rugby and Rolls-Royce.

In a challenge to established automotive thinking at the time, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars was founded when The Honourable Charles Rolls and Sir Henry Royce re-wrote the rules for what the motor car should represent, and what the best car in the world should be able to do. In 1823, one young man blazed a similar trail in establishing the game of rugby – William Webb Ellis, “With a fine disregard for the rules of football as played in his time, first took the ball in his arms and ran with it.”

The rules of rugby were laid down shortly thereafter, inspired by Webb Ellis’ example. The scene of this exploit was Rugby School in Warwickshire, founded in 1567, where a plaque still stands today to tell Webb Ellis’ story and mark the point at which rugby’s history began.

‘Wraith – History of Rugby’

Many of the design features which run throughout the Rolls-Royce ‘Wraith – History of Rugby’ will be familiar to followers of English rugby, but have their foundation in the traditions of Rugby School. The exterior colour scheme of English White pays homage to the white rugby shirt worn at Rugby School, a tradition continued today by the England rugby team.

Another evocative feature of English rugby since 1871 is the red rose, originally hand-finished on the front of the white shirt. Folklore has it that the rose originates from Rugby School and Queen Elizabeth I, her red rose emblem placed with her permission on the school crest by its founder. Continuing Rolls-Royce’s reputation for hand-crafted personalisation, the Wraith’s signature shoulder-line is accentuated by a hand-applied coachline in deep green, featuring an English rose motif in red. 21” five twin-spoke alloy wheels complete the Wraith’s muscular exterior persona.

The most recognisable symbol of English rugby has been suitably crafted into the interior of the Rolls-Royce ‘Wraith – History of Rugby’. Each headrest features an embroidered red rose, with Hotspur Red continuing the theme onto the dashboard accent panel, seat and door piping. Piano Black veneer has been selected for the dashboard, the centre panel of which is delicately inlaid with the English rose. The main interior colour is Seashell contrasted with Navy Blue.

The use of Rolls-Royce leather has been extended beyond the interior of ‘Wraith – History of Rugby’. Gilbert, the iconic manufacturer of rugby balls – and the maker of the very same football first picked up by William Webb Ellis in 1823 – has produced a limited number of rugby balls to match this unique Wraith. Created using the same Seashell and Hotspur Red leather, each ball has been embroidered by the craftspeople at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, with the red rose on one panel and the Rolls-Royce motif on the other.

The journey of creating a highly Bespoke Rolls-Royce motor car begins with inspiration. Indeed, many Rolls-Royce customers choose to express a particular passion in the design of their motor cars. This is realised at the Bespoke Design Studio at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood. Here, the designers have drawn inspiration from the history of the game of rugby, creating a fitting tribute with the Wraith’s characteristic blend of power, style and drama.

James Crichton, Regional Director, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Europe, commented, “This truly unique Wraith emphasises vision and individuality, inspired by the role it plays within a team. While the game of rugby may have been inspired by the act of one individual, it is one of the world’s most popular team sports. In a similar vein, this one car represents the efforts of the team of engineers and craftspeople working at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, producing the most individual motor cars in the world.”

Today, honoured guests of the Rolls-Royce Summer Studio in Sardinia witnessed the unveiling of two remarkable Bespoke motor cars, commissioned specifically to reflect the atmosphere and vibrancy of one of the world’s most exclusive and glamorous enclaves; Porto Cervo.

The essence of the marina, which resides on the Costa Smerelda, is embodied in two Bespoke Rolls-Royces; a Wraith, the marque’s most powerful motor car ever created, and Dawn, the recently launched and most social of Drophead Coupés.

Patrons of the marque relish in creative freedom by commissioning highly Bespoke personal legacies. To mark the opening of the Summer Studio and demonstrate this art form, the Bespoke Rolls-Royces will be themed from ‘Dusk until Dawn’.

Isobel Dando, General Manager, Future Retail, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, commented, “Patrons of our marque delight in inhabiting some of the world’s most beautiful enclaves. Sardinia, and its stunning Costa Smerelda, serves as the perfect backdrop for Rolls-Royce to host these patrons of true luxury in an intimate setting; The Rolls-Royce Summer Studio. The stunning Bespoke Wraith and emerald embellished Dawn, inspired by the sights and colours of Porto Cervo, have been commissioned in the spirit that so many of our customers delight in.”

The ambient hues of dusk are imbued on the Bespoke Wraith. A two-tone silver exterior reflects the dimming of the day’s light, whilst a purple feature line hints at the interior mood of this unique motor car. The Spirit of Ecstasy, the figurine that has graced the bonnet of each Rolls-Royce since 1911, casts a soft illumination from her position upon the motor car’s signature grille. On opening the coach doors, the mysterious aura of twilight, so appreciated by the Costa Smerelda’s glamourous denizens, is depicted using shades of blue, purple, slate and black, bestowing the feeling of calm as night falls. The use of ostrich leather adds depth and texture to the exquisitely furnished cabin.

In stark contrast, Dawn has been specified to capture the vibrancy and vivid colour of the Porto Cervo seascape. A unique emerald green exterior is offset against a distinct seashell and green leather interior. Open-pore teak encapsulates the occupants, alluding to the elegant sensation of a marine sojourn. A Bespoke teak boot floor mat has been created for the luggage compartment, continuing the nautical theme.

At the heart of this unique motor car lies art within art; precious emeralds and mother of pearl are set into white gold and presented on the fascia as a timeless memory of the beguiling island. As a brooch adorns a gown, so the jewels complete the visual harmony of this exquisite motor car. Set in the shape of the emblem of Porto Cervo, the occupants are reminded of the magical island from which the spirit of this motor car originated.

The Costa Smerelda is an abundant source of inspiration for artisans the world over. London-based tattoo artist Mo Coppoletta was party to such inspiration during the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Design team’s creative meetings for the curation of these two motor cars. Himself an artisan held in the highest regard, Coppoletta mused over exquisite blank canvases – two leather Rolls-Royce headrests – resulting in tattooed works of art which will be presented alongside the Dusk until Dawn configuration in The Summer Studio.

Coppoletta commented, “The colours and atmosphere of Porto Cervo are truly inspiring. The designs I have created for Rolls-Royce evoke the emotion experienced by observing this magical place from the harbour of Promenade du Port.”

The Rolls-Royce Summer Studio in Porto Cervo will be open until September 2016.

By appointment for patrons of true luxury.

New limited edition ‘Luminary Collection’ adds shooting stars, illuminated wood and posh paint

The Rolls-Royce Wraith is a rapid fastback unlike any other car on the planet. It’s uniquely weird, easy to fall in love with, but isn’t getting any younger. Luckily, Rolls-Royce has its bespoke department to lean on when it needs to up the luxe and add some longevity to its range.

So say hello to the Wraith Luminary Collection. A run of 55 cars that harness inspiration from the sun, new fabrics and shooting stars to set you apart from the riff-raff.

Finished in a new, 51st shade of grey – Sunburst Grey – this flat tone flips into a popping copper in direct sunlight. Good if you live in Los Angeles, rubbish if you live in Luton. This paint is contrasted with a hand-painted Sunburst Motif coachline, hand-painted Wake Channel Lines on Wraith’s bonnet and pinstripes on the centre caps, all finished in Saddlery Tan.

A colour that continues on the inside for the driver and front passenger, but contrasted with black leather in the rear and hand-woven stainless steel fabric (currently all the rage for poshos, apparently) found around the centre console and door pulls. Tudor Oak wood is a special finish just for the Luminary Collection. Sourced from forests in the Czech Republic, it’s the first time RR has managed to illuminate wood thanks to 176 LEDs secreted into the wood to be, we quote, ‘reminiscent of the trailing light of a shooting star’.

Basically, it creates a similar effect in the doors as the Starlight Headliner does for the roof. But the Starlight Headliner also has a new party trick: actual shooting stars. The 1,340 individually hand-woven optical fibres (that require a staggering 2km of cabling) now include shooting stars into the constellation. Eight shooting stars fire at random while you’re driving along, predominantly over the front seats as that’s where you’re encouraged to sit in the Wraith, rather than the back of a Phantom, and will offer an endless source of entertainment on a long drive.

Costing £295,000, the Luminary Collection yet is a healthy chunk of money. But if you’ve been waiting for a car with shooting stars in the roof, it’s certainly a price worth paying.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars unveiled Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow to mark the end of production of one of the most transformative motor cars in the marque's history. This Bespoke masterpiece, limited to just 12 examples worldwide, is also the last V12 coupé Rolls-Royce will ever make, as it embarks on its bold new electric era.

WRAITH: A CULTURAL ICON

Launched in 2013, Wraith is one of the most important and influential models ever designed and built at Goodwood. More performance-focused than its predecessors Phantom and Ghost, Wraith fundamentally altered perceptions of Rolls-Royce and brought new, younger customer groups to the brand for the first time. Its wider cultural significance is underlined by countless references to the Wraith in music, cinema, art and fashion.

THE V12 CONNECTION

Wraith's dramatic 'fastback' silhouette signalled the motor car's dynamic intent, which was further amplified in 2016, with the introduction of Black Badge Wraith: a potent, subversive and even more powerful expression of this transformative motor car, offering some of the highest levels of performance ever achieved by a V12-powered Rolls-Royce.

Yet when considering how best to mark the end of the Wraith era, Goodwood's designers and engineers took inspiration for the Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow Collection from an equally significant V12 in Rolls-Royce's long and storied legacy. In 1938, Captain George Eyston - whose bold, brave endeavours encapsulate the Black Badge spirit - set a world land speed record of 357.497 mph (575.335 km/h) with Thunderbolt, a seven-tonne, eight-wheeled leviathan equipped with two Rolls-Royce V12 'R' Series aero engines. The outbreak of the Second World War in the following year ended Eyston's endeavours; all subsequent records have been set with different engine types and configurations, enshrining Thunderbolt in perpetuity as the fastest V12-powered motor car ever built.

Thunderbolt's record attempts took place on the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. Against the glare of the brilliant white surface, and under a blazing desert sun, the reflections from the car's polished aluminium body made it almost impossible to tell precisely when it passed the timing equipment. Eyston's simple but ingenious solution was to paint a large black arrow on the car's sides, incorporating a yellow central circle motif that could be seen clearly even at high speed. This is what gives today's Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow Collection both its name and unique historical context.

GRADIENT PAINT

Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow's exclusive Bespoke finish features a full colour graduation between two tones - Celebration Silver and Black Diamond. A glass-infused 'Crystal' paint over layer has been applied to the Black Diamond paint to enhance the transition between the two colours, achieving a striking motion blur effect from front to rear. This exclusive Bespoke technique also gives the coachwork a subtle texture inspired by the crusted surface of the Bonneville Salt Flats, set beneath a high gloss lacquer, which is polished for more than 12 hours to achieve a glass-like finish.

The realisation of this extraordinary finish required the marque to undertake 18 months of surface testing and development before the marque's Bespoke Collective of engineers, craftspeople and designers achieved a result befitting to Rolls-Royce standards. The total investment in time developing the material chemistry, application technique and surface finishing makes Gradient Paint one of the most technically complex paints that Rolls-Royce has ever created.

CONTRAST PALETTE

Contrast to the Gradient Paint is provided by Bright Yellow bumper inserts and Bespoke wheel pinstripes, subtly recalling the yellow circle within Thunderbolt's black arrow. In another Rolls-Royce first, Black Arrow's V-struts, located behind the radiator grille and in front of the engine, are also finished in Bright Yellow, subtly drawing the eye to the V12 engine behind the Black Badge dark chrome grille surround. This use of Bright Yellow extends to the base of the motor car's layered carbon fibre Spirit of Ecstasy, which incorporates a Bright Yellow ring detail and an engraving of the Collection name.

V12 LEGACY FASCIA

To commemorate Rolls-Royce's last-ever V12 coupé, the marque's Bespoke Collective of designers, craftspeople and engineers collaborated to create a unique artwork for Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow's fascia. The intricate, tactile design skilfully depicts the contemporary V12 engine in Wraith. In keeping with the Black Badge family's noir ambience, the highly complex design - itself the product of two months of development - is engraved in a single sheet of black-coated aluminium to reveal the gleaming metal beneath, providing a bold visual link to Thunderbolt's polished aluminium body.

BESPOKE VENEER

Black Arrow's coach doors are lined with open-pore Black Wood, in a complex design comprising over 320 multi-directional and lasered marquetry pieces that mimics the cracked, irregular surface of the Bonneville Salt Flats. This extraordinary feature also extends onto the rear 'Waterfall' panel, which separates the two rear seats.

CONSOLE SPEEDFORM

Thunderbolt underwent a series of design iterations during its lifetime. Its final shape, in which it captured the records commemorated in Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow, is preserved forever in the illuminated, polished aluminium Speedform encapsulated behind glass on the front console.

NEW 'CLUB' LEATHER

Inside, Black Arrow's interior is provisioned with a new material type developed specifically for the Collection. The armrests, seat gussets, transmission tunnel, door detail, door panniers and lower dashboard panel are all finished in 'Club Leather' - its intentional greater sheen and even deeper black colouration provide a subtle contrast to the matte Rolls-Royce natural-grain black leather. The leather's natural markings are intentionally emphasised to give the interior more visible 'life lines', and a closer resemblance to what was described at the time as "the club-armchair type of driving seat which George [Eyston] prefers above all others". In keeping with the Black Badge series' use of daring pulses of colour, Bright Yellow is employed for the front seat leather. Atop the seat, the outer headrest features an arrow embroidery motif, providing rich, tactile detail and referencing the arrow symbol painted on Thunderbolt's aluminium body to enable the electric timing equipment to 'see' and capture the car at full speed.

TRACK GUIDE

When the steering wheel is set in a straight-ahead position, a dark marking at the twelve o'clock position aligns with a similar pattern in the seats. This references the black lines Eyston's team painted on the white Salt Flats to help him maintain direction - his sole point of reference at speeds of over 350 mph. In recognition of the significance of this marking, this track guide flows in a deliberately asymmetric line from the steering wheel to the driver's and rear passengers' seats.

RECORD CONSTELLATION

Given Thunderbolt's record-breaking status, it is only fitting that Black Arrow incorporates a record of its own. Casting a dramatic night's-sky ambience over the interior suite, Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow's Bespoke Starlight Headliner incorporates 2,117 fibre-optic 'stars' - the greatest number ever seen in a Rolls-Royce motor car. All individually arranged by hand, the 'stars' depict the Milky Way as seen from vast open spaces, and the constellations precisely as they would have appeared over the Salt Flats in Utah on 16 September 1938, the date of Eyston's final, immutable record.

BLACK ARROW CLOCK

Inspired by the analogue instruments of the 1930s, the fascia clock bezel references the raw, technical aesthetic of Thunderbolt's interior, enhanced by black hand-tips that mimic the original car's side-arrows; the surround is inscribed with the legend 'Bonneville' and Thunderbolt's everlasting record speed for a V12-engined car of 357.497 mph. A further 'arrow' detail appears on the motor car's Bespoke treadplates.

ENGINE BADGE

An exclusive Bespoke plaque is mounted on the engine cover to signify this as the last V12 ever to be fitted to a Rolls-Royce coupé. Machined from a single piece of polished metal, the plaque is inscribed with the V12 monogram in Bright Yellow, and the legend 'Final Coupé Collection' in Black.

All 12 motor cars in the Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow Collection have been allocated to clients around the world.