Three Month US Tour Brings Stunning Rolls-Royce Wraith To First American Clients

NEW YORK, July 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130705/NY43087)

• Elegant fastback design points to most powerful Rolls-Royce in history: 624 bhp and 590 ft lbs torque from 1,500 rpm : 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds (100 kp/h in 4.6)
• Satellite Aided Transmission reads the road ahead, using GPS mapping to ensure correct gear is always pre-selected
• Voice activated connectivity augments effortlessness - the 'on-board valet'
• Fully four-seat configuration and a sumptuous, contemporary and yacht-like cabin

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is proud to confirm the arrival of the first Wraith in the United States, and a coast-to-coast tour taking in 22 cities. The Rolls-Royce Wraith will present its unique character, defined by power, style and drama, through a series of stops at dealerships throughout the US. Allowing customers to get behind the wheel at these ride-and-drive events, drivers will experience Rolls-Royce's hallmark attributes of luxury, refinement and hand-craftsmanship. Launched at the New York Auto Show in March 2013, Wraith is the most powerful and dynamic Rolls-Royce ever to bear the famous Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament. Featuring a dramatic, yet elegant fastback design, the new model is expected to bring new customers to Rolls-Royce, helping redefine a brand with a rich 109 year history.

"I am delighted that we are introducing the highly anticipated first Rolls-Royce Wraith," commented Eric C. Shepherd, Regional Director for North America for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. "Rolls-Royce is a brand defined by British hand-craftsmanship, rooted in the highest measures of luxury, quality and attention to detail. Our discerning clients will be lulled by the car's performance and agility, both of which will deliver on the promise of dramatic exterior styling."

"By sensationalizing a feeling of adventure and innovation, we believe Rolls-Royce Wraith  would be the chosen vehicle of our great founding forefather, The Honourable Charles Rolls,  if he were alive today," commented Torsten Muller-Otvos, CEO Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. "The United States was built on its pioneering spirit, which is why I believe that this market will be Wraith's most enthusiastic in the years ahead. I look forward to welcoming more new customers to the Rolls-Royce family."

Wraith's sweeping fastback gives the car its unique character. Bold lines, tension in the panels and a raked rear screen evoke the image of an athlete poised in the starting blocks. Further expression of dynamic intent can be seen in Wraith's deeply recessed grill and wide rear track.

Coach doors open to reveal a sumptuous interior complete with softest Phantom-grade leathers and expanses of wood. Named after the famous cove in the South of France where Sir Henry Royce and his design and engineering teams spent their winters, the Canadel finish sweeps through the contemporary 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 fiber optic lamps are hand-woven into the roof lining to give the impression of a glittering, starry night sky.

A twin-turbocharged V12 engine married to 8-speed automatic ZF transmission ensure that power delivery is effortless, but dramatic. 624 bhp is available to the driver while the 0-60 mph sprint is achieved in 4.4 seconds, compared with 563 bhp and 0-60 in 4.7 seconds for Ghost.

From 1,500 rpm 590 ft lbs of torque available, a wide rear track, shorter wheelbase and lower roof height further underwrite the Wraith as the most powerful, involved driving experience of any Rolls-Royce in history. Performance delivers as the car's suspension has been tuned to minimize body roll and discreetly amplify feedback when cornering; while steering weight is heavier at high speeds and lighter at low speeds to give a more polished and 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 technology 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 read the road ahead. It sees beyond what the driver sees; 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 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 even 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 5^th Avenue in New York City."

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.

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Since 1904, Rolls-Royce has created instantly recognizable motor cars that have made the company an enduring icon all over the world, representing the pinnacle in luxury motor vehicles. 2013 marks the 10 year anniversary of the modern Rolls-Royce Motor Cars as part of BMW Group [first Phantom rolled off the line on Jan. 1^st, 2003]. Each vehicle is hand-made to the exact specifications of the customer, in the company's manufacturing plant at its home on the Goodwood Estate in Chichester, England. The current family of Rolls-Royce motor cars includes the innovative Phantom, Phantom Extended Wheelbase, Phantom Coupe, and Phantom Drophead Coupe; the technologically advanced Ghost and Ghost Extended Wheelbase; and the groundbreaking Wraith, arriving in showrooms in the fall of 2013. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars sales are represented in the US and Canada with 34 authorized dealers in the U.S. and 3 authorized dealers in Canada. The Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, LLC headquarters is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Further information

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SOURCE Rolls-Royce Motor Cars