A Shade Of Wraiths Cometh

Rolls-Royce already occupies a certain cache in the pantheon of automobiles, that it’s hard to imagine the marque coming up with something that would make patrons of true luxury sit up and take notice. But maybe, it has – with the launch of the limited edition Wraith Luminary Collection.

In response to a global demand for Rolls-Royce Collection Cars, the marque has created a limited collection of just 55 Wraiths, which join the ranks of highly collectible Bespoke masterpieces.

Says Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, “Wraith Luminary speaks directly of our contemporary Rolls-Royce brand – progressive and trailblazing; the pinnacle in handcrafted luxury. This is a motor car that celebrates visionaries who achieve eminence in their respective fields. “

What sets this version of Wraith apart?

Lively exterior

The inspiration for the exterior paintwork called Sunburst Grey is the golden hour’s sunrays. It comes off as a flat grey until light, such as sun’s rays, hits it, giving it a depth and warmth of rich copper tones. Further intrigue is added by a hand-painted Sunburst Motif coachline, hand-painted Wake Channel Lines on Wraith’s bonnet and pinstripes applied to the wheel centres, each in Saddlery Tan, bearing reference to the colourway of the interior leather.

Luxurious interior

On opening the coach doors, one is met by a statement of modern luxury, as
light flows from the front into the rear passenger compartment. The Collection’s defining feature, Tudor Oak wood, sourced from the forests of the Czech Republic, selected for its depth of colour and the density of the grain structure, is for the first time, illuminated. The light of 176 LEDs permeates through an intricately perforated design in the unique Tudor Oak veneer, allowing a mesmerizing pattern, reminiscent of the trailing light of a shooting star, to luminesce at the touch
of a button. Linked to the controls of the starlight headliner, the cabin’s veneer surrounds Wraith’s occupants in an ambient glow of light.

Speaking of shooting stars, the Rolls- Royce Bespoke Collective, a talented group of engineers, designers and craftspeople located at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, West Sussex, have brought drama to the cabin of Luminary in the form of brilliant shooting stars. The prized Rolls- Royce starlight headliner, a hand woven configuration of 1340 fibre optic lights which act as a glittering night sky, takes a bold new step as it incorporates shooting stars into the constellation; a playful display of light that creates wonderment and awe for the car’s passengers.

Taking nearly 20 hours to configure, eight shooting stars fire at random, predominantly over the front seats, in recognition of Wraith’s owner-driver appeal.

Wraith Luminary’s cockpit is trimmed in Saddlery Tan, though the rear seats contrast in Anthracite leather, thus highlighting the prominence of the driver’s position. Contrast piping and stitching masterfully marry the front aesthetic to the rear. Alternatively, a more dramatic contrast can be selected by specifying Seashell-coloured leather in the rear, both of which will be perfectly coalesced by the inclusion of a two-tone steering wheel.

The Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective continually seeks inspiration from external trends and influences. In a progressive step, the application of hand-woven stainless steel fabric, a
highly contemporary and innovative new technique in luxury craft, is appointed to the central transmission tunnel and door panniers, contrasting the Tudor Oak wood and Saddlery Tan leather.

Incorporating strands 0.08mm- 0.19mm in diameter, this technical fibre is woven in a pattern oriented at precisely 45 degrees, to complement the lines of the interior and provide a uniform appearance throughout the passenger compartment when viewed from either side. Taking three days to produce in a “clean room” environment, the fabric is manipulated to cloak the centre console, modified from use in an industrial environment to create a finish befitting the interior of a Rolls- Royce motor car, refracting the light of the unique illuminated paneling in the doors.

Final touch 

As a final touch, the car’s tread plates bear the provenance of this unique collection. “Wraith Luminary Collection – One of Fifty-Five” is engraved in hand-polished stainless steel.
Since its incarnation, Wraith has long attracted the patronage of visionaries – drawn to the intoxicating promise of near unlimited power and its hauntingly rakish fast-back design, a true gentleman’s gran tourismo fabricated par excellence. The remarkable success of Wraith in attracting a new generation of drivers to the marque is reflected in this distinctive motor car’s masterfully incorporated, innovative expressions of pure luxury.