Tuesday, November 19, 2013

The Amazing Rolls-Royce Wraith: Set for Production in 2015


The amazing Rolls-Royce Wraith convertible concept is going to production by 2015, according to multiple sources who said Rolls-Royce chief Torsten Müller-Ötvös had signed off on the model. The lushly produced "Official" video above shows how this shorter Rolls will likely appear, and it's extremely tantalizing.

The suicide doors, which undoubtedly alone weigh in at a ton or more, are slathered with leather, as is the entire interior, which will likely have literally millions of available permutations for a true bespoke/custom look, as is available for all Rolls orders.

The grille and lamps are squared off and are incredibly imposing, as they are on other models, like the Phantom Drophead Coupé, on which it's clearly based. The fast-back styling of the coupe are what really set this apart from the larger models currently in production. Care is taken not to sharply curve downwards in the rear quarter panel, but the D-Pillar is large and a bit bulky. While nicely rendered, as expected, this will clearly be a line-of-sight issue that will hinder visibility, but likely to be well handled by rear cameras, which are included on car makes far less expensive than this. Expect more top-of-the-line cameras here than on a Hollywood set.

The entire daylight opening in the greenhouse is extremely limiting, which, while stylish, is going to be a problem for owners who are daily drivers. Or their chauffeurs.

The trunk is likely to be ginormous, large enough for several golf bags or a huge assortment of custom luggage for the annual Hamptons holiday.

The entire rear, including the tail lamps, clearly define it as a Rolls, and its clear the heritage of the design was of paramount concern here. The entire design language and down-road graphic is instantly recognizable, and isn't a severe or radical departure for Rolls, and that's a very important and crucial decision, since the brand's customer base is conservative and loyal. Best not to stir things up with extreme and bizarre styling that will rankle the 1% who can afford this new iteration of a classic brand.

As a side note about the video's "plot," I love how the guy blows right by the beautiful woman in the video, rather than picking her up! As if to day "This car is enough for me, babe!"