By: Krishan Narsinghani × Vivek Lalchandani × Emily Bunn × Vaughn Lowery
360 Magazine had the opportunity to drive the highly anticipated 2021 Rolls Royce Wraith Black Badge across Los Angeles. Bespoke from the Rolls Royce family, the Wraith distinguishably has a sportier handling as compared to other models. The souped-up luxury coupe delivers a smooth yet powerful drive. Turn up the radio and listen to members of the world of hip-hop praise driving the vehicle themselves. Who would want a chauffeur when you can climb behind the wheel of the Wraith yourself?
Design
With special detailing to the trim, plus black badge symbols, the Wraith is no joke when it comes to design. The phantom grill and the dark chrome spirit of ecstasy figure at the front of the car is a signature distinction of Rolls Royce vehicles. The rippling 21” carbon alloy composite wheels are detailed with the requisite black exterior detailing. The iced Selby Grey exterior of the Wraith, mixed with the interior’s red accents and metal appointments throughout, elevate the majesty of the car. As we drove along the coast of California, the Wraith glistened with a golden coat from the sun. In addition to the interior, the cabin is ultra-luxurious, and includes leather floor mats for those who embark on a slightly grittier driving experience.
Technology
The technology inside the Wraith crafted to create an out-of-this-world driving experience. While seated in the vehicle, drivers need not a sunroof to watch the stars because with the Wraith’s galaxy lights, the night sky is shining within finger’s tips reach. These lights create a stunning, serene atmosphere that makes inhabiting the Wraith feel astronomical glitzy. However, if you’re looking for more luxury, utilize the Wraith’s heat and cool controlled, massage chair seats. Recline and relax as you tune into the 1,300-watt Bespoke Audio System, which uses an 18-channel amplifier with 18 speakers throughout the vehicle for the optimal listening experience. Easily surf between radio channels using the touch dial to navigate through the touchscreen dashboard, which provides navigation systems and access to all of the car’s multimedia features. When you decide to start your journey in the Wraith, comfortably situate yourself into the car and allow the electronic-closing doors to do the heavy lifting for you. The backup and side cameras provide 360 views of the car, so you can feel safe and in control as you start your next adventure.
Performance
Rolls Royce stuck to their roots when it came to driving the Wraith. The black badge is powered by a silky smooth 6.6 liter turbocharged V12 engine that outputs 623 horsepower and 642 lb/ft torque, up from the 605 lb/ft the regular Wraith puts out. While those numbers sound incredible, the car also weighs in just over 5375 lbs, or in other words, almost as much as a Cadillac Escalade. Needless to say, drivers won’t be winning many races against most other cars, which have 600+ horsepower. The advantage of driving a Rolls Royce is the smoothness though, which is exactly where the Wraith delivers with transmission performance and power. Shifts are almost imperceptible, causing the Wraith to sometimes feel like an electric vehicle. Power from the V12 builds with absolutely no vibrations in the cabin.
Ergonomics
When it comes to suspension, the Wraith rides like a dream. Literally, sometimes you may need to pinch yourself to make sure you’re still awake. Noise, vibration and harshness are almost completely eliminated. The near 123 in. wheelbase ensures the ride is incredibly smooth and planted. All power is pushed to the rear wheels with air suspension standard on all four corners. This gives the Wraith the most ideal suspension setup for a long distance cruise. Drivers will wield an immense amount of power, a beautiful hand-crafted interior, and a suspension that allows you to have fun maneuvering corners, while maintaining stability on any type of pavement.
The 2021 Wraith is not for the car enthusiast, but is perfect for the everyday, casual driver who prefers comfort over aggressive driving dynamics. This ultimate grand touring machine starts in at $338,000 base price, however buyers can pay to customize more of the car’s features. Our Black Badge tester retails at $485,325. If you’re looking for a suave ride and prestigious interior, the Wraith is worth the wait.
To learn more about the 2021 Rolls Royce Wraith, visit Rolls-Royce’s website.
Photography by: Jeff Langlois
