Rolls-Royce Wraith Unveiled as Brand's Most Powerful Car Ever: 2013 Geneva Motor Show

Rolls-Royce officially debuted the Wraith, its most powerful model ever, at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show today.

The elegantly designed fastback is powered by a 6.6-liter, twin-turbo V12 powerplant with 624 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. It is 0.3 seconds faster to 60 mph compared to the Ghost (the sedan on which its based), which has 563 hp. The powerplant is mated to an eight-speed ZF-sourced automatic transmission. To help give the Wraith a more dynamic driving experience, the British automaker incorporated a wide rear track, shorter wheelbase, and lower roof height on the Wraith.

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Overall, the vehicle’s suspension has been tuned to minimize body roll with steering weight heavier at high speeds and lighter at low speeds. Agility improvements have been achieved without a compromise to the comfort air ride has to offer.

The Wraith is also the vehicle to debut Rolls-Royce’s Satellite Aided Transmission (SAT) technology. SAT utilizes GPS data to see beyond what the driver typically sees. It will help anticipate the driver’s next move based on location and driving style, selecting the most appropriate gear for the terrain that’s up ahead. All the changes are designed to help give the Wraith a more polished, effortless driving experience with even better response.

New mechanical and electrical technology has also found its way in the Wraith such as heads-up display, adaptive headlights, and keyless trunk control. Voice-activation commands now come with through a one-touch button on the steering wheel while a destination no longer requires manual input from a nav menu. Route assistance begins immediately said Rolls-Royce, with on-screen and audio guidance following a voice command such as “navigate to Piccadilly in London.” Of course, Americans might have an issue getting to Piccadilly Circus from America, but you get the point.

Pricing is estimated to begin at around 245,000 Euros in Europe, which is about $319,000. The automaker did say that confirmation and further pricing details for all markets will come later this year, with first Wraith deliveries starting in the final quarter of 2013.

“Today we launch the ultimate gentlemen’s gran turismo, a car that embodies the spirit of Charles Stewart Rolls,” commented Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “The most powerful Rolls-Royce in history, Wraith promises the sense of adventure and speed that drove our founding forefather. But of course, Wraith’s starting point is luxury, refinement and quality, traits that remain as important to Rolls-Royce customers today as they were more than a century ago.”