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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 ambience is complemented by Starlight Headliner, a bespoke feature available beyond Phantom family cars for the first time.
1,340 fibre 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 minimise 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. I t
sees beyond what the driver sees; anticipates his next move based
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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 RollsRoyce 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 humanmachine 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 5th 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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