Rolls-Royce Wraith
Specs, engines and history
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By Felix Hartmann, Automotive Technology & EV Contributor
Which Wraith to choose
Our verdict · Felix Hartmann
A standard Wraith gives the full V12 experience with the softer set-up, and the earliest 2013–2017 cars are the natural starting point. The Black Badge adds 70 Nm and firmer settings for owners who drive themselves hard; the numbered editions such as the Landspeed and the Black Arrow are collector pieces rather than everyday cars. Whatever the version, a full Rolls-Royce dealer service history matters on a heavy twin-turbo V12. For a pre-war car, the 1938 Wraith is a coachbuilt rarity whose value depends mostly on its body maker and originality. To set a Wraith against a Bentley Continental GT or the Ghost, use the 1cars comparison tool.
The Rolls-Royce Wraith is the brand's two-door fastback coupé of 2013–2023, built at Goodwood on the chassis of the Ghost with a 465 kW (632 PS) twin-turbo V12. Top Gear called it the performance-focused sibling of the Phantom and Ghost, and according to the company it brought a new group of customers to the brand. The name itself is older: from 1938 to 1939 Rolls-Royce built a Wraith chassis in Derby for coachbuilt saloons and drophead coupés.
In short
- Modern Wraith: unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2013, built until 2023, replaced by the electric Spectre.
- 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12 with 465 kW (632 PS) and 800 Nm; 870 Nm in the Black Badge.
- Pillarless body with rear-hinged coach doors; 5,269 mm long, 2,440 kg.
- The final Black Arrow edition of 2023 was limited to 12 cars.
Rolls-Royce Wraith at a glance
| Item | Wraith (2013–2023) |
|---|---|
| Maker | Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Goodwood, West Sussex (UK) |
| Production | 2013–2023 (model years 2014–2023); deliveries from late 2013 |
| Body | two-door pillarless coupé with rear-hinged coach doors |
| Platform | Ghost chassis (BMW L6), shared with the Dawn convertible |
| Engine | 6,592 cc twin-turbo V12 (BMW N74B66) |
| Power / torque | 465 kW (632 PS) at 5,600 rpm; 800 Nm (Black Badge 870 Nm) |
| Gearbox | ZF eight-speed automatic |
| Predecessor / successor | Phantom Coupé / Spectre |
Other models of the brand are listed in the Rolls-Royce catalogue on 1cars, and the history of Rolls-Royce explains how the company came to Goodwood.
Two cars named Wraith: 1938 and 2013
| Generation | Code | Years | Body styles | Engines | Power (kW / PS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wraith (pre-war) | - | 1938–1939 (deliveries to 1947) | chassis for coachbuilt saloons, coupés, dropheads | 4,257 cc inline-six | not published |
| Wraith | - | 2013–2023 | two-door coupé | 6.6 twin-turbo V12 | 465 / 632 |
The name is an old Scottish word for a ghost or spirit. It first appeared on a 40/50 h.p. Silver Ghost whose owner called it "The Wraith", and Rolls-Royce used it again for the post-war Silver Wraith.
The 1938 Wraith from Derby
The first Wraith was built in Derby in 1938 and 1939 as the successor to the 25/30 h.p. It was sold as a rolling chassis, and coachbuilders such as Hooper, James Young, Vanvooren and De Villars added the bodies. Wikipedia gives 492 chassis.
Its 4,257 cc overhead-valve straight-six was based on the 25/30 engine but had a cross-flow cylinder head, and a four-speed manual gearbox had synchromesh on the top three gears. The front suspension was independent, with coil springs, and derived from the Packard 120. The welded chassis had a 3,450 mm (136 in) wheelbase, and a built-in hydraulic jacking system was operated from under the front passenger seat. The Motor measured 0–50 mph (80 km/h) in 16.4 seconds in October 1938, and top speed was up to 137 km/h (85 mph) depending on the body.
In 1938 the chassis cost £1,100 and a typical touring car about £1,700. The war interrupted production; some chassis were bodied only in 1940 or later, 16 were completed for the British government in early 1946, and the last Wraith was delivered in 1947. The engine later formed the basis for the Bentley Mark V and Corniche.
The 2013 Wraith: a two-door fastback from Goodwood
Rolls-Royce announced the modern Wraith in January 2013 and showed it at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The exterior was designed by Pavle Trpinac and Andreas Thurner, the interior by Charles Coldham, Matthias Junghanns and Alan Sheppard. It used the chassis of the Rolls-Royce Ghost, itself related to the BMW 7 Series of the F01 generation, with a 3,112 mm wheelbase, a sloping fastback roof and no B-pillar between the rear-hinged coach doors and the side windows.
Beside the Rolls-Royce Phantom and the Ghost saloons, the Wraith was the coupé for owners who wanted to drive themselves. Torsten Müller-Ötvös, then chief executive, called it "one of the most significant and influential cars we have ever made at Goodwood" and said that its power, performance and presence opened the brand to an entirely new group of clients.
Engine, gearbox and performance
| Version | Years | Power | Torque | Gearbox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wraith | 2013–2023 | 465 kW (632 PS) at 5,600 rpm | 800 Nm at 1,500–5,500 rpm | ZF 8HP90 eight-speed automatic |
| Wraith Black Badge | 2016–2023 | 465 kW (632 PS) at 5,600 rpm | 870 Nm at 1,700–4,500 rpm | ZF 8HP95 eight-speed automatic |
The 6,592 cc twin-turbo V12 is BMW's N74B66, also used in the Ghost. Top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h. Autoplenum lists 4.6 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h for the standard car; Wikipedia quotes a factory 0–60 mph time of 4.4 seconds but marks it as unsourced, so the metric figure is the safer one.
Dimensions, boot and fuel consumption
| Parameter | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 5,269 mm | 207.4 in |
| Width | 1,947 mm | 76.7 in |
| Height | 1,507 mm | 59.3 in |
| Wheelbase | 3,112 mm | 122.5 in |
| Kerb weight | 2,440 kg | 5,379 lb |
| Boot | 470 l | 16.6 cu ft |
| Fuel tank | 83 l | 21.9 US gal |
| Fuel consumption (NEDC, combined) | 14.0 l/100 km | 16.8 mpg (US) |
| CO2 emissions (NEDC) | 327 g/km | - |
| Top speed (limited) | 250 km/h | 155 mph |
The consumption and CO2 figures are the German-market data published by Autoplenum; urban consumption was 21.2 l/100 km and extra-urban 9.8 l/100 km.
Black Badge and limited editions
The Black Badge Wraith of 2016 was aimed at what Rolls-Royce called more contemporary customers. It has a darkened Spirit of Ecstasy and exterior details, carbon-fibre trim inside, reworked suspension and steering, new driveshafts and more torque. Several numbered editions followed:
| Edition | Year | Built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wraith Kryptos | - | 50 | limited edition |
| Black Badge Landspeed | June 2021 | 35 | homage to Captain George Eyston's land speed record car |
| Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow | 2023 | 12 | final Wraith; all sold out |
The Black Arrow closed the Wraith story as part of the "Final Coupé Collection". Its paint moves from Celebration Silver to Black Diamond and took 18 months to develop, the Starlight headliner has 2,117 fibre-optic lights, and the door panels use 320 pieces of marquetry. Top Gear describes it as the last V12 coupé before Rolls-Royce moves to electric cars. Independent tuners also used the Wraith as a base: Mansory showed its version at Geneva in 2014, and Novitec built eight cars of its Wraith Overdose.
Prices and the end of production
Autoplenum lists a German price of €285,897 for the 2013–2017 Wraith, rising to €296,905 depending on equipment. Wikipedia gives no total production figure for the Wraith.
Production ended in 2023 with the Black Arrow. The Wraith's role as the brand's two-door coupé passed to the electric Spectre.
Photo gallery
Rolls-Royce Wraith photos 6
FAQ
When was the Rolls-Royce Wraith made?
The modern coupé from 2013 to 2023 at Goodwood; an earlier Wraith chassis was built in Derby in 1938–1939.
How powerful is the Rolls-Royce Wraith?
Its 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12 produces 465 kW (632 PS) and 800 Nm; the Black Badge has 870 Nm.
What replaced the Rolls-Royce Wraith?
The Rolls-Royce Spectre, a fully electric two-door coupé. Wikipedia lists it as the Wraith's successor after production of the V12 car ended in 2023.
Is the Wraith based on the Ghost?
Yes. It uses the Ghost chassis with a two-door fastback body; the Dawn convertible shares the same base.
How many Wraith Black Arrow cars were built?
Twelve. All of them were sold, and the edition closed Wraith production in 2023 as part of the Final Coupé Collection.
Data sources
Data checked by an editor against the sources below.
