Rolls-Royce Wraith 2013

In 2013, Rolls-Royce revived the Wraith name for a four-seat fastback grand tourer. The base version stands out with its low roofline and rear-hinged rear doors, both of which make it easy to recognize at a glance. Under the bonnet, Rolls-Royce pairs a V12 with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission, quoting 624 hp and 800 Nm of torque. The brand also highlights Satellite Aided Transmission, a system that uses GPS data to anticipate changes in road layout, including hills and bends.

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History

The 2013 Wraith has no direct technical continuity with the pre-war car, but it revives one of Rolls-Royce’s historic names. The original Wraith, introduced in the late 1930s, was still a rolling chassis delivered without a final body, leaving specialist coachbuilders to complete it. It followed the 20/25 and 25/30 lineage, and used a 4,257 cc inline-six together with independent front suspension. That architecture was firmly rooted in pre-war practice and already aimed at improving comfort and ride quality. The original Wraith remained rare, helped by the disruption caused by the Second World War.

The car launched in 2013 follows a very different philosophy. Rolls-Royce designed it as a complete luxury coupé rather than a chassis for custom bodywork. Even so, it borrows a name associated with rarity and with the variety of coachbuilt forms seen on the earlier model. The modern Wraith is therefore a heritage-driven reinterpretation, not a mechanical continuation.

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Technical data

1 powertrain recorded for the Wraith. Some figures apply to the version as a whole rather than to each engine.

This powertrain

Power: 465 kW
Torque: 800 Nm
Transmission: Automatique, 8 rapports
Drive type: Propulsion
Fuel: Essence

Recorded across the whole version

0-100 km/h: 4.6 s
Top speed: 249 km/h
Displacement: 6592 cm3
Consumption: 14 L/100 km
Dimensions: 5268 x 1948 x 1506 mm
Weight: 2360 kg

Source: cardatawiki

Anecdotes

The Wraith name points back to a much older car, but the 2013 model does not reuse its hardware. It mainly serves to evoke a prestigious and rare lineage. The pre-war Wraith was known for its wide variety of coachbuilt bodies, while the modern car adopts a single fastback coupe form.

Evolution

Compared with the historic Wraith, the 2013 base version represents a complete shift in concept. It abandons the separate chassis and coachbuilt body approach in favor of a fully integrated automobile. The fastback shape, low roofline, and rear-hinged doors belong to a modern design language that contrasts sharply with the custom saloons, coupés, and convertibles used on the pre-war car. The mechanical package also moves to a contemporary formula, with a V12, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and electronic systems designed to anticipate the road ahead. The base model is therefore the standard expression of the modern Wraith, before special derivatives such as Black Badge.

Its identity is best read through its own features rather than through comparison with the 1938 car: grand touring proportions, four-seat layout, and highly refined presentation. It preserves the prestige attached to the name while expressing it through a completely different technical and stylistic framework.

1938Wraith Base

Same variantPhotos: 0

Variants

For the Wraith launched in 2013, the base version is the standard coupe introduced by Rolls-Royce. It acts as the entry point to the range and carries the model’s core characteristics: fastback body, four seats, rear-hinged doors, and a V12 matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The dossier mainly mentions the Black Badge derivative, which is more performance-oriented and has its own specific presentation, as well as the Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow collection series from the end of the car’s life cycle. These should not be mistaken for separate generations.

So “Base” does not imply a stripped-down trim level, but rather the standard modern Wraith configuration. With no further trim breakdowns available, it is best distinguished from special editions and Black Badge, which alter the model’s positioning without changing its fundamental architecture.

References

Wraith Press KitRolls-Royce Motor Cars PressClub
Supports the 2013 launch, fastback coupé format, V12 engine, 624 bhp output, 800 Nm torque, eight-speed transmission, Satellite Aided Transmission and first-delivery timing.
Rolls Royce Wraith Sports SedanHellenic Motor Museum
Supports the 1938–1939 production period, Derby assembly, coachbuilt construction, 4,257cc inline-six, body-style variety and reported production total of 492 cars.
Black Badge Wraith Black ArrowRolls-Royce Motor Cars
Supports the Black Arrow collection-car status, its Thunderbolt inspiration and the conclusion of the Wraith’s role in the Rolls-Royce model range.
https://www.classic.com/m/rolls-royce/wraith/1st-gen/classic.com
Source found by OpenAI web search for this model page.