Rolls-Royce has unveiled the Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow Collection, a limited-edition masterpiece that marks the end of production of one of the most transformative motor cars in the marque's history. The Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow is also the last V12 coupe Rolls-Royce will ever make as it embarks on its bold new electric era.
The Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow pays homage to Thunderbolt, an eight-wheeled land speed record car powered by two Rolls-Royce V12 airplane engines that achieved 357.497 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah in 1938. The car's striking gradient paint finish, yellow accents, and bespoke details reflect Thunderbolt's daring spirit and distinctive appearance.
We will explore how the Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow celebrates both Thunderbolt's legacy and Wraith's significance as a cultural icon and a performance-focused coupe that fundamentally altered perceptions of Rolls-Royce.
Thunderbolt: The Fastest V12-Powered Car Ever
Thunderbolt was a seven-tonne behemoth designed by Captain George Eyston, an engineer and racing driver who embodied the adventurous and rebellious spirit of Rolls-Royce's Black Badge ethos. Eyston was passionate about speed and innovation and set out to create a car that could break the world land speed record held by his rival John Cobb.
To power his colossal creation, Eyston chose two Rolls-Royce V12' R' Series engines that were originally developed for racing seaplanes. Each engine produced 2,350 horsepower and was supercharged by two centrifugal compressors driven by exhaust gases. The engines were mounted side by side behind the cockpit and drove four wheels each through separate transmissions.
Thunderbolt had an aerodynamic aluminum body with a pointed nose and tail fins. It also had four-wheel steering for stability at high speeds. The car measured 30 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 5 feet high. It had eight tires specially made by Dunlop that could withstand temperatures of up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Eyston first tested Thunderbolt at Daytona Beach in Florida in February 1937, where he reached a speed of 312 mph but failed to break the record due to mechanical problems. He then shipped the car to Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, where he faced harsh weather conditions and fierce competition from Cobb, who had improved his own car, Railton Special, to challenge Eyston.
On September 16, 1938, Eyston finally achieved his goal and set a new world land speed record of 345.49 mph, beating Cobb by less than one mph. A few days later, he improved his own record to 357.497 mph, making Thunderbolt the fastest V12-powered car ever.
However, Thunderbolt's glory was short-lived. The outbreak of World War II in 1939 ended Eyston's attempts to recapture the top spot from Cobb,
who reclaimed it in August 1939 with a speed of 369.74 mph. Thunderbolt was stored in a warehouse in New York until after the war when it was sold to an American collector. It later suffered extensive damage in a fire and was eventually scrapped. Despite its tragic fate, Thunderbolt remains a legend in automotive history and a testament to Eyston's courage and ingenuity. It also showcases Rolls-Royce's engineering excellence and pioneering spirit in creating powerful V12 engines for various applications.
Wraith: A Performance-Focused Coupe That Changed Perceptions of Rolls-Royce
Wraith is one of the most important and influential models ever designed and built at Goodwood, the home of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars since 2003.
Launched in 2013, Wraith is more performance-focused than its predecessors, Phantom and Ghost, offering some of the highest levels of power, performance, and presence ever achieved by a Rolls-Royce. Wraith's dramatic 'fastback' silhouette signals its dynamic intent, which is further amplified by its sweeping lines, wide rear track, and low roofline.
Wraith is powered by a twin-turbocharged 6.6-liter V12 engine that delivers 623 horsepower and 605 lb-ft of torque, making it the most powerful Rolls-Royce ever produced. The car accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and has a top speed of 155 mph. The car also has an eight-speed automatic transmission that adapts to the driver's style and road conditions.
It's luxury, and craftsmanship matches Wraith's performance. The car has a spacious and elegant interior with leather seats, wood veneers, metal accents, and a starlight headliner, creating a glittering night sky effect with hundreds of fiber-optic lights. The car also has a bespoke audio system with 18 speakers and two subwoofers delivering crystal-clear sound.
Wraith also offers many advanced features that enhance its convenience and safety. The car has a head-up display that projects key information on the windshield, such as speed, navigation directions, and warnings. The car also has a night vision system that detects pedestrians and animals in low-light conditions and warns the driver accordingly. The car also has adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, collision warning, blind spot detection, parking assist, and a surround-view camera.
Wraith is more than just a motor car; it is a cultural icon that has inspired countless music, cinema, art, and fashion references. Wraith has been featured in songs by artists such as Drake, Future, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and Rihanna. Wraith has also appeared in movies such as Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, and Bad Boys for Life. Wraith has also been customized by celebrities such as David Beckham, Justin Bieber, Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow: A Fitting Finale for an Iconic Coupe
In 2016, Rolls-Royce introduced the Black Badge line, a darker and more potent expression of its models that appealed to more contemporary customers who seek adventure, individuality, and rebellion. The Black Badge Wraith was one of the first models to receive this treatment, offering enhanced performance, style, and technology.
The Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow Collection is the ultimate manifestation of this ethos and a fitting finale for an iconic coupe. The Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow Collection is limited to just 12 examples worldwide, making it one of the most exclusive and desirable Rolls-Royces ever made.
The car's design is inspired by Thunderbolt, the record-setting eight-wheeled land speed car that used two Rolls-Royce V12 engines in the 1930s. The car's striking gradient paint finish, which took 18 months to perfect, transitions from Celebration Silver at the front to Black Diamond at the rear, reflecting Thunderbolt's bright aluminum body that was painted with a black arrow to be visible on the salt flats. The car also features yellow accents on the front bumper, wheels, grille struts, and Spirit of Ecstasy base, echoing Thunderbolt's yellow circle motif.
The interior of the Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow Collection is equally stunning and unique. The seats are upholstered in Club Leather with yellow contrast stitching and piping. The headrests are embroidered with an arrow motif in yellow thread. The dashboard features bespoke artwork depicting Thunderbolt's V12 engine, engraved on a single sheet of black-coated aluminum and set behind glass. The analog clock displays Thunderbolt's top speed of 357.497 mph (575.335 km/h) in yellow numerals. The door cards feature a textured wood veneer composed of over 320 pieces of marquetry, designed to emulate the rough surface of the salt flats.
A special feature of the Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow Collection is an illuminated Thunderbolt Speedform sculpture between the front seats. The sculpture is made from a solid aluminum billet and hand-polished to create a mirror finish. It features an engraved plaque with Thunderbolt's name and top speed. The sculpture is illuminated by LED lights that change color according to driving mode: blue for Comfort mode; purple for Low mode; red for Sport mode; green for Eco mode; white for Off mode.
The Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow Collection also benefits from all the enhancements that distinguish the Black Badge line from its standard counterparts. These include:
- A more powerful V12 engine that delivers 642 horsepower (an increase of 19 horsepower) and 642 lb-ft of torque (an increase of 37 lb-ft of torque) and a more responsive throttle.
- A revised suspension system that lowers the ride height by 10 mm and increases the stiffness of the air springs and anti-roll bars for improved handling and agility.
- A recalibrated eight-speed automatic transmission that shifts faster and holds gears longer for more spirited driving.
- A variable exhaust system that produces a deeper and more distinctive sound when Sport mode is engaged.
- A carbon fiber composite brake system that reduces unsprung weight and improves braking performance. The brake discs measure 14.7 inches at the front and 14.6 inches at the rear, while the brake calipers are painted black with yellow RR logos.
- A dark chrome finish for the grille surround, boot lid finisher, exhaust pipes, window surrounds, and Spirit of Ecstasy base. The Spirit of Ecstasy itself is also finished in high-gloss black chrome instead of stainless steel.
- A set of 21-inch carbon fiber alloy wheels that combine lightweight carbon fiber with forged aluminum. The wheels have a two-tone effect, with gloss black on one side and matte titanium on the other.
The Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow Collection is expected to launch as part of Rolls-Royce's plan to introduce 23 electric vehicles by 2025 under its E-GMP platform. The E-GMP platform is Rolls-Royce's dedicated electric vehicle architecture that offers improved performance, efficiency, and safety for its electric vehicles.
The Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow Collection is a tribute to a legendary V12 engine that powered Thunderbolt to glory in the 1930s and a farewell to an iconic coupe that changed perceptions of Rolls-Royce in the 2010s. With its stunning design, innovative technology, and fast-charging capability, the Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow Collection is a fitting finale for an era of V12-powered coupes that will never be repeated.
The Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Arrow Collection is a limited-edition masterpiece that marks the end of production of one of the most transformative motor cars in The Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow pays homage to Thunderbolt, an eight-wheeled land speed record car powered by two Rolls-Royce V12 airplane engines that achieved 357.497 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah in 1938. The car's striking gradient paint finish, yellow accents, and bespoke details reflect Thunderbolt's daring spirit and distinctive appearance.
The Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow celebrates both Thunderbolt's legacy and Wraith's significance as a cultural icon and a performance-focused coupe that fundamentally altered perceptions of Rolls-Royce. The car offers some of the highest levels of power, performance, and presence ever achieved by a V12-powered Rolls-Royce.
The Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow Collection is limited to just 12 examples worldwide, making it one of the most exclusive and desirable Rolls-Royces ever made. The car's design is inspired by Thunderbolt, the record-setting eight-wheeled land speed car that used two Rolls-Royce V12 engines in the 1930s.
Rolls-Royce has not disclosed the car's price, but it is expected to be well above the standard Wraith's starting price of $343,000 when it was last on sale in the US. Given its rarity and significance, the Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow Collection is likely to become a highly sought-after collector's item among Rolls-Royce enthusiasts.
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