Geneva Show: Final teaser for Rolls-Royce Wraith

THE Rolls-Royce Wraith will have a swoopy fastback profile, giving the British ultra-luxury brand its first competitor to the successful Continental GT from former bedfellow Bentley.

Executive chairman of Australian Rolls-Royce importer Trivett, Greg Duncan, told GoAuto he expected first customer deliveries of the Wraith to arrive in the fourth quarter of this year.

In this final instalment of the Wraith’s four-part teaser campaign before its public world debut at the Geneva motor show next week, the car’s full silhouette is revealed for the first time with a simple line drawing.

The image reveals more about the car’s shape than the initial image, a shady side-on photograph issued last month that confirmed the Wraith to be a two-door coupe but did not reveal the sloping rear windscreen’s relationship with the boot lid.

It is not yet known whether or not the Wraith will have a hatchback-style boot opening incorporating the rear glass or a separate metal bootlid.

Left: Rolls-Royce Wraith

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars design director Giles Taylor described the fastback profile as the Wraith’s “defining element”.

“Inherent in the graceful line that sweeps from the top of the screen to the very rear edge is the promise of fast, yet effortless touring,” he said.

“Yet, perhaps my favourite aspect is the expressive gesture that comes from the side window graphic, gliding through Wraith’s glamorous coach door.

“It works with a strong sense of linear purpose from the shoulder line, which has the promise of potential like the athlete in the starting blocks.

“In contrast, the line that cuts through the shoulder line is a little more artful and adds that certain air of effortlessness to Wraith’s dynamic statement.”

A good idea of the Wraith’s final appearance can be gleaned from the simple line drawing supplied.

“In my view, the most successful designs always come down to three or four lines,” said Mr Taylor.

Last week, Rolls-Royce unveiled parts of the Wraith’s interior, which mixes contemporary luxury design cues with traditional craftsmanship.

The Wraith is understood to be based on the Ghost sedan, but with even more power from its twin-turbo V12 engine.

No official performance figures have yet been revealed, but it has been reported that instead of 396kW, as delivered by the Ghost, the Wraith will punch out 447kW, resulting in a 0-100km/h time quicker than the Ghost’s 5.0 seconds.

Rolls-Royce has so far only indicated that, compared with the Ghost’s “adequate” performance, the Wraith will have “more than ample” power.