162 ESQUIRE DECEMBER 2015 ESQUIRE DECEMBER 2015 163

ST Y L E F I L E — MACHINES ST Y L E F I L E — MACHINES

Fo r t h e u n i n i t i at e d, the thought of getting behind the wheel of a Rolls-Royce can be intimi-dating yet exciting. It is a kind of blood pumping, heart thumping, childish yet composed adrena-line rush that comes from being in a machine that holds such regal might. Rest assured, no other ma-chine can give you such a feeling.

Unveiled in 2013, the Rolls-Royce Wraith has been making waves for enthusiasts of the brand.From haters who bash it for its un-luxe appeal and lovers who praise its take on a sports coupe, no one can deny the sure ferocity that this car brings despite its slick appeal. With 624bhp from

rolls-royce WraithZooming across the highway in rolls-royce’s take on a ultra luxurious sports coupe can be a daunting yet exciting task.

Words by Sim Wie Boon

don’t feel like you’re driving such a huge car due to its smooth handling and responsive controls.

Driving the Wraith with its large wheelbase makes rough roads smooth and bumpy tarmac feel like butter. A 120kmh cruise feels like a 50kmph relaxing drive. Overtaking and switching around the road will leave you feeling as graceful as a ballet dancer. For all its power and impeccable handling, the Wraith is not a car for speed junkies looking to overtake another sports car or reliving scenes from The Fast and the Furious, it is a machine of elegance and luxury for classy folk more interested in comfort, function and a sense of all things regal.

The supple leather (which Rolls claims to be the softest it has ever made), the wood panelling (for a distinctly super yacht vibe) and impressively in-tegrated technology, which is all customisable, all help make the Rolls-Royce brand truly a bespoke experience on wheels. Now with BMW holding the corporate reins, the car naturally features a similarly made fingertip sensitive iDrive style ro-tary controller, as well as voice-activated satellite navigation, optional head-up display, Bluetooth and other knick-knacks for the boys to play with.

While the Wraith might not be a sporty coupé per se, it is a wonderfully made two-door coupé that makes it stand apart from other Rolls-Royce cars. Sleeker than the Ghost, lighter than the Phan-tom while more masculine compared to the Dawn, the Wraith is a conjuration of speed, phantasm and majesty on the road. 

a 6.6-litre twin turbo V12 engine, the 2,400kg Wraith goes from 0-100kmh in almost four sec-onds, making it the most powerful car Rolls-Royce has in their line up. And with a top speed of 250kmh, it is fast. Very fast.

A couple of months ago, we had the chance to get behind the wheel of this elegant monster and take it for a spin around Putrajaya. Despite the nerve wracking thoughts one might feel when get-ting into such a huge car (width:5.5m, length:1.9m, and wheelbase:3.1m), the beauty of the Wraith’s design makes you forget you’re in such a big ma-chine. While very spacious for a coupé, you really

top The interior of the Wraith is fully customisable with dozens of options for leather and thousands of colourways, even the roof lighting can be made to order.

aboveThe Spirit of Ecstasy or sometimes called Emily, Silver Lady or Flying Lady was designed by English sculptor Charles Robinson Sykes and carries with it a story about the secret passion between John Walter Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu and Eleanor Velasco Thornton.

LeftThe Wraith is the most powerful car that Rolls-Royce has ever produced.