However, we do get the impression the Wraith wasn’t built for something quite so gauche as base hooliganism, given the notable lack of paddle shifters or any sort of manual override for the 8-speed automatic gearbox.
What it does have in place of that is a “butler” that takes the legwork (or more accurately, handwork) out of shifting manually, with something Rolls-Royce calls SAT. An acronym for Satellite Aided Transmission, it works in conjunction with the satellite navigation system to select the most appropriate gear for the road ahead, because obviously, trying to guess which gear an upcoming corner should be taken in is far beneath the Baron of Bukit Timah’s dignity.
While there are some drivers out there who might bristle at this, the system works, and rather well at that. Of course, the Wraith’s gargantuan reserves of torque (800Nm from 1500rpm) might go some way to aiding that impression. This car has got so much tractability, we have a feeling it could well haul itself out of a 40km/h bend in eighth gear if it came to that.
But the important thing is, at no point did we find ourselves wishing for a paddle to pull on… or anything else, for that matter. And slipping into the cosseting embrace of that cabin, we found ourselves wanting for nothing.
Rolls-Royce Wraith is billed as the most dynamic Rolls-Royce ever, but don’t expect too much agility as it weighs 2360kg.
Yes, despite the massive performance on offer, not everyone will agree with how the Wraith’s personality is exceptionally remote (an alarming trait, considering it weighs just 140kg shy of 2.5 tonnes), how the chrome just aft of the rear windows is a touch too chunky, or even how some of the car’s elements, particularly the “iDrive”, come from the parts bin of the BMW Group, the parent company.
But that’s just us quibbling, because it would take a hardened cynic indeed to point out a glaring flaw.
The Wraith is, simply put, a grand tourer without equal. Yes, there are GTs out there that are faster, more involving, and perhaps even better-looking, but nothing quite comes close to its near-perfect blend of on-road presence, luxury and stately poise.
It costs a scandalous amount of money, but hey, nobody ever said the finer things in life came cheaply.
2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith 6.6 (A)
ENGINE 6592cc, 48-valves, V12, turbocharged
MAX POWER 632bhp at 5600rpm
MAX TORQUE 800Nm at 1500-5500rpm
POWER TO WEIGHT 267.8bhp per tonne
GEARBOX 8-speed automatic with manual select
0-100KM/H 4.6 seconds
TOP SPEED 250km/h (governed)
CONSUMPTION 7.1km/L (combined)
Click here to read about the all-new Rolls-Royce Phantom, which debuted in Singapore in 2017
Click here to read about the Rolls-Royce Sweptail, a one-off model built for a single customer
