Rolls-Royce has unveiled a vehicle that will be the last of its offerings to ever be powered by a V12 engine.
Limited to only a dozen units, the Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow marks the brand’s cut-off point before it moves into a fully charged, all-electric future.
Billed as the sportier, more powerful sibling to its Ghost and Phantom stablemates, the Wraith would seem to be the obvious recipient of this honour.
The stylings of the car are perfectly in tune with its position as a model marking the end of an era.
The manufacturer says the shape of the Wraith Black Arrow was inspired by the Thunderbolt, a vehicle from the 1930s designed solely for land-speed-record attempts, which was powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce’s V12 engines.
The similarity in looks doesn’t extend too far, though, as the new car is every bit the luxury coupe, while the Thunderbolt resembles something you might want to try and shoot into space.
The Wraith Black Arrow has been decked out in what Rolls-Royce calls "gradient paint", which gives the impression of dark and silver hues.
Scroll through the gallery below for more pictures of the Rolls-Royce Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow
What the brand calls the starlight headliner, which is the celestial roof design that lights up the cabin on all models, is made up of 2,117 fibre-optic points.
Each interior door panel contains 320 marquetry pieces, designed to give a tactile quality to the final product, and the seats have been decked out in what Rolls-Royce refers to as Club Leather.
The most notable feature inside, though, is the fascia, which depicts the V12 engine in intricate detail.
Torsten Muller-Otvos, Rolls-Royce’s chief executive, calls the Black Arrow “one of the most significant and influential cars” the manufacturer has ever created.
“Its extraordinary power, performance and presence opened the Rolls-Royce brand to an entirely new group of clients,” he said.
“It created its own following within contemporary culture and then expanded that further in its alternative Black Badge guise.”
There is no word on what each Black Arrow Wraith would cost to buy, but that would be academic even if the information were available — all 12 have already been sold.
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
Fight card
1. Featherweight 66kg: Ben Lucas (AUS) v Ibrahim Kendil (EGY)
2. Lightweight 70kg: Mohammed Kareem Aljnan (SYR) v Alphonse Besala (CMR)
3. Welterweight 77kg:Marcos Costa (BRA) v Abdelhakim Wahid (MAR)
4. Lightweight 70kg: Omar Ramadan (EGY) v Abdimitalipov Atabek (KGZ)
5. Featherweight 66kg: Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Kagimu Kigga (UGA)
6. Catchweight 85kg: Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) v Iuri Fraga (BRA)
7. Featherweight 66kg: Yousef Al Husani (UAE) v Mohamed Allam (EGY)
8. Catchweight 73kg: Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Ahmed Abdelraouf of Egypt (EGY)
9. Featherweight 66kg: Jaures Dea (CMR) v Andre Pinheiro (BRA)
10. Catchweight 90kg: Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
