Rolls-Royce Black Badge Wraith

The now-discontinued Wraith Black Badge was not merely a colour package. Rolls-Royce presented it as a distinct, more assertive Wraith derivative, and Rolls-Royce Sandton launched Black Badge in South Africa at Kyalami in early 2017. Contemporary local coverage records the exact marketed identity Wraith Black Badge, while an official Rolls-Royce South Africa release confirms that Wraith's 465 kW output was retained and torque increased by 70 Nm to 870 Nm. The same release describes a tweaked air suspension, an upgraded gearbox and 21-inch carbon-alloy composite wheels. Local launch reporting adds an eight-speed transmission calibration designed to hold gears longer, greater engine braking, steering and suspension revisions, larger front brake discs and automatic LED headlights. Price evidence needs care: one February 2017 South African report quoted about R7.45 million, another March 2017 source recorded POA, and a Rolls-Royce spokesperson again described the price as POA in June 2020. POA is therefore the safer historical state, not a single universal invoice for individually commissioned cars. The launch-era World technical sheet gives exact dimensions for the derivative and should not be mixed with later revised values. It records 5285 mm length, 1947 mm width, 1507 mm height and a 3112 mm wheelbase. The car has two doors, four seats, a 470-litre boot and an 82-litre fuel tank. Front and rear headroom measure 1002 mm and 941 mm, while legroom measures 1054 mm and 937 mm. Unlike the regular Wraith World sheet, this Black Badge sheet explicitly publishes a 2440 kg curb weight. Gross vehicle weight is 2810 kg and the compatible same-definition payload is 370 kg. The 6592 cc V12 produces 465 kW at 5600 rpm and 870 Nm between 1700 and 4500 rpm, paired with an 8HP95 eight-speed automatic and 2.813 final drive. Official performance is 250 km/h and 4.5 seconds from 0-100 km/h. EU5 combined consumption is 14.6 l/100km with 333 g/km CO2. Its tyre specification is unique in this group: 255/40 R21 at the front and 285/35 R21 at the rear, mounted on 8.5-inch and 9.5-inch-wide 21-inch wheels. The visual changes were equally deliberate. Official material describes a high-gloss black Spirit of Ecstasy, inverted silver-on-black Double R badges, darkened chrome surfaces, aerospace-grade aluminium-threaded carbon-fibre fascia material and a black Starlight Headliner. Event cars used contrast leather and Black Badge's Unlimited infinity emblem. Because Rolls-Royce cars were individually commissioned, a buyer must verify which of these finishes and assistance packages are present on the actual car rather than expecting every launch-car detail. The core Black Badge mechanical identity, however, is clear: 870 Nm, revised eight-speed behaviour, specific chassis tuning, 21-inch carbon-alloy composite wheels and the darker design language distinguish it from the regular Wraith.