BY wiondrive news desk
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars unveiled Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow to mark the end of production of one of the most transformative motor cars in the marque's history.
An exclusive Bespoke plaque is mounted on the engine cover to signify this as the last V12 ever to be fitted to a Rolls-Royce coupé. Machined from a single piece of polished metal, the plaque is inscribed with the V12 monogram in Bright Yellow, and the legend 'Final Coupé Collection' in Black.
Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow's exclusive Bespoke finish features a full colour graduation between two tones - Celebration Silver and Black Diamond.
Thunderbolt underwent a series of design iterations during its lifetime. Its final shape, in which it captured the records commemorated in Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow, is preserved forever in the illuminated, polished aluminium Speedform encapsulated behind glass on the front console.
Inspired by the analogue instruments of the 1930s, the fascia clock bezel references the raw, technical aesthetic of Thunderbolt's interior, enhanced by black hand-tips that mimic the original car's side-arrows.
The leather's natural markings are intentionally emphasised to give the interior more visible 'life lines', and a closer resemblance to what was described at the time as "the club-armchair type of driving seat which George [Eyston] prefers above all others"
Atop the seat, the outer headrest features an arrow embroidery motif, providing rich, tactile detail and referencing the arrow symbol painted on Thunderbolt's aluminium body to enable the electric timing equipment to 'see' and capture the car at full speed.
This Bespoke masterpiece, limited to just 12 examples worldwide, is also the last V12 coupé Rolls-Royce will ever make, as it embarks on its bold new electric era.
In keeping with the Black Badge family's noir ambience, the highly complex design - itself the product of two months of development - is engraved in a single sheet of black-coated aluminium to reveal the gleaming metal beneath, providing a bold visual link to Thunderbolt's polished aluminium body.
A glass-infused 'Crystal' paint over layer has been applied to the Black Diamond paint to enhance the transition between the two colours, achieving a striking motion blur effect from front to rear.