ROLLS-ROYCE WRAITH BLACK BADGE AND GHOST BLACK BADGE, FIRST UNVEILED AT THE 2016 GENEVA MOTOR SHOW, ARE PRESENTED TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HONG KONG
23.2.2016.- Rolls-Royce Black Badge speaks to the darker, more assertive, confident and demanding aesthetic of a new breed of Rolls-Royce customer – today’s generation of young, self-empowered, self-confident rule-breakers who are uncompromising and unapologetic in their choice of living and lifestyle. Their predecessors include Howard Hughes and our own Charles Rolls and they follow the road less travelled and live the unconventional life, darkly obsessed by their own pursuits and accomplishments from which they derive a pure adrenaline rush.
At a luncheon celebrating the start of the Lunar New Year, Paul Harris, Regional Director for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in Asia Pacific, said, “Rolls-Royce Black Badge is a creature of the night that fits in seamlessly alongside the spectacular night-time cityscape of Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, as worldwide, an increasing number of our clientele are choosing to get behind the wheel of their Rolls-Royce and we are seeing increasing demand for driver-orientated models. Black Badge adds a new edge to not only the aesthetic but the unique and sublime Rolls-Royce driving experience.”
The transformation of Rolls-Royce Ghost and Wraith into their Black Badge alter egos begins with the ‘Flying Lady’ who changes neither in design, posture nor material, but in colour to represent the owner’s dark obsession. She mutates into a high-gloss black vamp, proudly scything through the night-time cityscape. Equally, the Double R badge on the prow, flanks and aft of every Black Badge motor car invert to become silver on black, whilst chrome surfaces such as the front grille surround, boot lid finisher, lower air inlet finisher and exhaust pipes, turn dark.
The power of Black Badge communicates itself into the ground through new composite carbon fibre and lightweight 21-inch alloy wheels unique to Black Badge.
Inside, the centrepiece of the Black Badge cabin is the aerospace-grade aluminium-threaded carbon fibre composite surfacing – material often seen on the surfaces of stealth aircraft. To create this beautiful and innovative material, threads of aluminium just 0.014mm in diameter are painstakingly woven together before being bonded with carbon fibre. This surface material then has six coats of lacquer applied, is left to cure for 72 hours, after which it is hand-polished to a mirror finish. In addition to the creation of this luxury material, the air vents on the dash and in the rear of Black Badge motor cars have been darkened through the use of Physical Vapour Deposition.
Set into the cars’ fascia is a newly created Black Badge clock whose hands are tipped in orange and whose face is adorned by the ‘Unlimited’ rating infinity logo, which is also embroidered on the Black Badge’s upholstery.
The final touch is the moody light cast from the black starlight headliner, and reflected around the cabin from the polished fascia, to create a darkly atmospheric ambiance.
Black Badge also brings the colour black to new levels of intensity. The multiple layers of paint and lacquer that go into creating Black Badge Black are repeatedly hand polished – the most exacting painting and polishing process ever used for a solid paint colour. The result is the deepest, darkest and most intense black ever seen on a production car surface.
Wraith Black Badge
Already the most powerful Rolls-Royce in the world at 624hp (465kW), Wraith has always been the most driver-focused car in Rolls-Royce’s model range. Wraith Black Badge benefits from 70Nm more torque, bringing it to 870Nm, in addition to tweaked air suspension and an upgraded gearbox leading to more spirited driving. With this, Rolls-Royce has produced an even more driver-focused, agile Wraith, while at the same time preserving the intrinsic elements of the effortless Rolls-Royce magic carpet ride. The interior of the first Wraith Black Badge to arrive in Hong Kong is swathed in a combination of Black and Mugello Red leather for a bold and striking look.
Ghost Black Badge
Ghost Black Badge benefits from a power increase of 40hp (30kW) to 603hp (450kW) and a torque boost of 60Nm to 840Nm, whilst upgrades to the 8-speed automatic transmission give Ghost Black Badge an added sense of urgency in how it delivers its power. In the first Ghost Black Badge for Hong Kong, black interior leather combines with the vibrant yet sophisticated colour of Tailored Purple, giving the cabin a more edgy feel.
Customers can currently place orders for spring delivery of Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge and Ghost Black Badge. Recommended retail pricing is from HK$6,400,000 on the road.
Source: Rolls-Royce
Photograph: Rolls-Royce
