What's the news?
Rolls-Royce is doing special, bespoke versions of its Ghost and Wraith models, both wearing the epithet Black Badge.
Exterior
Outside, each car's Spirit of Ecstasy goes dark, while the Double-R badges invert to become silver on black. All chrome trim features are darkened too, while the bespoke alloys feature 22 sheets of carbon fibre. Finally, the Black Badge Black (yes, really) paint job is said to be the 'deepest, darkest and most intense black ever seen on a production car surface', thanks to multiple layers of paint and lacquer applied in the 'most exacting painting and polishing process ever used for a solid paint colour'. Although, as it's a bespoke series, buyers can opt to have the Black Badge in any colour they like.
Interior
For the dashboard trim material, 0.014mm aircraft-grade aluminium threads have been woven into the carbon fibre. There's a Black Badge clock with orange-tipped hands and an infinity logo, while said symbol is also embossed into the black (natch) leather upholstery. For the Ghost, this base colour is paired with Tailored Purple highlights, while in the Wraith the colour is Cobalto Blue. 'Moody light' is cast by both vehicles' black starlight headliner to finish the look off.
Mechanicals
The Ghost's 6.6-litre V12 is boosted up by 40hp and 60Nm for peaks of 603hp and 840Nm, plus Rolls-Royce has also enacted some steering and suspension changes on the saloon. Meanwhile, the Wraith's 623hp output stays the same but torque swells 70Nm to a maximum of 870Nm. Its air suspension has been tweaked and it gets automatic LED headlights too.
What they share are new driveshafts, one-inch larger front brake discs, and eight-speed transmissions that have been recalibrated to provide sportier responses to throttle inputs, with the system tagged Intuitive Throttle Response. Which, er, does exactly what it says on the tin.
Anything else?
With the price unconfirmed but no doubt higher than the standard cars' exorbitant figures, allow Rolls-Royce's CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös to explain just a little of the reasoning behind the new series: "Black Badge is an attitude to life, an aspect of the Rolls-Royce brand that appeals to those people who are elusive and defiant, the risk takers and disruptors who break the rules and laugh in the face of convention. They are driven by a restless spirit. They play hard and they change the world. Technically and aesthetically Black Badge is the alter ego of Rolls-Royce, darker, more assertive, more confident and powerful, and more demanding. With Black Badge we have created the most commanding presence on the super-luxury landscape. It is a truly transformative moment for our great brand."
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