Back in 2013 Rolls-Royce->ke74 decided to awaken a sleeping dragon and bring the Wraith->ke1710 name back to life, and it did so with a vengeance – creating the most powerful Rolls in the company’s history. This large, powerful coupe->ke141 has spawned a number of one-off models like the 2016 Rolls-Royce Wraith Sport, the 2015 Rolls Royce Wraith “Inspired by Fashion,” the 2016 Rolls-Royce Wraith “Palm Edition 999” by Masonry, and countless others that go to show just how well received the new Wraith has been.

Despite all the one-off and tuned models, the Wraith itself has gone the past couple years without being changed. Rolls-Royce didn’t make any changes for the 2016 model year either, but it has just announced a brand new take on the Rolls-Royce Wraith, dubbed the Black Badge. The “Dark” approach has been a popular approach taken by a few manufacturers lately, but unlike some of them, Rolls-Royce has done more than adding a darker appearance to the Wraith. In fact, it has done quite a bit more.

The first thing you’ll notice is the custom black paint, and darkened trim elements, but this baby comes complete with some drivetrain updates as well. That’s right, the most powerful Rolls-Royce to date gets a little better in Black Badge form. So instead of wasting any more time talking in general, let’s take a ride on the dark side and check out this latest creation from Rolls-Royce.

Continue reading to learn more about the Rolls Royce Wraith Black Badge.

Exterior

It might not be as obvious as some of the other modifications, but that black paint is truly bespoke. Each layer of deep black paint and lacquer were repeatedly hand polished, which was the most exacting process ever used on a solid color to date. Rolls-Royce claims it is the “deepest, darkest, and most intense black ever seen on a production vehicle.” While this is the case, Rolls-Royce is known for catering to its customer’s every need, so the Black Badge Wraith can be customized with any exterior color desired.

Outside of the deep black finish, the front grille is now surrounded by darkened chrome trim, and the “flying lady” emblem on the hood has also taken a darker presence. Down below the chrome strips on the corner vents of the fascia have also been darkened. The double R emblems on the grille, fenders, and rear deck have also gotten the dark treatment. To the rear, the trim around the deck lid and the exhaust pipes are now darkened as well.

The best change to speak of, in my opinion, are those composite carbon fiber, lightweight alloy wheels that are exclusive only to the Wraith and Ghost Black Badge Editions. It took Rolls-Royce four years to create the wheels, which feature 22 layers of carbon fiber that are laid in three axes before being folded over to create a total of 44 layers. The center hub is made from 3D forged, aircraft-grade aluminum and bonded to the rum using aerospace grade titanium fasteners. Just look at them, they are gorgeous and definitely add flair to the Wraith.

Interior

As with the exterior, the interior can be crafted in whatever color combination your heart desires, but this particular model was done up in blue and black leather. The interior surfaces that aren’t wrapped in fine leather are constructed of aerospace-grade aluminum-threaded carbon fiber. The air vents on the dash and in the rear have been darkened through Physical Vapor Deposition, one of only a few ways to color metal without risk of discoloration or tarnishing.

The clock that is embedded in the dash has also received special treatment, with an infinity logo and orange-tipped hands. That infinity logo is also seen on the seats as well. The whole package, in combination with the black starlight headliner really creates a “darkly atmospheric” ambiance. Obviously, Rolls did just enough to bring that dark theme to the inside without drastically altering a seemingly perfect design. Not bad at all.

Drivetrain

When it came to creating the Ghost Black Badge, the focus was mainly on improving the ride. But, with the Wraith Black Badge, the focus was to put a little more pep into its step. Horsepower remains unchanged at 623 horsepower, but torque has been increased by 51 pound-feet to 641 pound-feet. Add that in with the redesigned air-suspension, new drive shafts, and upgraded eight-speed transmission, and the Black Badge is more of a driver’s car than ever before.

At 25 percent throttle and higher, the transmission is programmed to hold its gears longer and shift up to 500 rpm higher than the standard Wraith. With throttle load between 80 and 100 percent, the engine is allowed to rev up to 6,000 rpm before shifting function occurs. In mid throttle range, the transmission adopts a faster shift pattern. All told, Rolls claims the setup gives “more direct throttle response” during spirited driving. In addition, when coming to a stop, the transmission is programmed to downshift a little sooner to provide better engine braking.

Prices

Rolls-Royce hasn’t given any hint as to what the opening price of the Wraith Black Badge will be, but with the 2016 Wraith starting at $304,250, expect the Black Badge to come at a much higher cost – probably somewhere in the $350,000 range.

Competition

Bentley Continental GT Speed

Unfortunately, Bentley->ke15 hasn’t come out with its own “dark” version of the Continental, so as far as competition goes, we’ve got to look at the Continental GT Speed. At its heart is a 6.0-liter W12 that produces 626 horsepower and 607 pound-feet of torque. Of course, if you’re really looking for something dark, you’re going to have to ask Bentley to make some Bespoke modifications for you, so expect to pay more than the $239,400 starting price. For what it is worth, however, if you line up the Black Badge and the Continental GT Speed at a track, the GT Speed will give the Black Badge a good run. It can hit 60 mph in 4 seconds on the way to 205 mph. Not bad.

Read our full review on the Bentley Continental GT Speed here.

Mercedes-AMG GT R

The GT R was originally slated to be called the Mercedes-AMG Black Series, but earlier last year, we received word that the model we’ve been expecting will actually be called the GT R. Be that as it may, our rendering of this future model, which is based on recent spy shots, presents the evil twin of the Mercedes-AMG GT We, of course, haven’t seen official photos of the model yet, but if it turns out like our rendering, it will have enough of a dark ambiance to compare with the Wraith Black Badge. We expect pricing to be significantly cheaper, probably in the $150,000 range, but it too is a GT car that is capable of awesome performance. We predict the model will deliver somewhere in the range of 550 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque, which should enable to the GT R to hit 60 mph in 3.4 or 3.5 seconds. I say we take the Continental GT Speed, the future GT R, and the Wraith Black Badge, and let them fight it out to see which is superior. Sounds like a fun day at the track right?

Read our full review on the Mercedes-AMG GT R here.

Conclusion

I have liked the Wraith since the day Rolls reinstated the name with this powerful GT Coupe, but I never thought I would see it get any better – until now. The dark coloration to the exterior trim, that amazingly deep paint job, and all the aerospace materials on the inside make this Wraith more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. On top of that, the upgrades to the drivetrain department are absolutely amazing. It’s crazy that Rolls took the time to revamp the entire suspension system just for the Black Badge editions of the Wraith and Ghost. Well done all the way around.