This one-of-12 electric hypercar celebrates a year of performance records for the brand, one of which was achieved with a new electric production car benchmark at the Nürburgring of 7:05:298.
Rimac Nevera unveiled at The Quail via 360 MAGAZINE.
The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport ‘Golden Era’ is perhaps the most challenging bespoke project that Bugatti has ever undertaken. It is the result of two years of innovative and bespoke craftsmanship, featuring entirely new techniques that elevate it from the world of automotive and into pure artistry. It is the very embodiment of the Bugatti Sur Mesure offering, in which customers’ ambitious visions for their vehicles – which stretch beyond the already near-infinite levels of Bugatti customization – are brought to life in a collaborative process with the design team.
In this case, that vision came from a Bugatti collector with a deep appreciation for Bugatti history and for the intricate engineering of the W16 engine. Not only did he choose a Chiron Super Sport to celebrate the combustion engine design, but he wanted to appropriately pay homage to the history that had led to the creation of this engine. With this vision presented to Bugatti, the design team developed a proposal that captured the essence of what makes Bugatti special, told through its most memorable and extraordinary creations. And the result is: ‘Golden Era’.
Achim Anscheidt, former Bugatti Design Director in charge of this creation, explains the ideation’s starting point: “Our customers can be incredibly creative and we take great pride in helping them realize what they dream of, but extensive special commissions such as this are exceedingly rare – we usually see no more than one or two creations on this scale each year. Given the vision and exacting nature for this project – and the fantastical ideation we wanted to realize – ‘Golden Era’ is probably the most demanding piece of tailored personalization work that my team and I have ever worked on.
“A very important customer came to us and during our conversations, he expressed that he believed the Chiron Super Sport and its W16 engine represented a landmark moment in the world of the automobile. He wanted to do something truly unique in celebration. We looked back through Bugatti history to find a number of these landmark moments, including the times of Ettore Bugatti, Jean Bugatti and Roland Bugatti, which really marked the first golden era for the brand. And then, of course, the modern-day incarnation of Bugatti from 1987, picking out the icons from these times that came to define the Bugatti brand. Our team proposed a concept featuring 45 sketches of the brand’s icons that would be hand-drawn directly onto the car itself, and the owner immediately fell in love with the idea. The implementation may sound quite straightforward, but achieving a perfect finish, and one that would last the test of time, took more patience and craftsmanship than you could ever imagine.”
The customer himself has a great appreciation of Bugatti, and the designers’ collaborative process with the owner – in which he made countless visits to the team to see the vision come to life – was sparked by his unbridled passion. Initiating the relationship between the customer and the Bugatti team in Molsheim – and overseeing the project through to its final stage – was Bugatti’s trusted dealer partner located in Greenwich, Connecticut.
The customer himself has a great appreciation of Bugatti, and the designers’ collaborative process with the owner – in which he made countless visits to the team to see the vision come to life – was sparked by his unbridled passion. Initiating the relationship between the customer and the Bugatti team in Molsheim – and overseeing the project through to its final stage – was Bugatti’s trusted dealer partner located in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Bugatti Managing Director, Hendrik Malinowski, says: “Sur Mesure literally translates as tailored and it is this complete ultra-luxury customer-centric approach to car design that really sets it apart. Our teams will work hand-in-hand with our customers to craft exactly what they want, and then work closely with them over the course of months or even years to transform it into a reality. Each step, every decision and – in the case of the Golden Era – every stroke of the pencil, was completed with the close oversight and input of the owner to exceed his expectations in a way that no other brand is able to do.”
The overall project for the car would capture the incomparable legacy of Bugatti, a story told through a composition of beautifully intricate sketches depicting milestones from the legendary brand. On the passenger side, 26 hand-drawn sketches reveal icons like the Type 41 Royale – lauded as the most luxurious car when revealed in 1926 – and the Type 57 SC Atlantic, widely regarded as the most beautiful car ever designed. It is a showcase of the moments when Bugatti changed the course of automotive history with its new innovations. On the driver’s side, 19 sketches portray the rebirth and enduring success of Bugatti since 1987, tracing from the EB110, through the Veyron and Chiron. A beautifully simple representation of the 3,712 individual components that come together to create the legendary W16 engine – the most advanced automotive engine ever built – rightfully takes its place as a part of the masterpiece.
The team honed and refined their artwork for the project until they achieved precisely the right scale, proportion and form for each of the individual sketches, bringing them together to form one beautiful artwork. But this art would need an appropriate canvas. A bespoke color, a timeless and celebratory shade of gold named ‘Doré’, was created and applied to the car with a gradiented color split into a special metallic variant of ‘Nocturne Black’, creating the perfect base for the designers to begin the daunting process of sketching directly onto the car.
Achim Anscheidt continues: “It was very clear to us from the beginning that we can only achieve an authentic finish for these sketches – and at Bugatti authenticity is paramount – if we actually used the pencils that we use for sketching on paper – anything else would result in something looking fake or low in quality. So that’s why we had to find a process that would allow us to use pencils and do all of the sketches by hand, directly onto the paintwork.”
Of course, even for the most experienced and skilled designer, the task of sketching, purely by hand, onto a specially commissioned hyper sports car, was extremely intimidating. From the very first stroke of the pencil, this painstaking, manual process saw Bugatti’s uniquely talented team of designers elevating their craft further still in pursuit of perfection. Inevitably, this took a great deal of time, and involved some setbacks along the way. But with extremes of passion, a degree of trial and learnings, the last one of the sketches was eventually completed, having developed a brand new technique to achieve the desired finish for the exterior artwork. In all, this stage of the process took more than 400 hours – testament to the complexity of the artwork.
To create a fully immersive celebration, the design team ensured their proposal would be reflected in the interior. On each of the door panels, three Bugatti icons were hand-applied with a bespoke paint and fine paint brush that would allow one of the design team to draw directly onto the leather. The EB110, Veyron and Chiron, legends of the present day, are facing the icons of the past that had inspired them: the Type 35 – the world’s greatest racing car – Type 57 SC Atlantic – the most beautiful car in the world – and Type 41 Royale – renowned as the most luxurious car ever created – applied to the opposite side of the interior. When Bugatti’s innovative past meets with its revolutionary future in a car that symbolizes the epitome of Bugatti’s savoir-faire. New methods and processes were crafted to ensure that these details would stand the test of time. They sit proudly within the interior as a focal point of beautiful bespoke touches, including subtle ‘Golden Era’ stitching and hand-written ‘One-of-One’ motifs.
A timeless and incomparable homage to the era-defining moments in Bugatti history, the Chiron Super Sport ‘Golden Era’ is beyond comparison in the scale of its bespoke ambition; a project that could only have sprung from the minds of true Bugatti enthusiasts, and one that could only have been finished to such a perfect level of detail by the craftsmen in Molsheim. The car now awaits an official handover to its owner at Monterey Car Week.
Bugatti debuted the one-of-one Chiron Super Sport “Golden Era,” which celebrates the incomparable legacy of the French marque via 360 MAGAZINE.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will celebrate a highly contemporary presence at this year’s Festival of Speed. Displayed on the Festival’s Laundry Green, adjacent to Goodwood House, a beautifully commissioned Phantom, Ghost, Cullinan, and Spectre will each provide a unique, exquisite expression of the marque’s peerless craftsmanship. The marque’s presence at this year’s event comes as the company celebrates 20 years of production at the Home of Rolls-Royce, at Goodwood.
For the first time ever, Rolls-Royce Spectre will be presented at this year’s Festival of Speed. Presented in two-tone Chartreuse and Black Diamond, this expression of the marque’s genre-defining motor car exudes cool modern luxury. To embolden the exterior and highlight Spectre’s dynamic presence and prowess, twenty-three-inch wheels are fitted to the motor car – the first time in almost one hundred years that the marque has equipped wheels of this stature and size to a two-door coupé. Chartreuse interior appointments echo the exterior hue, whilst Grace White and Peony Pink create a calming and serene aesthetic to the cabin.
For this year’s Festival of Speed Phantom commission, inspiration has come from the world of yachting, a popular pastime amongst Rolls-Royce’s illustrious clientele. A befitting exterior colour – Submariner Blue – was selected for this unique commission. The maritime connotations in this colour name are not coincidental: Submariner Blue is a very rich colour, mimicking the deep hues of the ocean.
Rolls-Royce’s highly skilled artisans, designers and engineers have taken inspiration from the world of pop-art, the famed art movement that emerged and flourished in America and Britain in the 1950s and 1960s, to create a unique expression of Cullinan for this year’s Festival. Presented in Gunmetal, with a double Coachline and Coachline Motif, finished in Phoenix Red and Serenity Green – this expression of the world’s most desirable SUV conveys the contemporary yet luxurious essence that exists at the very heart of the marque. Striking Red brake calipers, echo the Phoenix Red Coachline and confidently resolve the exterior.
Launched in 2020, Rolls-Royce Ghost is the latest iteration of the marque’s most successful product, and for this year’s Festival of Speed, a truly stylish expression of Ghost has been created. Presented in Iced Arctic White, this motor car exudes luxury, style, and grace, whilst demonstrating the extensive scope and skill of the marque’s exterior surface centre. Inside, Black and Iceland Moss interior appointments create a vibrant aesthetic, whilst the Mandarin seat piping adds an additional splash of color
ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS PRESENTS CONTEMPORARY COMMISSIONS AT FESTIVAL OF SPEED via 360 MAGAZINE.
• TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Announces GR Supra, GR86, and GR Corolla Special Editions for Model Year 2024 Lineup
• GR Supra 45th Anniversary Edition Pays Tribute to Custom MkIV Supra
• Available in Mikan Blast or Absolute Zero and Limited to 900 Units for U.S. Market
• Aggressive Style with Oversized, Manually Adjustable Rear Spoiler
• Matte-Black Finished Wheels, Black GR Brake Calipers, and Black Supra Side Graphic
• Choice of Paddle Shifted 8-Speed Automatic or 6-Speed Manual Transmission
For over four decades the Toyota Supra has earned a reputation as an icon among sports car enthusiasts. From its first-generation roots as the Celica Supra in 1979 to its current fifth-generation form as the GR Supra, the model has captured drivers’ hearts over the years with a blend of power, handling, tech, and style. For 2024, Toyota pays tribute to that history with an eye-popping 45th Anniversary Edition.
As an an ode to the 1990’s models, the GR Supra 45th Anniversary edition will be available in a deep orange Mikan Blast (“mikan” means orange in Japanese) or ice cold Absolute Zero. Built on the 3.0 Premium Grade, this GR Supra’s low-slung, condensed extreme design is complemented by a large, manually adjustable rear spoiler. Rising about three inches above the rear decklid, the spoiler has an adjustment screw that allows drivers to change its angle and influence the amount of downforce being applied to rear wheels.
The 45th Anniversary Edition also features matte-black finished 19-inch aluminum wheels and black painted opposite mounted brake calipers that wear a GR logo up front. A black side panel graphic with a cutout Supra logo sweeps upward along the side, accentuating the vehicle’s contours. Altogether, the special edition brings a touch of nostalgia and flair to the 2024 Supra lineup with a look reminiscent of the MkIV model of big screen fame.The 45th Anniversary Edition will be limited to 900 units, split evenly between Mikan Blast and Absolute Zero. The engine will be flanked by exclusive 45th Anniversary Edition Mikan Blast strut tower braces that bear the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing logo. It will be available in both manual and automatic transmission options and will be powered by the same B58 inline six-cylinder 3.0-liter turbocharged engine on all 3.0 Supra models, outputting 382-hp and 368 lb.-ft. of torque.
The GR Supra 45th Anniversary Edition sticks with the nameplate’s playbook of offering unique versions since its relaunch. Since the model returned to the market in 2019, Toyota has rolled out Launch, A91, A91 Carbon Fiber, and A91MT editions. Additionally, the GR Supra has continued to evolve over the past four model years, with changes like increased horsepower and torque on the 3.0 models, updates to handling dynamics, the addition of a 2.0-L 4-cylinder model, and the addition of a Manual Transmission option. In 2020 Toyota Gazoo Racing also started producing a GR Supra GT4 model for racing.
GR Supra 45th Anniversary models are expected to arrive at Toyota dealerships in the fall of 2023. Pricing for the special edition model and details for the complete 2024 GR Supra lineup will be shared at a later date.
Blast From the Past
First on sale in 1979 and originally named the Toyota Celica Supra in the U.S., the firstgeneration Mark I (MkI) Supra was positioned as a luxury, rear-wheel drive sports model in the Toyota lineup. Known by some as the A40, which referred to its chassis code, it went through enough changes in its short time to ultimately be referred to as the A50 Celica Supra by Toyota engineers.
Initially, it featured a 2.6-liter inline-six engine that produced 110 horsepower and was available in both manual and automatic transmissions. In 1980, the model changed from a fixed axle rear suspension to a semi-trailing arm and coil spring system, and the 2.6liter engine was replaced with a 2.8-liter unit. Although only produced for a brief time, and in limited volume, the first generation Supra marked the beginning of a new era for Toyota sports cars.
In 1982 the second-generation A60 Celica (MkII) Supra arrived. This model used a 2.8-liter 5M-GE twin-cam straight-six engine. The sheet metal was radically redesigned from its predecessor and featured an aerodynamic look with a longer wheelbase and stretched front-end. It also included retractable headlights, a more aggressive flare on the wheel arches and an independent rear suspension.
Notable equipment on selected grades of the second generation Supra were a digital instrument panel and the “Navicom,” a forerunner of today’s car navigation systems that used a microchip-based device that calculated the direction and distance to a desired destination and displayed the information in real time.
A Legend All Its Own
In 1986 Toyota introduced the third generation A70 Supra (MkIII) and dropped the Celica name, positioning it as an independent high-performance, high-grade sports car. It was completely redesigned and featured a sleek, aerodynamic body with a 0.33 coefficient of drag. When it was introduced, it featured a 24 valve, 3.0-liter six-cylinder 7M-GE powerplant with an output of 200-hp at 6000 rpm and produced 196 lb.-ft. of torque.
Later a 7M-GTE engine was made available with an intercooled sequential twin turbocharger. This boosted the 24-valve engine’s output to 230-hp and increased torque by 33 percent to 254 lb.-ft. A small, fast-spinning, low-boost turbo engaged very responsively just above idle speed; as RPM built and load increased a larger high-boost turbo would gradually spin up, providing significant boost in the upper ranges of engine performance.
Anti-lock braking (ABS) and four-wheel disc brakes, which were ventilated up front, was another new addition to Supra in 1986, with the system being optional on naturally aspirated models and standard on the Turbo-equipped model. Another modern feature was an electronically moderated suspension with two modes – normal and sport – that was built with a double-wishbone construction for all four wheels. This was the first time Toyota had mass produced this type of race-inspired suspension on one of its vehicles.
Other features included eight-way adjustable sport seats, side window defrosters, and one touch power windows. And just to make us all jealous, there was even an optional detachable sport roof.
In 1993 the A80 Supra (MkIV) arrived. It featured two choices of inline-six engines, the naturally aspirated 220-hp 2JZ-GE with 209 lb.-ft. of torque or the twin-turbocharged 2JZ-GTE, capable of 320-hp and 315 lb.-ft. of torque. Both engine models offered a choice of automatic or manual transmission. AT models offered normal and manual shift modes and MT models with the 2JZ-GTE engine featured Toyota’s first six-speed gearbox.
The MkIV Supra was also known for its advanced suspension system, which was electronically controlled and could adjust ride height and stiffness on the fly. At the time, the car quickly gained a reputation as competing with cars far above its class and Road & Track said, “The Supra Turbo performs at Ferrari Testarossa and Porsche 911 Turbo levels…it easily outgrips the European pair, is more stable in abrupt maneuvers and digs to a halt with near-identical determination.”
Exterior designer Kunihiro Uchida referred to its looks as reminiscent of a “wild animal racing across a field” with its large, round front end and rear ducktail spoiler, smooth aerodynamic side profile with door mounted mirrors, and new sleek, projection headlamp system. And the Supra was about more than looks and power, as it was Toyota’s first vehicle to include both driver- and passenger-side air bags as standard equipment. The Supra ended its run in the U.S. with the 1998 model year.
Power for the Present
As the years passed, many enthusiasts and Toyota fans longed for the return of the Supra. The call would be answered by then Toyota President, Akio Toyoda, who championed the revival of the sports car model. Upon its return it would be dubbed the GR Supra and serve as TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s (GR) first globally badged model.
The new GR brand had a straightforward goal: Develop cars aimed at the pure joy of driving. Through a process that started on the track, cars would be rigorously tested until a series of master drivers approved their performance. Subsequently, the introduction of models, like the GR86 coupe and GR Corolla hot hatch expanded the driver-centered lineup, with each GR sports car undergoing the same intensive track testing process before receiving its GR badge.
The fifth generation A90 GR Supra (MkV) model was revealed in 2019 after undergoing its GR approval process. The design took elements from two legendary models, the MkIV Supra and 1967 Toyota 2000 GT. At launch the A90 Supra featured a turbocharged 3.0liter inline-six B58 engine matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission that produced up to 335-hp and 365 lb.-ft. of torque. It was made in collaboration with BMW and based on their Z4 platform.
For the 2021 GR Supra model, the GR team kept the pedal down to bring more output and torque while also adding a new grade. They increased the 3.0 Supra to 382 hp and 367 lb.-ft. of torque, warranting enough changes to the model to dub it as the “A91” by Toyota engineers and offer a likewise named special edition for that year. The lineup also added a turbocharged four-cylinder model with 2.0-liter engine, 255 horsepower and a stout 295 lb.-ft. of torque.
In 2023, the GR Supra added a manual transmission option to the model, which brought a new level of engagement to the punch-above-its-weight sports car. And at the same time, all 2023 GR Supra 3.0 models gained a retuned suspension with revised shock absorbers, re-tuned electric power steering with new mechanical components, and an active rear sport differential standard.
As with all GR Supra A91 models, Normal, Sport and Individual modes that adjust throttle response, suspension damping, and power steering settings came standard. All 3.0 models came with an Adaptative Variable Suspension (AVS) with sensors and solenoid valves that finely control the damping force of the shock absorbers is also standard. On the inside of the 3.0 models, premium features like black leather-trimmed seats, a 12-speaker acoustically tuned premium JBL sound system, full color heads-up display, and Qi wireless charger offer drivers a luxury cabin.
GR Supra GT4 EVO
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s track-focused mindset also led them to launch a Supra GT4 racing model, which allows professional and amateur drivers alike to compete on the world’s most famous racetracks. The GR Supra GT4 model was developed in Cologne, Germany by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe, home of Toyota’s five-time Le Mans 24 Hours-winning motorsport team, the GR Supra GT4 and launched in March 2020. It is sold to private customers for competition within the popular GT4 category of racing for vehicles based on roadgoing counterparts, with modifications permitted for safety and performance.
Since its launch, GR Supra GT4 customers have won races and championships on three continents in competitions such as the GT4 European Series, GT4 America and Super Taikyu in Japan, as well as legendary events like the Nürburgring 24 Hours. A cumulative 625 entries in 317 races worldwide as of the end of 2022 resulted in 79 class victories, 20 overall wins and 207 podium finishes. In 2023, 27 GR Supra GT4 vehicles are competing in Europe, 20 in North America and 12 in Asia, including Japan.
Production of the GR Supra GT4 reached a milestone of 100 units earlier this year. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s close cooperation with its GT4 teams and drivers has led to continuous improvement of the model since launch. For the 2023 season, a GT4 EVO with 487 lb.-ft. of torque is being offered for race teams with a focus on improvements for even faster lap times. The team increased power and optimized the torque curve of the 3.0-litre, six-cylinder, turbocharged engine and made changes for more effective cooling, improved brake system design, new ABS settings, latest KW damper technology and updated anti-roll bar specification. Click here for additional information or here for the 2023 GT4EVO press release.
Complimentary 1-year NASA Membership
Purchase of a 2024 GR Supra comes with a complimentary 1-year membership to the National Auto Sport Association (NASA). GR Supra owners will enjoy a host of benefits, including one free High Performance Driving Event (HPDE) and discounted admission to NASA-sanctioned events.
Warranty and ToyotaCare
Toyota’s 36-month/36,000 mile basic new-vehicle warranty applies to all components other than normal wear and maintenance items. Additional 60-month warranties cover the powertrain for 60,000 miles, and corrosion with no mileage limitation. ToyotaCare is a no additional cost plan covering normal factory-scheduled maintenance for 2 years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first, and 24-hour roadside assistance for two years, unlimited mileage.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs more than 39,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 33 million cars and trucks at our nine manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 10th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 22 electrified options.
To help inspire the next generation for a career in STEM-based fields, including mobility, Toyota launched its virtual education hub at www.TourToyota.com with an immersive experience and chance to virtually visit many of our U.S. manufacturing facilities. The hub also includes a series of free STEM-based lessons and curriculum through Toyota USA Foundation partners, virtual field trips and more. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
About TOYOTA GAZOO Racing
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing embodies Toyota’s commitment to overcoming every limit to make ‘ever-better’ cars, to forge new technologies and solutions under the extreme conditions of motorsports, and to never stop innovating. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing races its cars to push the limits for better and to learn from the toughest challenges. Competing on every kind of road, no matter what the challenge, inspires TOYOTA GAZOO Racing to build ‘everbetter’ cars and engineer Toyota’s future DNA to bring freedom, adventure, and joy of driving to everyone. For more information, visit www.toyotagazooracing.com.
• TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Announces GR Supra, GR86, and GR Corolla Special Editions for Model Year 2024 Lineup
• GR86 Sports Coupe Celebrates 40 Years Since AE86 Launch with a Special TRUENO Edition
• AE86-Inspired Two-Tone Black Hood and Side Panel Graphic Paired with Halo or Track bRed
• Upgraded Performance Package with SACHS® Dampers and Brembo ® Brakes
• Performance Package Now Available for GR86 Models Equipped with 18-inch Wheels
• Active Safety Suite Now Standard on Manual Transmission Equipped Models
Toyota is bringing a double dose of pure driving delight to the GR86 for the 2024 model year. First up is a limited GR86 TRUENO Edition with a throwback two tone look that will come in a choice of Halo and black or Track bRed and black. Next, a newly available Performance Package with SACHS Dampers and Brembo Brakes comes as standard equipment on the TRUENO Edition and will be available as an upgrade package for GR86 models.
Built on the Premium grade, the GR86 TRUENO Edition will be available in both manual and automatic transmission models with only 860 units to be produced for the US market, a number plate on the driver’s side dash will mark its rarity. A black wrapped hood, black TRUENO Edition side panel graphic, and black painted duckbill spoiler paired to either Halo or Track bRed will give the model its two-tone look. In a tribute to the 1980’s model that inspired its design, it will wear a TRUENO Edition badge on the front bumper lip and rear decklid. Additional accents will include black metallic finished 18-inch, 10-spoke aluminum alloy wheels that are unique to the TRUENO Edition, along with black door handles and mirror caps.
Inside the special edition, Ultrasuede® sport seats are trimmed with attention grabbing red leather and complemented by a red-stitched shift boot and leather-wrapped steering wheel. A TRUENO Edition logoed shift knob and all-weather floor/trunk mats also add a unique touch to the driver-focused cockpit. An 8-inch touchscreen display that includes Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility and premium eight speaker audio system for an immersive driving experience, come standard.
Model year 2024 also brings suspension and braking upgrades with a GR86 Performance Package. Consisting of ZF SACHS Dampers and Brembo Brakes, this new Performance Package will be standard on the TRUENO Edition. The Performance Package will be an option that customers can add to for new 2024 GR86 models and available as a retrofit for any GR86 from the 2022 or 2023 model years (18-inch wheels required). The package is specially tuned by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing for the GR86, with the aim of maximizing handling, ride comfort, and brake system consistency.
A new addition for manual transmission equipped models is an Active Safety Suite. The system uses a stereo camera to monitor the road ahead and includes features like PreCollision Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Sway Warning, Lead Vehicle Start Alert and High Beam Assist. This system was previously available on automatic transmission equipped models. The addition of active safety adds to Toyota’s Star Safety System™, which includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) and more.
The 2024 Toyota GR86 TRUENO Edition will be available in limited quantities this coming Winter. The Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price for the GR86 TRUENO Edition and complete GR86 2024 lineup will be shared later this year.
The Thunderclap is Back
With its pop-up halogen headlights, angular hood, and liftback styling, the 1984-1987 Corolla Sport GT-S liftback, or Sprinter Trueno as it was known in Japan, brought sporty performance to the fifth generation Corolla line in the U.S. With it, Toyota brought a unique model to the hot hatch category.
Also referred to as the AE86, which was the chassis code for the 1980’s era model, it was powered by a 1.6-liter twin cam 16-valve engine with a rev-happy redline of 7500 rpms. Its low curb weight of around 2,300 pounds and rear wheel drive powertrain and factory limited slip differential, paired with a suspension that was a combination of MacPherson struts and 4-link coil springs with a lateral rod, made it a favorite of drivers who liked to tame the corners.
The combination of a snappy 5-speed manual transmission, rear-wheel-drive platform, balanced front-to-rear weight proportion, and tunability made the AE86 popular among rally, circuit and touring racers. The fact that the liftback design could carry four mounted wheels and tires made it a favorite among weekend racers too.
The model became especially popular for use in drift racing. The weight and power proportions were a perfect fit for the style of driving that took corners with controlled oversteer. Notably, it became the model of choice for Japanese “Drift King” Keiichi Tsuchiya and other top Japanese drift racers, who cemented the model’s reputation in the motorsport. The AE86’s popularity also crossed over into popular culture in the 1990’s, as an AE86 Trueno GT-APEX Liftback with black rockers and hood known as the “panda” gained Anime fame as it twisted its way down fictional mountain roads.
For 2024, the heritage of the AE86 marks its return with the GR86 TRUENO Edition. Its design elements on the exterior and interior are a modern interpretation of the 1980’s model. As for performance, the GR86 is recognized by many enthusiasts as Toyota’s spiritual successor to the AE86. With a lightweight, RWD platform, and the TRUENO Edition’s upgraded suspension damper and brake system, it is a driver’s car engineered with a priority on handling and balanced power delivery, ready for the twists and turns ahead.
Performance Level-Up Acquired
For 2024, the GR86 amplifies its handling qualities with the addition of an optional performance package consisting of ZF SACHS Dampers and Brembo Brakes. This damper and brake package will be standard on the 2024 TRUENO Edition and can be added as a dealer installed option for any new 2024 GR86 lease or purchase, or any GR86 back to model year 2022, with 18-inch wheels.
The SACHS Dampers are filled with high pressure nitrogen and oil and are designed to absorb vibrations across a wide range of speeds, maximize ground contact, and support firm, stable steering, while also balancing road feedback and ride comfort. The redpainted Brembo 4-piston front and 2-piston rear brake calipers clamp down on smooth surfaced 12.8 x 1.3-in front rotors, with 12.4 x .79-in. rotors in the rear. The pad area is 11.6-in2 in the front and 4.9-in2 in the rear.
The upgraded dampers and brakes complement the GR86’s chassis well, which is already known for its taut, responsive feel. Crafted from a combination of high-strength steel, hot-stamped steel, and aluminum, each material in the frame is strategically placed to bring drivers a balance of roll and pitch that maximizes control. Up front it uses diagonal cross members and high strength fasteners to join the front suspension and frame together. At the rear, a full ring structure and high-strength fasteners connect the frame and suspension mounts. For additional reinforcement, structural adhesive throughout the underbody. Altogether creating a taut, connected frame.
Minimal Weight, Maximum Fun
All GR86 models pack in modern engineering, tech, and convenience – while sticking to its lightweight sports car roots.
Weighing in at just 2,811 pounds for the manual transmission equipped Base grade model, and at 2,851 pounds for automatic version, the GR86 is among the lightest sports cars on the market. An aluminum hood, front fenders and roof panel help keep the weight down on the body. While details such as the use of structural adhesives in the frame and seats that are over six pounds lighter than the prior generation 86, help save precious ounces in the name of maximum control.
The naturally aspirated 2.4-liter FA-24 engine delivers 228 hp and 184 lb.-ft. of torque and is tuned so that peak torque arrives at 3,700 RPM, resulting in a responsive and powerful driving experience in all situations. Zero-to-60 acceleration comes in at 6.1 seconds for the 6-speed manual transmission, and 6.6 seconds for the available sixspeed electronically controlled automatic transmission (ECT-i). With either transmission, the GR86 comes equipped with a Torsen® limited-slip rear differential for enhanced traction while cornering.
Sports car purists will love GR86’s 6-speed manual transmission. With the push of a button, drivers can engage Track mode or switch off Vehicle Stability Control (VSC). Additional clutch discs and a new high-capacity torque converter allow for smooth delivery of the 2.4-liter engine’s higher power and torque.
On the inside of GR86, drivers will experience a low-slung, driver-focused cockpit with digital instrument panel, push-button start, HVAC system with LED dials and piano-key switches, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated controls for the audio system. For the 6-speed automatic, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters offer enthusiasts a dynamic driving experience. Drivers can choose between Normal, Sport or Snow modes. When in Sport mode, the transmission senses brake and accelerator operation and vehicle behavior to automatically select the optimal gear, bringing drivers the control they want.
An 8-inch touchscreen multimedia system with a six-speaker audio system comes standard on the Base grade and an eight-speaker system is standard on the TRUENO Edition and Premium grade. For seating, the Premium grade comes with Ultrasuede® and leather-trimmed, six-way adjustable black and silver accented front seats with two-level heating. The Base grade has six-way adjustable black G-embossed fabric with sport fabric side bolsters. Rear seats are covered with Ultrasuede on the Premium and sport fabric on the Base grade.
GR86 Safety & Connected Services
All Toyota GR86 models come standard with an Active Safety Suite. On Automatic Transmission models this suite includes Pre-Collision Braking System, Pre-Collision Throttle Management, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lead Vehicle Start Alert, Lane Departure Warning with Sway Warning and Automatic High Beams. Manual Transmission models include Pre-Collision Braking System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure and Sway Warning, Lead Vehicle Start Alert, and Rear Sonar Warning. An anti-theft system with engine immobilizer and alarm are also standard.
Toyota’s Star Safety System™ also comes standard on all models, which includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA). It also includes Smart Stop Technology® (SST), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Track Mode and Hill Start Assist Control (HAC). Additional safety features include LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) with lower anchors on outboard rear seats and tether anchors on all rear seats and a Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS). Seven airbags are standard on all models, including a driver’s knee airbag.
Experience convenience and peace of mind with GR86’s Connected Services* trials, including a one-year trial subscription of Safety Connect** with Emergency Assistance Button and Enhanced Roadside Assistance, and Remote Connect to start, lock/unlock your doors and more using your compatible smart device; a one-year trial of Service Connect which includes receiving personalized maintenance updates and vehicle health reports; and, a one-year trial of Remote Connect so you can remotely interact with your vehicle through the Toyota app via your smartwatch, Amazon Alexa-enabled devices, and Google Assistant™-enabled *devices. Allowing you to lock/unlock doors, start and stop the vehicle, locate your last parked location, check vehicle status and monitor guest drivers. For more details, please visit toyota.com/connected-services.
Complimentary 1-year NASA Membership
Purchase of any 2024 GR86 comes with a complimentary 1-year membership to the National Auto Sport Association (NASA). GR86 owners will enjoy a host of benefits, including one free High Performance Driving Event (HPDE) and discounted admission to NASA-sanctioned events.
Warranty and ToyotaCare
Toyota’s 36-month/36,000 mile basic new-vehicle warranty applies to all components other than normal wear and maintenance items. Additional 60-month warranties cover the powertrain for 60,000 miles, and corrosion with no mileage limitation. ToyotaCare is a no additional cost plan covering normal factory-scheduled maintenance for 2 years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first, and 24-hour roadside assistance for two years, unlimited mileage.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs more than 39,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 33 million cars and trucks at our nine manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 10th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 22 electrified options.
To help inspire the next generation for a career in STEM-based fields, including mobility, Toyota launched its virtual education hub at www.TourToyota.com with an immersive experience and chance to virtually visit many of our U.S. manufacturing facilities. The hub also includes a series of free STEM-based lessons and curriculum through Toyota USA Foundation partners, virtual field trips and more. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
About TOYOTA GAZOO Racing
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing embodies Toyota’s commitment to overcoming every limit to make ‘ever-better’ cars, to forge new technologies and solutions under the extreme conditions of motorsports, and to never stop innovating. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing races its cars to push the limits for better and to learn from the toughest challenges. Competing on every kind of road, no matter what the challenge, inspires TOYOTA GAZOO Racing to build ‘ever-better’ cars and engineer Toyota’s future DNA to bring freedom, adventure, and joy of driving to everyone. For more information, visit www.toyotagazooracing.com.
Bentley Hatfield Officially Opens at the H.R. Owen Group’s New Flagship Multi-Marque Facility
H.R. Owen – the UK’s leading luxury automotive dealer group – has officially opened the doors to its brand-new Bentley Hatfield showroom. The new flagship site is the first in the UK to feature Bentley’s new experiential design concept, elevating the showroom experience with new levels of luxury and innovation. Bentley Hatfield joins other H.R. Owen-operated Bentley showrooms in Surrey and Mayfair, London.
Richard Leopold, UK Regional Director of Bentley Motors, said: “The opening of Bentley Hatfield is a milestone moment for our UK operations, a demonstration of our joint commitment with H.R. Owen to our home market and our ambition to continue to lead the luxury car sector in the UK for many years to come.”
Bentley Hatfield features a showroom space that is both open and luxurious and intimate and cosseting. Away from the large glazed frontage and warmly lit floor displaying the latest range of Bentley models, sits the Mulliner Commissioning Studio. This sanctuary features high-definition screens, paint samples, leather swatches and fine wood strips as inspiration for the bespoke process of co-creating your new Bentley with Mulliner. This co-creation process is revealed to great effect with a new range of Mulliner-created models available exclusively through Bentley Hatfield, known as the de Havilland Collection.
Bentley Hatfield is with an H.R. Owen multi-marque facility built on the site of the former de Havilland aircraft factory where legendary models like the Mosquito and Comet Racer were built. The bespoke ‘de Havilland Collection’ examples of the Continental GT S, GTC S, Flying Spur S and Bentayga S feature Tornado Red accents in homage to the red paint of the de Havilland Comet Racer, winner of the 1934 England-Australia air race. Inside, the subtle exterior theme is emphasised with a bespoke Mulliner colour split across the front of the cabin that pairs a Hotspur red main hide with a Beluga secondary hide, contrasted by Mulliner White piping. The fascia and door waistrails feature a split of Beluga and Cambrian grey, intersected by a chrome pinstripe.
The all-new 110,000 sq/ft H.R. Owen facility that houses Bentley Hatfield is also home to three service centres, including a cutting-edge Bentley Aftersales site that brings ultimate customer service and convenience. Every Bentley brought to Hatfield enters via one of two ‘Drive Through Lanes’. The registration is checked by ANPR, while six 4K cameras operated by BodyGuard® inspect the entire exterior of the car. Further into the drive through lane the Fastlign® system checks both the tyre tread depths and basic wheel alignment. Even before it has entered the workshop a customer car has had a full visual assessment.
Ken Choo, H.R. Owen CEO, said: “H.R. Owen has a long and illustrious history retailing Bentley vehicles, and the launch of Bentley Hatfield marks an important milestone in that journey. Our new multi-million-pound automotive retail complex is the perfect location for Bentley Hatfield, especially given the rich aviation history between the former de Havilland site and Bentley’s factory in Crewe, which produced the Merlin engines that powered the Mosquito.
“Across the H.R. Owen Group we sell, service and maintain some of the most extraordinary supercars in the world. Our new complex offers a real opportunity for us to evolve the Bentley sales and aftersales experience in-line with the changing needs and desires of our customers.”
H.R. Owen further cements its position as the UK’s leading luxury automotive dealer group, with investments across the H.R. Owen Bentley range. Bentley Surrey moved into an all-new showroom and aftersales site in April 2021, and Jack Barclay was treated to a multi-million-pound renovation in 2018.
H.R. Owen – the UK’s leading luxury automotive dealer group – has officially opened the doors to its brand-new Bentley Hatfield showroom via 360 Magazine.
“Spectre is the Rolls-Royce that changes everything. It symbolises not only the marque’s technological leadership of the super-luxury sector but that a bold electric future, first prophesised in 1900 by our founder, Charles Rolls, is now upon us. To attain its final, perfect form, Spectre has passed through our engineers’ ‘finishing school’ – and in so doing, completed the most demanding testing regime in our brand’s history.”
“It is a highlight of my professional life to have developed Rolls-Royce Spectre, the car which propels Rolls-Royce into its bold, electric future. Such a remarkable car requires a remarkable testing program, and I am enormously proud that Spectre has now completed what has been the most arduous schedule ever conceived for a Rolls-Royce motor car. Indeed, it is where automotive manufacturers finish testing that so much of our work begins in fulfilling the requirements of the super-luxury consumer. This has been an extraordinary undertaking from a team of dedicated and highly skilled engineers that span both traditional technical disciplines and exciting emerging technologies. Rolls-Royce Spectre brings the future of this great marque into the present.”
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ genre-defining all-electric super coupé, Spectre, has now concluded a historic and unique undertaking: a 1.5-million-mile testing program simulating more than 400 years of use. In the most demanding development process in the marque’s 120-year history, Spectre has endured temperatures ranging from -40°F to +122°F, and in conditions spanning from Arctic snow and ice to deserts, high mountain passes and the world’s megacities.
En route, every one of Spectre’s 141,200 digital sender-receiver relations and 25,000 performance-related functions has been minutely observed, analyzed, and tuned by Rolls-Royce engineers, a process representing over 50,000 collective hours of highly skilled work. This resulted in thousands of iterative improvements in everything from Spectre’s acoustic performance, composure under cornering and steering precision to its charge time, electric range and torque delivery; each small in itself, but with an immense overall cumulative effect on the client experience.
LIFESTYLE ANALYSIS
As a Rolls-Royce, Spectre must be more than just an engineering tour de force – it must also offer clients an authentic super-luxury experience. It has therefore also been subjected to the marque’s unique Lifestyle Analysis process, which has informed the development of every new product emanating from the marque’s home in its Goodwood era. This additional testing program goes far beyond standard automotive assessments to encompass how clients will use the motor car in their daily lives.
Lifestyle Analysis is based on the marque’s detailed knowledge and understanding of the super-luxury consumer, and continuous intelligence-gathering across the luxury sector. It enables engineers to anticipate the very particular demands likely to be placed on a new Rolls-Royce and ensure that final engineered and fashioned experience incorporates appropriate features and responses.
Using this knowledge, engineers have considered a range of variables of particular relevance to Rolls-Royce clients. For example, they have examined how Spectre’s drivetrain performs on specific roads in and around the world’s most exclusive enclaves, including Sanya Island in China, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Napa Valley in California and London in the marque’s home market.
This testing is not limited to performance under highway speeds. Specific city center destinations are also used to ensure that features such as four-wheel steering offer the requisite maneuverability benefits to access areas roads and property approaches with limited space. Indeed, testing in and around the boroughs of Mayfair and Kensington and Chelsea, London, ensured the appropriate rear axle steering to approach key residential streets and luxury retail locations.
As with the technical road testing, the Lifestyle Analysis phase of testing is in place to highlight necessary adjustments to the motor car’s specification or performance. For example, after testing the power-assisted doors on an exceptionally steep hill – replicating the steep driveways common to the hills of Los Angeles, California – engineers added gyroscopic and G-force sensors to ensure that doors open and close at the same effortless speed, regardless of longitudinal or transverse parking angles.
Additionally, one corner was used so frequently to test the steering precision of Spectre, which the marque’s engineers believe is the most exact in Rolls-Royce history, they have named a switchback within the environs of Rolls-Royce’s home in Goodwood, West Sussex, ‘Spectre Corner.’
Fittingly, it was during Lifestyle Analysis testing in London, the capital of Rolls-Royce’s home market, that Spectre completed its 1.5-million-mile odyssey in preparation for client deliveries, which will commence in the fourth quarter of this year.
Rolls-Royce Spectre concludes testing program via 360 MAGAZINE.
After concluding delivery of Dawn commissions to the United States concluded in 2022, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars today signals the end of a glorious era as it ceases production Rolls-Royce Dawn, the iconic drop head. In this retrospective, the marque reflects on the best-selling drophead in the brand’s history as it takes its own unique place in the pantheon of great Rolls-Royce motor cars.
CONTEMPORARY GLAMOUR AND ROMANCE
Following the success of Phantom VII, and its stablemates Phantom Coupé and Phantom Drophead Coupé, an increasingly youthful, universally self-confident and sociable client base was drawn to the Rolls-Royce brand. These new super-luxury consumers required a motor car that, like the first transformative models of Rolls-Royce’s Goodwood era, captured the glamour and romance of super-luxury motoring; but did so in a fashion completely in tune with their contemporary tastes and lifestyles.
EXQUISITE ELEGANCE PAIRED WITH LUXURIOUS COMFORT
‘La dolce vita’ was a life filled with passion, adventure and romance. It was sensuous and sensual, a celebration of decadence, indulgence and pleasure in all its forms. It was this spirit that Rolls-Royce wanted to capture in its new drophead, expressed through timeless form language, contemporary craft and an effortless yet potent dynamic character.
The boldness of that vision was reflected in Dawn’s design. Its pure, simple form was inspired by fifties and sixties fashion, which evoked glamour by removing superfluous lines and textures, focussing instead on how it amplified the form of the wearer. Similarly, Dawn’s supple, flowing coachwork wraps around its occupants akin to raising a collar on an overcoat, affording those inside a cossetting, private and chic cabin experience.
In creating Dawn, 80% of the panels were entirely unique, including a ‘wake channel’ on the bonnet emanating from the Spirit of Ecstasy, evoking the sensation of quietly gathering energy while provisioning drivers with a permanent vanishing point – a design feature that endures on Rolls-Royce motor cars today.
However, in one vital respect, Dawn broke with a long-established automotive design convention. Almost without exception, convertibles are designed in a 2+2 configuration, with full-size seating for the driver and one passenger in the front, plus two smaller seats for occasional passengers or children in the rear. The lack of rear-seat space, and particularly legroom, reduces the car’s comfort and practicality – a shortcoming Rolls-Royce refused to accept. Dawn was therefore a full four-seater with comfortable, individual seating for all occupants.
A MODEL TESTING PROGRAMME
In quintessential Rolls-Royce style, engineers spent months optimizing the convertible experience with an exhaustive testing program – neither eliminating airflow completely nor permitting disruptive levels into the cabin. To achieve this, the test subject was a modified mannequin provisioned with a wig of long, flowing hair. It was chauffeured for hundreds of hours, while a bank of sensors and cameras faithfully recorded how the hair was displaced by the moving air. The resulting data enabled engineers to make Dawn the world leader in aerodynamic comfort with the roof open.
Indeed, during a product experience later in Dawn’s life, an American journalist passed through an area as it was struck by an earthquake measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale, followed by a 2.7 aftershock; such was the smoothness of the ride, he learned of this only when he read about it in the press the following morning. [1]
BLACK BADGE DAWN
In 2017, Rolls-Royce added Black Badge Dawn to its model family. Like the Ghost and Wraith that preceded it, Dawn’s alter ego derived its character from a series of engineering and design treatments. An entirely new exhaust system added a bass baritone quality to the engine note. While appealing to the rebel spirit that attracts so many to this noire expression of the brand, Black Badge Dawn created its own singular place in the Rolls-Royce Pantheon – one characterized by the romance and seduction of the city at night.
A LASTING LEGACY
Beyond its desirability, Dawn brought the spirit of ‘la dolce vita’ to Rolls-Royce’s contemporary brand promise through an exquisite marriage of seductive design, contemporary materials, and a social, open-air driving experience. In doing so, Dawn has ensured its legacy by compelling an entirely new generation to the marque.
A further 7,500 jobs are supported in the wider supply chain
Includes training and education, knowledge and skills transfer within supplier companies and support for local charities and social enterprise
As Rolls-Royce Motor Cars marks two decades of production at Goodwood, a landmark survey reveals the company’s extraordinary impact on both the local and national economies. The independent study, the first commissioned by Rolls-Royce in its history, was led by Dr Alexander Grous of the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) and includes figures up to and including 2022.
“Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is a Great British success story. As we mark 20 years of production at our Home in Goodwood, we do so in the knowledge that not only have we have produced some of the world’s most significant super-luxury products, but we have also made a major economic contribution to the economy in which we are based. Through our rare crafts and craftsmanship, international customer base and products admired and cherished worldwide, we are sustaining thousands of skilled jobs and playing a key role in promoting the UK’s reputation as a hub of creativity and innovation.”
The LSE report shows that since production began at Goodwood in 2003, Rolls-Royce has contributed more than £4 billion to the UK economy, serving as a flagship of the nation’s luxury and automotive sectors and, crucially, ‘UK PLC’. This contribution is long-term and sustainable. Rolls-Royce invests around £10 million every year in its facilities and operations to support its production, reflected in a series of ‘record years’ peaking to date in 2022 at over 6,000 motor cars sold worldwide. Rolls-Royce is also able to confirm its standing as one of the largest employers in West Sussex, England.
SUPPORTING JOBS LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY
More than 2,500 people are employed at the UK Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, including 150 jobs created in 2022 alone. The company also supports more than 7,500 additional full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs within its wider national supply chain. Importantly, Rolls-Royce did not make a single redundancy during the Covid-19 pandemic – one of very few UK manufacturers to maintain its workforce entirely intact.
INDIRECT AND INTANGIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS
Rolls-Royce contributes to the local and national knowledge economies through its leading-edge R&D in fields including hardware, software, electrification, digitalisation, and vehicle connectivity. These activities are growing rapidly in both scale and importance, with Rolls-Royce committed to all-electric propulsion by the end of 2030.
A CONTINUING SUCCESS STORY
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has formally announced proposals to expand the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood. It has acquired land to the east of the current site and planning permission will be sought later this year.
The project’s primary objective is to upgrade the manufacturing plant; some facilities and equipment are now 20 years old and require replacement and upgrading.
The expansion does not, however, signal any shift in the marque’s fundamental approach or values: Rolls-Royce is not, never has been and never will be a volume-driven business.
The new facility will reflect the fact that the marque is no longer simply an automotive manufacturer, but a true luxury house creating the world’s best, most recognised, and highly prized Bespoke products.
Spectre
The company is also looking to increase capacity for its Bespoke and Coachbuild operations, as well as preparing for its new generation of electric vehicles. The first customer deliveries of the all-electric super-coupé, Rolls-Royce Spectre, are due in the fourth quarter of 2023: all new Rolls-Royce models will be electric by the end of 2030.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars unveils Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow to mark the end of production of one of the most transformative motor cars in the marque’s history. 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 and all 12 cars have already been allocated to clients around the world. While delivery of both Wraith and Dawn commissions to the United States concluded in 2022, these twelve commissions have already found homes in other countries across the globe.
WRAITH: A CULTURAL ICON
Launched in 2013, Wraith is one of the most important and influential models ever designed and built at Goodwood. More performance-focused than its predecessors Phantom and Ghost, Wraith fundamentally altered perceptions of Rolls-Royce and brought new, younger customer groups to the brand for the first time. Its wider cultural significance is underlined by countless references to the Wraith in music, cinema, art, and fashion.
THE V12 CONNECTION
Wraith’s dramatic ‘fastback’ silhouette signaled the motor car’s dynamic intent, which was further amplified in 2016, with the introduction of Black Badge Wraith: a potent, subversive, and even more powerful expression of this transformative motor car, offering some of the highest levels of performance ever achieved by a V12-powered Rolls-Royce.
When considering how best to mark the end of the Wraith era, Goodwood’s designers and engineers took inspiration for the Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow Collection from an equally significant V12 in Rolls-Royce‘s long and storied legacy. In 1938, Captain George Eyston – whose bold, brave endeavors encapsulate the Black Badge spirit – set a world land speed record of 357.497 mph (575.335 km/h) with Thunderbolt, a seven-ton, eight-wheeled leviathan equipped with two Rolls-Royce V12 ‘R’ Series aero engines.
Thunderbolt’s record attempts took place on the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. Against the glare of the brilliant white surface, and under a blazing desert sun, the reflections from the car’s polished aluminum body made it almost impossible to tell precisely when it passed the timing equipment. Eyston’s simple but ingenious solution was to paint a large black arrow on the car’s sides, incorporating a yellow central circle motif that could be seen clearly even at high speed. This is what gives today’s Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow Collection both its name and unique historical context.
V12 LEGACY FASCIA
To commemorate Rolls-Royce’s last-ever V12 coupé, the marque’s Bespoke Collective of designers, craftspeople, and engineers collaborated to create a unique artwork for Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow’s fascia. The intricate, tactile design skillfully depicts the contemporary V12 engine in Wraith. 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 aluminum to reveal the gleaming metal beneath, providing a bold visual link to Thunderbolt’s polished aluminum body.
RECORD CONSTELLATION
Given Thunderbolt’s record-breaking status, it is only fitting that Black Arrow incorporates a record of its own. Casting a dramatic night’s-sky ambience over the interior suite, Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow’s Bespoke Starlight Headliner incorporates 2,117 fiber-optic ‘stars’ – the greatest number ever seen in a Rolls-Royce motor car. All individually arranged by hand, the ‘stars’ depict the Milky Way as seen from vast open spaces, and the constellations precisely as they would have appeared over the Salt Flats in Utah on 16 September 1938, the date of Eyston’s final, immutable record.
Rolls-Royce Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow released via 360 MAGAZINE. Rolls-Royce Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow released via 360 MAGAZINE.
