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Rolls-Royce spotted testing even sportier Wraith

A Rolls-Royce is not what you'd typically consider to be "sporty." Luxurious. Stately. Even powerful, packed as they are with twelve-cylinder engines displacing in excess of six and a half liters. The Wraith set out to change that with a sportier package, more rakish profile and an even more potent version of the Ghost's 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 to make it the fastest and most powerful Rolls-Royce ever made. But now it seems Goodwood is working on an even more aggressive version.
Spotted undergoing testing in parent company BMW's home country of Germany, this particular Wraith might strike you as the same one we've already seen, save for a few telltale details. It may be wearing the same rolling stock as the existing model, with what look like the same tailpipes protruding ever so elegantly around back, but at the bottom of the front bumper and atop the rear trunklid you'll notice more assertive spoilers added on.
To what end, we cannot be certain, but our spotters on the ground seem to think this is a prototype for a more extreme version of the Wraith - possibly inspired by the attention garnered by the Bentley Continental GT3-R. Could we be looking at a Wraith V-Specification like we saw with the Ghost? We'll have to wait to find out for sure, but in the meantime you can scope out the virtually undisguised prototype in the gallery of high-resolution spy shots above.

Rolls-Royce design chief Giles Taylor leaves the company

Another surprise executive departure on the sceptred isle: Rolls-Royce design chief Giles Taylor has left the car company and the parent BMW Group. Rolls-Royce's 52-word statement on Taylor's sudden exit said only that Taylor departed "to pursue alternative business interests." The news comes three days after Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales abruptly quit to become CEO of an English classic car restorer. Taylor leaves less than a month after Rolls-Royce introduced its brand-redefining Cullinan SUV, and before the auto show season where he would have been expected to lead the discussion on the Cullinan's genesis and detailing. According to his LinkedIn page, Taylor began his career with five years as an exterior designer at Peugeot, then graduated to a 14-year stint as chief designer at Jaguar; among other projects, he led the interior design of the 2003 Jaguar XJ before becoming chief exterior designer of the 2009 XJ. He moved from Coventry to Cheshire in 2011, becoming head of exterior design at Rolls-Royce. Just one year into the job, former director of design Ian Cameron left the company, and Taylor took over in 2012. His tenure has included the creation of retail products like the new Phantom and Dawn, one-offs like the Sweptail, concepts like the Next 100, and even a bespoke Paddington Bear. Rolls-Royce says it will announce a new designer "in due course." If the automaker looks in-house, it could tap Pavle Trpinac, now a senior exterior designer credited with the lines on the Wraith and the latest Phantom. Related Video: Image Credit: Rolls-Royce Hirings/Firings/Layoffs Rolls-Royce Luxury jean-marc gales giles taylor

Odell Beckham Jr.'s custom Rolls-Royce hood ornament catches the true Spirit of Ecstasy

Odell Beckham Jr. hasn't even played a single game for his new team, yet he's already making a splash in Cleveland. Not for his play, but for his car. Images and video of OBJ's custom Rolls-Royce Cullinan hit the web this week, and it suits his larger-than-life personality perfectly. The Browns orange wrap is a minor piece in a grand package that includes a custom hood ornament that replicates his famous one-handed behind-his-head catch. Sorry, Spirit of Ecstasy. OBJ's career has been too impressive to be defined by a single play, but his 2014 catch against the Dallas Cowboys (seen below) is certainly a top highlight. Widely considered one of the greatest catches in all of NFL history, it has now been immortalized in a hood ornament of all things. But not just any hood ornament. It takes the place of the sacred Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy on his custom Cleveland-themed Cullinan SUV. And yes, it can still be hidden within the grille. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. NFL players, and athletes in general, have been known to create some of the wildest custom vehicles we've seen, and OBJ's Double-R is no exception. Built by Dreamworks Motorsports in Roxboro, North Carolina, the Cullinan has an orange wrap, dark 26-inch Forgiato wheels with floating RR center caps, gloss black accents, and Suntek Films window tint. That's just the basic stuff. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Cementing his car as a truly unique piece are the sound system and the interior. Dreamworks built a subwoofer box to mimic the iconic Rolls-Royce grille, and the one-off starlight headliner was constructed just for this vehicle with a custom pattern. Plus there's that Spirit of Hubris up front. Whether it's a no from you, dawg, or it's a resounding yes, there's no doubt this thing will get people talking. Inspect the details in the gallery above. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.