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Rolls-Royce Wraith gets Inspired by Music for latest special

A favored status symbol of both old money and new, Rolls-Royce has counted some of the most famously wealthy personalities among its clients over the years. More than a few of them, of course, have been musicians – rock n' roll icons, in fact. And it's their legend from which the British automaker has drawn the inspiration for this latest special edition. Based on the Wraith fastback, the Inspired by Music edition is all done up in black and bronze. It's got a dark Lyrical Copper paintjob on the outside, and both brushed and polished copper trim throughout the interior. There's a bright book-matched copper dashboard, along with copper door inserts, speaker grilles, and more. Goodwood's customization department has also fitted it with woven leather floor mats and a special clock with a bezel designed to emulate vinyl records. Of course, it's also got what promises to be one of the finest sound systems in the industry. The Bespoke Audio setup packs 1300 watts of power and 18 speakers – including two subwoofers, seven tweeters, seven mid-range speakers, and two "exciter" speakers embedded in the headliner to round it all out. It even uses microphones to monitor sound levels inside and out of the vehicle, adjusting the volume and tone to compensate. This is the third such inspired Wraith special edition that Rolls-Royce has released. Back in May it released a rather different take in the white-on-white Inspired by Fashion edition. That was preceded in late March by the Inspired by Film edition. Each Wraith packs a 624-horsepower, 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12, making them the fastest, most powerful Rolls models to date. And if none of these particular special editions tickle your fancy, we're sure the company will create one for you to your own exacting specifications – assuming of course that you've got the means. Related Video: ROLLS-ROYCE WRAITH 'INSPIRED BY MUSIC' Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has contributed to the myth and legend of the contemporary music scene since the birth of Rock & Roll. Over half a century later, this long-standing love affair lives on, with some of the world's most celebrated artists choosing the marque as the ultimate affirmation of their success. In this spirit, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is delighted to present Wraith 'Inspired by Music'. Since the launch of Wraith in 2013, customers have been able to commission their Rolls-Royce Wraith with Bespoke Audio; the most exhaustively designed sound system in automotive history.

Rolls-Royce Phantom DHC gets special Nighthawk treatment

We see info on a lot of special edition Rolls-Royces coming across our desks here at Autoblog, and most of them are destined for some far-flung Asian market. But not this one. This one is just for North America. It's called the Nighthawk edition, and it's based on the Phantom Drophead Coupe (Rolls-speak for "convertible"). It made its debut in Phoenix during the Super Bowl, but Rolls has just released the full skinny on it now. Limited to just nine examples, the Rolls-Royce Phantom DHC Nighthawk edition is "inspired by the sleek yet bold designs of stealth aircraft," the most iconic of them known as the F-117 Nighthawk. The Rolls cabrio features a metallic black paintjob with a matte black hood and windscreen frame and an interior decked out in carbon fiber trim, black and red leather and instruments with glowing orange tips. It's a stark take on a decidedly luxurious automobile, and only goes to show the extent to which the Rolls-Royce Bespoke department can transform one of its vehicles. ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM 'NIGHTHAWK' MAKES A BOLD NORTH AMERICAN DEBUT IN PHOENIX ARIZONA The latest Rolls-Royce exclusively created for North American customers has arrived in Arizona this evening. The first of nine Phantom Drophead Coupe 'Nighthawk' Bespoke Collection cars hit the streets of Phoenix, featuring bold design and a low profile inspired by stealth technology in modern aerospace development. 'Nighthawk' features a combination of modern materials and subtle colour to create a new contemporary interpretation of a classic Rolls-Royce motor car. Following its first public drive in Phoenix, Arizona this evening, 'Nighthawk' will be on display to millions of Americans during the festivities surrounding Super Bowl XLIX. Phantom Drophead Coupe 'Nighthawk' Collection These nine stunning Phantom Drophead Coupes showcase the unique design capabilities of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars' Bespoke team, and are now available through the company's 41 North American retail dealers. Inspired by the sleek yet bold designs of stealth aircraft, 'Nighthawk's' designers have used cutting edge technology and materials to ensure the stunning Rolls-Royce Phantom Bespoke Drophead Coupe will not go unnoticed. Incorporating the latest design and technology with the super-luxurious hallmarks of the brand, 'Nighthawk' features a lustrous Diamond Black Metallic paint with a Matt Diamond Black bonnet. The windscreen surround design is inspired by radar-absorbent material (RAM) coating used in aviation.

Top Gear caught filming Best of British near Buckingham Palace

YouTuber and car-fan extraordinaire Shmee probably had very little trouble tracking down the Top Gear film crew recently, as the group was putting together an episode that could accurately be described as "excessive." With its flag-waving (literally) Best of British theme, the TG guys gathered a jaw-dropping array of British cars, and parked them all right in front of Buckingham Palace to make extra sure that the point was driven home.
Top Gear hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May were outfitted with a trio of Jaguar F-Types festooned with gigantic Union Jacks, with which to survey the landscape of British motoring glory. In the video below, you'll see that this includes any number of Mini, Aston Martin, Lotus, McLaren, Land Rover, Bentley and Rolls-Royce models (just to name a few), as well as a healthy dose of weird stuff that most people would never guess at being built in the UK. The lawnmowers and military vehicles are especially cool.