1972 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow, Good Running Condition, Nice Solid Car on 2040-cars

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Rolls-Royce Wraith and Dawn: going, going, soon to be gone

Fans of fabulously expensive two-door coupes and convertibles will be saddened to learn that the Rolls-Royce Wraith coupe and Dawn convertible will be departing the U.S. market at the end of the 2021 model year. The dispiriting news was first reported by Motor1 and has been confirmed by a Rolls-Royce spokesperson. Time passes more slowly in the ultra-luxury segment, where vehicle life cycles can stretch far beyond the norm. But even given that reality, the debonair duo are getting on in years. The Wraith was introduced for 2013, and the Dawn made its debut in 2015. Both models are based on the even-older F01-generation BMW 7 Series platform that also underpinned the previous-generation Ghost. The models will continue to be sold in other markets and will not be immediately replaced in the U.S. That leaves the brand with a three-model lineup here in the U.S. with the Ghost and Phantom sedans and the Cullinan SUV. Granted, as of late U.S. car buyers have been shunning coupes and convertibles in droves, but the Rolls-Royce lineup loses a measure of glamour without the extravagance of the less-practical but more statement-making two-doors. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

The best cars we drove this year

Six hundred and fifty. That's roughly how many cars pass through the hands of Autoblog editors every year, from the vehicles we test here at home, to the cars we drive on new product launches, testing roundups, long-term cars, and so on. Of course, our individual numbers vary due to several reasons, but at the end of the day, our team's repertoire of automotive experience is indeed vast. But let's be honest, some cars certainly stand out more than others. So as the year's about to turn, and as we're readying brand-new daily cat calendars for our cubicles, our editors are all taking time to reflect on the machinery that made this year so special, with one simple, open-ended question as the guide – a question that we're asked quite frequently, from friends, family, colleagues, and more. "What's the best car you drove this year?" Lamborghini Huracan When I review the list of everything I drove in 2014, picking an absolute favorite becomes almost impossible. I mean, how does one delineate between the joy offered by cars as different as the Alfa Romeo 4C, Volkswagen Golf R, Mercedes-AMG GT S and even the humble-yet-wonderful Chevy Colorado? Okay fine, I'll just pick the Lamborghini. I drove the Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 on a racetrack, in the mountains, and along southern coast of Spain. It felt like the king of the car jungle in all of those places, sucking the eyeballs of observers nearly out of their heads as it drove by, and almost melting my brain with its cocktail of speed and grip and intense communication. It feels a little easy to say that the one new supercar I drove this year was also my favorite, but the fact is that the Huracan is one of the finest cars I've driven during my career, let alone 2014. Judge me if you must. – Seyth Miersma Senior Editor Rolls-Royce Wraith There are a couple of ways to look at the question, "What's the best car you drove this year?" In terms of what was so good I'd go out and buy one tomorrow, that'd be my all-time sweetheart, the Volkswagen GTI. Or if I'm just talking about sheer cool-factor, maybe something like the Galpin GTR1, BMW i8, or Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG. But instead, I'm going to write about the sheer opulence of being the best of the best. The hand-crafted, holier-than-thou, shut-your-mouth-when-I'm-talking-to-you supremacy. I'm picking the Rolls-Royce Wraith. I drove the Wraith for a week in April, and was really, really impressed. This car does everything, perfectly.

Rolls-Royce Spectre EV getting a 650-horsepower Black Badge variant?

The electric Rolls-Royce Spectre made its debut earlier in 2023, and the British brand is already looking at ways to expand the range. While nothing is official, leaked certification documents for the Australian market suggest that a Black Badge model with more power is on its way. Australian website Drive wrote that the Spectre Black Badge's unveiling is imminent. While it didn't publish the leaked documents, so we can't verify their authenticity, it noted that the Black Badge treatment will include a 650-horsepower evolution of the standard car's dual-motor drivetrain. For context, the standard variant of the Spectre is rated at 577 horsepower. If the leaked figure is accurate, the Spectre Black Badge will be the most powerful series-produced car in the Rolls-Royce range, eclipsing models like the 592-horse Cullinan Black Badge. The extra power shouldn't have a major effect on driving range. The aforementioned certification documents peg the coupe's range at up to 342 miles, compared to about 345 for the standard Spectre. Keep in mind those figures won't necessarily carry over to the American-market model, because Australia uses its own methods to obtain a range figure. In the United States, the Spectre has a range of up to 260 miles. Beyond the drivetrain, the Spectre Black Badge will receive the same basic tweaks as other Black Badge-branded members of the Rolls-Royce range, according to the same report. The list will include a suspension system revised for sportier handling, blacked-out design details, trim-specific wheels, and new-look interior trim. Of course, buyers will be able to customize nearly aspect of the Spectre Black Badge. Rolls-Royce hasn't commented on the report, and it hasn't confirmed plans to launch a Black Badge variant of the Spectre, let alone one with a 650-horsepower drivetrain. If the rumor is accurate, we should learn more about the big electric coupe in the not-too-distant future. Pricing hasn't been announced, but the Black Badge will cost more than the standard Spectre. Don't try to flip one: Rolls-Royce will blacklist you.