Motoring

Rolls-Royce Wraith Eagle VIII will be available in Malaysia—but there’s a catch

28.05.2019

By Ronn Tan

Rolls-Royce Wraith Eagle VIII will be available in Malaysia—but there’s a catch

Malaysians love to drive, that’s for sure. It’s (relatively) convenient and beats the subpar public transportation currently available (though there definitely is improvement). As the Malaysian motoring market expands with more car manufacturers making their presence known in the country, it won’t be a surprise if some Malaysians want to differentiate themselves from the rest—especially with roads filled from end to end with similar-looking vehicles. Here’s the good news: you will soon be able to stand out with the new Wraith Eagle VIII from Rolls-Royce. The catch: Malaysia is only getting one out of 50.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars unveiled its latest Collection Car at 2019’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on the shores of Lake Como just a few days ago. It is a Collection of just 50 Wraith Eagle VIII motor cars to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first non-stop transatlantic flight in June 1919 that was powered by Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engines—hence, the name.

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So what are the highlights of the Wraith Eagle VIII? First of all, the exterior is swathed in Gunmetal with a Selby Grey upper two-tone and the colours are separated by a brass feature line—a hint at the detailing that lies within. In addition, those in the know would be able to notice the Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engine cowling on the Vickers Vimy aircraft reference on the black grille vanes. As for the wheels, they are part polished with a translucent shadow finish.

Inner beauty is as important as outer beauty, and that is definitely true here. The interior of the Wraith Eagle VIII mirrors its exterior. Brass, apart from being used to accent the Selby Grey and black leather, occupies crucial parts throughout the cockpit of the Collection. For example, the brass speaker; the ‘RR’ monograms embroidered in brass coloured thread onto headrests; navigator door paniers; as well as the driver’s door, which includes a brass plaque.

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Taking the 1919 night-time flight as inspiration, a modern-day abstract interpretation of the pilots’ view is represented by fascia. Just envision this: Smoked Eucalyptus wood vacuum-metalised in gold before being tessellated with silver and copper. This is to portray the rich detail seen in night-time images of the Earth from above. Meanwhile, the brass-stitched quilted sides of the centre tunnel yields an unambiguous salute to the V12 engined Vickers Vimy.

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While a lot of time has passed since the 1919 flight by Captain John Alcock and Lieutenant Arthur Brown, the spirit of that brave voyage remains. It is a known fact among patrons that the Rolls-Royce clock is often considered more of a jewellery. The Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective has ingeniously constructed a clock with an iced background effect. Here’s an interesting tidbit: it glows a languid green under night-time driving conditions. The red hour hand rests atop compass-inspired lines on the clock’s fascia. This is a masterclass on paying homage to heritage the right way.

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One might be forgiven to suggest the alluring features end there because, no, there really is more! The extraordinary unique starlight headliner, with 1,183 starlight fibres, signifies an important part of history. It is the celestial arrangement at the time of the flight in 1919, with brass thread utilised to showcase the flight path and constellations. Futhermore, “the celestial arrangement at the halfway point 00:17am June 15 th 1919, 50” 07’ Latitude North – 31” Longitude West” can be seen on a plague. One of a kind, the Wraith Eagle VIII definitely is.

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Anas Zawawi Khalid, Director for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Kuala Lumpur, said that highly bespoke and limited edition cars are increasingly on demand in Malaysia. Therefore, as connoisseurs of luxury, there is nothing at the moment rarer and more exclusive than the Rolls-Royce Wraith Eagle VIII, especially with only one available in the country. We all want the finer things in life, and this is the oppurtunity to possess the créme de la créme (if you can).

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For more information, visit here.

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