Rolls-Royce unveils Wraith Eagle VIII

Rolls-Royce has revealed a new addition to its limited-run Collection Car series – the Wraith Eagle VIII.

Limited to just 50 units, the vehicle has been created to celebrate the journey of British aviators John Alcock and Arthur Brown from Canada to Ireland in their First World War Vickers Vimy aeroplane.

In total, the journey took nearly 16 hours. The plane itself was powered by two 20.3-litre 350bhp Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engines – which is where the car takes its name from.

The vehicle gets a two-tone colour scheme with ‘translucent shadow’ wheels and a black X-pattern grille, which harks back to the engine cowling of the plane.

Inside, the cabin receives grey and black leather seats with brass accents, while brass is also used on the speaker covers and door panniers.

The dashboard is finished in eucalyptus wood, and incorporates gold, silver and copper which together depict a view of the earth from above at night. The flight path that Alcock and Brown followed is also embroidered across the starlight headliner, which shows the exact arrangement of the stars at the time of their journey.

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, chief executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, commented: “Wraith Eagle VIII is at once an object of desire; an homage to heroes and a protagonist to today’s visionaries.

“This Rolls-Royce Collection demonstrates the extraordinary skill of our Bespoke Collective at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, West Sussex. Bespoke remains the jewel in the crown of the marque, creating luxury items that defy the trend of mass luxury manufacturers using ‘tick-box’ options to answer customer demand.”

No prices for the special-edition Wraith have been revealed, though they’re likely to far exceed the standard car’s £249,000 entry price.