The luxury coupé Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge. Courtesy Roger Harrison
The luxury coupé Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge. Courtesy Roger Harrison
The luxury coupé Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge. Courtesy Roger Harrison
The luxury coupé Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge. Courtesy Roger Harrison

Road test: 2017 Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge


  • English
  • Arabic

It's a Rolls-Royce, Jim, but not as we know it. Say hello to the Darth Vader of Rollers (apologies to Star Trek/Star Wars fans for mixing these two metaphors). The Wraith Black Badge is billed as the most-­engaging RR to date, serving up more grunt, agility and visual menace than any model wearing the Spirit of Ecstasy on its imperious snout.

Is the notion of fettling a Rolls-­Royce for more poke and panache contradictory to the snooty British brand’s core values? The bigwigs at its Goodwood headquarters don’t think so, and they are backed up by research showing that demand exists for a niche model that targets younger, more flamboyant buyers – hence the existing number of dodgy makeovers by aftermarket customisers with more greed than taste.

The standard Wraith’s outputs of 632hp and 800Nm already placed it at the top of the RR potency pecking order, but for the bad-boy Black Badge, the latter quota has been hiked by 70 Newtons to ensure the 2.5-tonne coupé proceeds with an even greater sense of urgency.

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Specs

Price, base / as tested Dh1.6m

Engine 6.6L twin-turbo V12

Gearbox Eight-speed auto

Power 632hp at 5,600rpm

Torque 870Nm at 1,700rpm

Fuel economy, combined 14.6L / 100km

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Rolls-Royce quotes a 0-to-100kph split of 4.5 seconds, and the Black Badge feels every bit as quick in the real world, although its acceleration is unfurled with such velvety smoothness that it’s a bit like being in an Airbus A380 in take-off mode.

Throttle mapping has also been tweaked for sharper response than the standard model, and it’s quicker to downshift when you’re decelerating or braking, which is handy on twisty roads because there are no paddles for manual shifting (these are considered far too gauche for a Rolls-Royce).

Prod the twin-turbo motor with a stab on the gas and your ears are greeted by an entirely unfamiliar noise for a Rolls-Royce. Unlike mainstream Rollers, in which the sound of the V12 is muffled to a distant thrum, the Wraith has a distinct growl to it. In keeping with its more-dynamic job description (Rolls-Royce execs studiously avoid using the word “sporty” in relation to the car), the Wraith Black Badge also gains uprated air suspension that keeps it flatter under hard cornering.

Our test route includes a variety of mountainous roads in the harsh, rocky environs of Ras Al Khaimah, and the Wraith tackles it all with a lot more pace and poise than expected from a 5.3-­metre-long behemoth that weighs as much as two Toyota Corolla hatchbacks. Push hard and you will ultimately encounter body roll and mild understeer, but the hefty Roller never gets ragged or untidy. Steering feel, too, is much meatier and feedback-laden than in the donor car.

Visual clues to the Black Badge’s identity include a (gasp) black Spirit of Ecstasy figurine on the prow, while the grille surround, boot-lid finisher, lower air inlet trim and exhaust pipe tips are finished in gloss-black rather than chrome. The RR badges have also been inverted to silver on black, in lieu of the standard car’s black on silver.

My test car’s cabin is swathed in a rather loud cobalt blue/black trim combo. Incidentally, the hide is sourced from Bavarian bulls. There’s no barbed wire or mosquitoes in these lofty Bavarian climes, so said bovines’ skin remains unmarked.

There’s no doubt many of those who buy the Black Badge will be doing so for no other reason than its anticipated rarity and show-off value. But rather than taking delivery of a superficially tarted-up vehicle, Wraith Black Badge buyers stand to own a car with genuine substance.

It’s a capable uber-luxury coupé, and quite enjoyable to drive – all 5.3 metres of it. And unlike the Ford Model T, it doesn’t just come in black.

motoring@thenational.ae

Classification of skills

A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation. 

A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.

The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000. 

Champions League Last 16

 Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) v Bayern Munich (GER) 

Sporting Lisbon (POR) v Manchester City (ENG) 

Benfica (POR) v Ajax (NED) 

Chelsea (ENG) v Lille (FRA) 

Atletico Madrid (ESP) v Manchester United (ENG) 

Villarreal (ESP) v Juventus (ITA) 

Inter Milan (ITA) v Liverpool (ENG) 

Paris Saint-Germain v Real Madrid (ESP)  

Financial considerations before buying a property

Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.

“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says. 

Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.

Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier. 

Cry Macho

Director: Clint Eastwood

Stars: Clint Eastwood, Dwight Yoakam

Rating:**

CREW
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Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier, in Bangkok

UAE fixtures Mon Nov 20, v China; Tue Nov 21, v Thailand; Thu Nov 23, v Nepal; Fri Nov 24, v Hong Kong; Sun Nov 26, v Malaysia; Mon Nov 27, Final

(The winners will progress to the Global Qualifier)

Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas

Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa

Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong

Rating: 3/5

The%20specs
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Rock in a Hard Place: Music and Mayhem in the Middle East
Orlando Crowcroft
Zed Books

EA Sports FC 26

Publisher: EA Sports

Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S

Rating: 3/5

Bib%20Gourmand%20restaurants
%3Cp%3EAl%20Khayma%0D%3Cbr%3EBait%20Maryam%0D%3Cbr%3EBrasserie%20Boulud%0D%3Cbr%3EFi'lia%0D%3Cbr%3Efolly%0D%3Cbr%3EGoldfish%0D%3Cbr%3EIbn%20AlBahr%0D%3Cbr%3EIndya%20by%20Vineet%0D%3Cbr%3EKinoya%0D%3Cbr%3ENinive%0D%3Cbr%3EOrfali%20Bros%0D%3Cbr%3EReif%20Japanese%20Kushiyaki%0D%3Cbr%3EShabestan%0D%3Cbr%3ETeible%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ESSENTIALS

The flights 
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes. 
Where to stay 
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

The more serious side of specialty coffee

While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.

The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.

Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”

One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.

Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms. 

Trump v Khan

2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US

2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks

2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit

2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”

2022:  Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency

July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”

Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.

Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

57%20Seconds
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
  • Riders must be 14-years-old or over
  • Wear a protective helmet
  • Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
  • Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
  • Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
  • Do not drive outside designated lanes
England squad

Joe Root (captain), Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Gary Ballance, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Ben Stokes (vice-captain), Moeen Ali, Liam Dawson, Toby Roland-Jones, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, James Anderson.

HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX RESULT

1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 1:39:46.713
2. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 00:00.908
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-GP 00:12.462
4. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-GP 00:12.885
5. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing 00:13.276
6. Fernando Alonso, McLaren 01:11.223
7. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 1 lap
8. Sergio Perez, Force India 1 lap
9. Esteban Ocon, Force India  1 lap
10. Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren 1 lap
11. Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso 1 lap
12. Jolyon Palmer, Renault 1 lap
13. Kevin Magnussen, Haas 1 lap
14. Lance Stroll, Williams 1 lap
15. Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber 2 laps
16. Marcus Ericsson, Sauber 2 laps
17r. Nico Huelkenberg, Renault 3 laps
r. Paul Di Resta, Williams 10 laps
r. Romain Grosjean, Haas 50 laps
r. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing 70 laps