On a highway littered with state police, I set cruise control and scrolled through the playlist Rolls-Royce put together for the drive. AC/DC, Iggy and The Stooges, Motörhead, The Doors, The Kinks, and The Velvet Underground—not exactly what you'd expect to hear in a Rolls-Royce, but it felt sort of right in the Black Badge. With the windows down and the volume topped out, I turned the Wraith left onto Lee Canyon Road and started to climb some 7,000 feet in elevation. The engine wound up smoothly toward its redline, the transmission snapped between gears with the immediacy of a sports car, and the big brakes bit down wickedly hard when I came to a series of mild chicanes. The car stayed flat, the chassis composed and balanced, as the Wraith transitioned left to right and back, obviously more confident than the base car. But at the first hairpin the Wraith reminded me that despite its angry appearance and mildly improved performance, it's still a 5,200-pound luxury coupe that leans and dips like a drunk in a funhouse. I came to a straight bit of road, stopped, cycled through the car's menus to turn off stability control, and roasted the wide rear tires. I got out of the car near the top of Charleston Peak, saw a pair of thick, still-smoking black stripes, laughed, and breathed in cool mountain air before heading back toward the Strip.

Back At the Steakhouse

At dinner Carter asks what I think of the Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge, and this is what I say: Rolls-Royce could've easily put together a simple paint-and-trim package that blacked out every inch of the Wraith, and the package would've probably sold extremely well, so why not do just that? Because Black Badge is as much for Rolls-Royce as it is for a new generation of Rolls-Royce owners. It works the wants of potential buyers into existing products without completely treading on Rolls-Royce's traditions. The treatment may not be enough for some buyers, who will seek out aftermarket shops to darken the few bits of chrome left on the Wraith or add more power to its already potent engine, but Black Badge should better resonate with young, successful, alternative individuals who enjoy shaking up established norms than, say, a standard Wraith would. Black Badge gives the Rolls-Royce Wraith serious cojones, and since I—exactly the type of person Black Badge hopes to attract—sort of want one, it seems Black Badge is a success.

2017 Rolls Royce Wraith Black Badge front three quarter 07 660x440

2017 Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge Specifications

On Sale:	Now
Price:	$306,350/$350,000 (base/as tested) (est)
Engine:	6.6L twin-turbocharged 48-valve V-12/624 hp @ 5,600 rpm, 642 lb-ft @ 1,500-5,500 rpm
Transmission:	8-speed automatic
Layout:	2-door, 4-passenger, front-engine, RWD coupe
EPA Mileage:	13/21 mpg (city/hwy)
L x W x H:	207.4 x 76.7 x 59.3 in
Wheelbase:	122.5 in
Weight:	5,203 lb
0-60 MPH:	4.4 sec
Top Speed:	155 mph