Rolls-Royce Silver Spectre Shooting Brake unwrapped

Netherlands-based Niels van Roij Design and Belgium coachbuilder Carat by Duchatelet have pulled the drapes off a new Silver Spectre 'shooting brake; wagon version of the Rolls-Royce Wraith.

When a camouflaged Rolls-Royce wagon was spotted testing last week, it was reported that it might have been a one-off commission created by Rolls-Royce's bespoke division, but now it's thought the mocked-up prototype was part of a stunt to generate publicity for the Silver Spectre Shooting Brake.

Better known for both its two-door Range Rover Adventum conversion, Niels van Roij Design last year launched a shooting brake version of the Tesla Model S.

Announcing that it will make just seven Rolls-Royce Silver Spectre Shooting Brakes, the Dutch coachbuilder now says each model will be tailored to the individual owner's tastes, both inside and out.

The work involved with the conversion was so extensive that its manufacture was out-sourced to Belgium-based limousine maker Carat by Duchatelet, which removed the donor car's roof and most of its rear body.

That new roof panel, by the way, is made entirely of carbon-fibre and claimed to be one of the largest single pieces of the lightweight composite ever used in a car.

Niels van Roij Design says this ensures its dramatic silhouette, which is said to be inspired by 1930s grand tourers.

Under the bonnet, the Silver Spectre keeps the current Wraith's 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12, but it has had its power wound up to 515kW – a healthy bump over the 465kW offered by the most powerful Black Badge version.

There's no word on how the standard car's punchy 870Nm peak torque has been affected but, it's thought that even with its bigger body, the Silver Spectre Shooting Brake is still able to manage to shave a few tenths off the standard car's 4.5sec 0-100km/h sprint time.

Available with two-tone finishes, hand-applied pinstripes, embroidered head restraints, wood trim and personalised tread plates, the Silver Spectre is available with a colour-coded leather or silk interior.

Look up and the Wraith's optional Starlight headliner carries over, but the light fades towards the rear of the car to give what Niels van Roij Design says is a more realistic impression of a starlit sky that probably provides less of a distraction in the rear-view mirror.

Within the new luggage area, instead of carpet there's padded leather to match the cabin.

Claimed to have originally been created for a single Wraith owner who wanted a bit more practicality, the first car has already been delivered to its owner.

It's not known how much the Silver Spectre Shooting Brake costs in addition to the $720,000 (plus on-roads) Rolls-Royce already charges for the Wraith Black Badge, but it's thought to be a large seven-figure sum.