Rolls-Royce Wraith fattens up

It seems it's not a question of 'why' but 'why not' for German car tuner Brabus, which has just released a new wide-body enhancement kit for the Rolls-Royce Wraith.

There must be demand from owners of the ultra-luxurious $645,000 coupe for more engine power and a bodykit with more machismo, because Brabus' Rolls-Royce fettling unit, aptly named Spofec (SPirit OF ECstacy, see?), has gone to town on the British cruiser.

Indeed, the Spofec Overdose takes the English aristocrat and transforms it into a Germanic pit-fighter thanks to a muscled-up carbon-fibre bodykit, which comprises wider front and rear wheel-arches, axles and side skirts.

Spofec says the car is now more than two metres wide at the rear, an increase of 130mm… Better get Jeeves to park this one.

The front-end is 70mm wider and new fascias front and rear match up with the rest of the new body sculpting for extra visual impact. The heavily-modified Roller rides on large 22-inch alloy rims shod with 265/35 tyres up front and 295/30 tyres are the back.

Just eight of these beasts will be crafted by Spofec and it's not just the exterior that gets a work over, the tuning house apparently making "every wish come true with perfect workmanship in the interior". Indeed, there is "virtually no limit to the range of colours for the high-quality types of leather and Alcantara".

Purists will also appreciate the recalibrated pneumatic suspension system, which gives the Overdose "even more dynamic handling". Ride height is lowered by 40mm to provide a more sporting stance and also improve high-speed stability.

Powertrain modifications start with ECU tweaks upping the 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12's power to 527kW and 986Nm via increased turbo boost -- up by 62kW and 186Nm respectively.

Throw in a new stainless steel exhaust system that shaves 5kg from the 2300kg behemoth, adding a "considerably sportier but never obtrusive exhaust note" and the Spofec Overdose rips to 100km/h in 4.2 seconds -- faster than the 4.6 seconds of the regular Rolls-Royce Wraith.

Top speed is limited to 250km/h and the anchors have been enhanced to match the Overdose's keen speed, via a carbon-ceramic brake set-up comprising 405mm front and 395mm rear diameter brake rotors. Apparently this saves another 38kg too, again improving driving dynamics.

Sales of Rolls-Royce vehicles in Australia are down by 33 per cent for the first four months of 2016 compared to the same period last year, 12 vehicles to eight.

The only question potential buyers of the Spofec Overdose may struggle with is which shade of metallic brown to order the car in.