Rolls-Royce Wraith worked

One of the more affordable and popular models in the Rolls-Royce luxury car range, the Wraith, has been chosen by German tuner Spofec to showcase its latest tuning program.

The Spofec name is a play on the Rolls-Royce mantra "Spirit of Ecstasy", which is embodied by the flying lady seen on the bonnets of its cars, priced between $609,000 and $1,019,000 in Australia.

The British coupe's engine, chassis and bodywork have been fettled by Spofec, which is part of the Novitec Group that has a penchant for supercharging Ferraris, but the company has sensibly left the interior unchanged.

Power for the Wraith is supplied by a 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12 engine generating 465kW and 800Nm, but the Spofec model bumps this up to 527kW and 986Nm. The extra herbs ensure the car accelerates faster, dispatching the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.2 seconds -- down from 4.6 seconds.

The enhanced performance is liberated via tweaks to the powertrain's ECU, which adopts "custom mapping for injection and ignition, and increases the boost pressure of the twin-turbos," says Spofec.

Owners can also option a special stainless-steel exhaust system which saves 5kg while delivering what's claimed to be a sporty "but never obtrusive exhaust note". It can also be packaged with a sound management feature that adjusts the exhaust burble between cruisey and raucous via remote-controlled butterfly valves.

The Roller's top speed is still electronically limited to 250km/h but braking power has been enhanced via the inclusion of massive carbon-ceramic disc brakes. The high-performance stoppers save 38kg and the rotors measure 405mm at the front and 395mm at the rear. The improvements in unsprung weight also aid handling, claims Spofec.

Suspension updates comprise a remapping of the car's air suspension electronics that lower the car's ride height by 40mm when cruising below 140km/h.

Exclusive wheels measuring 22 inches in diameter shod with chubby 265/35 and 295/30 aspect ratio Pirelli tyres give the car a bolder look, as does new front and rear body work. Major changes to the front-end design include a completely new bumper section which is claimed to improve downforce while providing a "sophisticated" and "distinctive" shape.

Changes to the grille can also be seen and as can air-vents behind the front wheel-arches. At the back of the car there is an understated lip spoiler and new bumper designed to highlight the car's sportier capability. Some of the bodywork updates are made from carbon-fibre, finished with a clear coat.

Whether Rolls-Royce Wraith owners will gravitate towards this sort of sporty customisation is a pertinent question, particularly as the BMW-owned British-based company can itself deliver a huge variety of customisations to buyers.

New Rolls-Royces have been steadily rising in popularity over the past few years and, in Australia, two-door models such as the Wraith account for two-thirds of total Roller sales in this country. To November this year, Rolls-Royce sales have increased by 147 per cent to 37 – up from just 15 last year.