The bizarre Rolls-Royce test prototype
filmed recently on a motorway has sparked various reactions online. There are
people who believe Rolls-Royce is actually developing a limited-run Shooting
Brake model while others think the strange-looking prototype acts a disguise
for the next-generation Wraith coupe. Then there are folks who jokingly say
Rolls-Royce is planning to gain a foothold into the hearse market. We don’t
know which of these hypothesis is true, but we would absolutely love
the idea of a Rolls-Royce Shooting Brake.
As it turns out, Berlin-based
visualization specialist Wagen Volk would like that too and he has already
sketched a Wraith-based Shooting Brake model. Automakers have been abusing the
words ‘shooting brake’ for so long now that it’s very refreshing to see a
vehicle that actually fits the definition and is not just a glorified wagon.
In this case, the Rolls-Royce Wraith has
been digitally converted into a shooting brake, maintaining the front half of
the bodywork virtually unchanged – including the massive front-hinged doors and
lack of B-pillars. What follows behind the doors is a very different story as
the author has given the Wraith a shooting brake bodywork with sleek and long
side windows, a gently sloping roofline, and a tailgate complete with a roof
spoiler and curved screen.
While at it, the creator of these
renderings has also increased the ride height to make the car suitable for
reaching hunting parties. He also added chunky black cladding and roof rails
for a more rugged appearance inspired by SUVs – high-sided vehicles in
Rolls-Royce speak.
