The Bentley Continental range was born in 2003 and with each new generation, the boundaries of technology and power continue to extend. The third generation, unveiled at the 2017 Frankfurt Motorshow, is currently one of the brand’s most popular models globally. It is this generation, with its sporty design and sleek silhouette that is the basis of a miniature collection created by the company.
The collection of Continental GT model cars put a piece of Bentley history in the home or office, and would certainly be a perfect accompaniment to an owner’s full-size Continental GT, if he or she already owns one. The collection is available in a variety of scales – 1:8, 1:43 and 1:64 – and meticulous attention to detail and thousands of hours of work go into crafting the exquisite models.
The 1:8 scale model, priced in the UK at £6,995 (RM38,700), is offered as a bespoke product, allowing customers to commission their own unique replica car in the same way a customer would personalise their Bentley. The intricately detailed scale model is made up of over 1,000 individual pieces, assembled by hand and takes over around 300 hours in total to build.
The bespoke options cover a variety of aspects available to customise including paint, mock veneers and seat details. Every detail selected is executed and installed to the same superlative quality that is guaranteed with each full-size Bentley.
Measuring 78 cm in length and 40 cm in width, the exacting details of a full-size car are mimicked in miniature throughout the carefully-crafted replica cabin. The tiny steering wheel features impeccably-copied cross-stitching, the iconic seat quilting and fluting is mirrored on the small yet detailed scale. The model car even mimics the lustrous wood veneers and plush carpets that characterise the original. All colours and finishes are precision-matched to Bentley’s authentic paints, leathers, woods and other materials.
The full list of options includes exterior paint colour, wheels and alloys, lower grille, brake calipers, number plate, left or right driver position, interior colour split, main hide colour, secondary hide colour, seat quilting, seat fluting, veneers, and carpets. The option for the iconic Blackline Specification is also available.
To ensure complete accuracy, each 1:8 model ordered is developed under the close supervision of the Bentley Design Studio from the moment of order to final delivery. The model is crafted in resin and placed on a varnished plinth. It is the largest of the Continental GT collection of miniature models.
For those who do not choose the 1:8 scale model, the 1:43 and smaller 1:64 die-cast models are also of high quality commensurate with the brand image. In the UK, they are priced at £85 and £12 (RM470 and RM66), respectively. Orders can be placed from Bentley Retailers or via shop.BentleyMotors.com.
Assembly of the first new Bentley Blower in more than nine decades has officially started in a bespoke Bentley Mulliner workshop. ‘Car Zero’ is the engineering prototype for the Blower Continuation Series, a run of 12 meticulously engineered, hand-crafted, supercharged 4½-litre Bentleys built to the unique design of Bentley’s own 1929 Team Car developed and raced by Sir Henry ‘Tim’ Birkin.
Continuation series for a pre-war car
The 12 cars together form the world’s first continuation series for a pre-war car, and all have been pre-sold.
The first parts in the workshop are some of the most important. First to arrive was the chassis for the car – the backbone of the entire project, to which almost everything will be attached. The fuel tank and radiator were next, as work was completed on the ash frame for the body.
The first pair of headlights was delivered, while the mechanical aspects of the first car started to come together – the very first engine (complete with remade Amherst Villiers supercharger), the front axle assembly and the leafsprings.
As the 12 lucky customers choose the colour and trim specifications for their cars, the engineering team is working hard on assembling the running prototype in time for its unveiling ahead of a development programme later this year.
The most valuable Bentley in the world
Following a piece-by-piece disassembly of the #2 Team Car owned by Bentley (likely the most valuable Bentley in the world) and an exceptionally precise laser scanning of the frame and its components, new parts were ordered from a combination of fully digital CAD data and the original 1920s engineering drawings and drafts.
“After almost a year of highly detailed engineering work, it is extremely rewarding to see the first parts coming together to form the first Bentley Blower in over 90 years. The skill of our engineers and technicians in completing hundreds of individual part specifications is equalled only by that of the artisans across the country that have handmade the components that we’re now starting to bolt together. As we go, we’re refining designs and fixing problems, which is exactly what a prototype build is for. We’re all really excited to get this first car finished, and to show it to the world later this year,” said Bentley Mulliner’s Tim Hannig.
Draftsmen meet craftsmen
From the outset, Bentley Mulliner sought to engage the very best specialists across the country to create componentry for the Blower Continuation Series in a manner befitting such a project – using traditional techniques passed down through generations. With the very latest CAD technology finalising the exact designs to supplement the original engineering blueprints from the 1920s, work began at a multitude of small artisan businesses to bring the new Blower to life.
The chassis has been created in heavy-gauge steel, hand-formed and hot riveted by the specialists at Israel Newton & Sons Ltd. This 200-year old company traditionally makes boilers for steam locomotives and traction engines, and as such has the skills to forge and shape metal in a traditional way.
The Vintage Car Radiator Company, based at Bicester Heritage, has crafted exact recreations of the some of the Blower’s key components – including the mirror-polished, nickel-plated radiator shell and the hand-beaten fuel tank formed in steel and copper. Market leaders in the manufacture and restoration of vintage car radiators and components to the highest possible standards of craftsmanship and authenticity, they were the perfect choice to handcraft these tricky and vital components.
These parts will feed the first Blower’s brand new 4½-litre engine, originally designed by W.O Bentley himself and now recreated by Bentley Mulliner with the expert support of specialists including NDR Ltd.
Featuring many innovations of which a sportscar engine of the 1970s would be proud – aluminium pistons, an overhead camshaft, four valves per cylinder and twin spark ignition – the renowned 4½-litre engine will meet a newly machined, exact recreation of an Amherst Villiers roots-type supercharger. Mulliner’s experts will then be tuning the engine on a specially-prepared testbed at the Bentley factory in Crewe, where together the engine and supercharger should generate around 240 bhp.
The next steps
Over the course of the coming weeks, more and more components for Car Zero will be completed and test-fit. The new engine and supercharger will be put through their paces on Bentley’s very own engine development test beds in Crewe, while period-specific paint will be applied to the chassis before final assembly begins.
The finished Car Zero is due to make its first public appearance later in the year – but only after it’s been shown to the 12 customers.
A Rolls-Royce draws attention not only by its prestigious presence but also by the wealth of details around the car. Every model has been meticulously crafted and the most familiar elements have always been the Spirit of Ecstasy, Pantheon Grille and ‘Double R’ monogram. Unless the windows are heavily tinted (or the curtains drawn), passers-by can also admire the opulence which the occupants enjoy from the many luxurious appointments.
However, one feature which is not readily visible (especially in the daytime) to those on the outside but is spectacular in presentation is the Starlight Headliner. Now a part of Rolls-Royce iconography, the Starlight Headliner, in the spirit of the marque’s dedication to fulfilling the wishes of its patrons, began as a Bespoke request.
This came from a Rolls-Royce client who was suffering from photophobia (an extreme sensitivity to light) and was only able to enjoy reading his daily newspaper under the starlight on his rural ranch. He therefore requested that they develop a similar ambience within his Rolls-Royce.
As virtually nothing is impossible to the specialists at the Bespoke division (and it has been proven on many occasions), the Bespoke Collective of designers, engineers and craftspeople came up with a way to replicate stars on the ceiling of the cabin. They embedded no less than 800 stars, creating a star-filled night sky which gave just the right level of illumination the client needed, allowing him to read while travelling.
The client took delivery of his Phantom in 2006 and gave Rolls-Royce permission not only to publicise the Starlight Headliner but also offer the same feature to other customers. Thus was born the option of the Starlight Headliner which has been refined over the past 13 years. It can extend to the entire length of the roof and the intensity of light emitted by each star varied to better reflect the night sky.
The design for the Starlight Headliner is unique to each customer.
The constellation of each Starlight Headliner is completely unique to the customer. One customer requested that the lights be configured to represent the Ursa Major and Minor constellations while another customer wanted the Rolls-Royce monogram to illuminate separately from the rest of the stars. Some may like to have their loved one’s constellation twinkling from above. Whatever the customer wants, the Bespoke Collective will make sure he or she will have it.
Typically, it takes nine hours to craft, but a personalized pattern needs its own template, which can take more than 17 hours to complete. Two Rolls-Royce craftspeople marry their skills to create this extraordinary feature. It’s the perfect alliance of traditional craftsmanship and modern-day technology.
The Starlight Headliner’s unique effect is achieved by fitting delicate fiberoptic strands at varying depths and at different angles – to cause light to escape in multiple directions and at different intensities. First, the leather is perforated with 1,400 to 1,600 holes, each carefully counted. Fibreoptic threads, which are hand-trimmed at different angles to achieve a twinkling effect, are set into these holes by hand. The craftsperson then ensures that the fibres are perfectly seated on the visible leather surface, ready to shine.
Customers can order the Starlight Headliner as an option for their Rolls-Royce and the additional cost depends on the requirements and the model. For a Phantom, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars KL says that the price would start from RM65,000.
At the Geneva Motor Show in March 2016, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars presented Black Badge; a permanent Bespoke family of motorcars that defined the taste patterns of an emerging generation of super-luxury consumer. These are products for those who refuse to be defined by traditional codes of luxury and yet find reassurance in Rolls-Royce’s fluency in their bold aesthetic and uncompromising lifestyle requirements.
This highly successful alter ego is codified by the mathematical symbol that represents a potential infinity, which is placed discreetly within the motor car’s interior. This marking, known also as the lemniscate, was applied to Sir Malcolm Campbell’s record-breaking Rolls-Royce-powered Blue Bird K3 hydroplane, denoting that it belonged to an insurance class reserved for boats with unlimited and therefore infinite engine power. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars selected this hallmark for Black Badge to reflect its own unrelenting pursuit of power.
Rolls-Royce debuted its Black Badge family with the Wraith and Ghost in 2016, followed by the Dawn in 2017. Today, the family is completed with the addition of the Black Badge Cullinan: the darkest and most urban statement of Black Badge yet.
“Black Badge reflects the desires of a distinct group of Rolls-Royce clients: men and women who take risks, break rules and build success on their own terms.”
Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
The Cullinan Goes Black
The Cullinan is an ideal model for the Black Badge as it appeals to the younger, more adventurous clientele of Rolls-Royce. The Rolls-Royce of SUVs did much to reach a new group of clients looking for enriching experiences. Yet, within this group exists a subset of individuals who seek to subvert the motorcar’s domineering presence by permanently cloaking it in the night.
While clients can draw on the marque’s 44,000 ‘ready to wear’ paint options or commission an entirely individual Bespoke hue, it is anticipated that many will opt for Black Badge’s signature Black. Multiple layers of paint and lacquer are meticulously applied and hand-polished 10 times, representing the most comprehensive surface finish process ever applied to a solid paint colour. The depth and intensity of Black Badge Cullinan’s coachwork serves as the perfect canvas upon which to throw a contrasting hand-painted Coachline into stark relief.
On the prow of the car lies the defining expression of the Black Badge. The Spirit of Ecstasy mascot, which has taken many forms throughout the marque’s history, is presented in high gloss black chrome. For the first time, this finish extends onto its mounting plate, creating the darkest Black Badge yet.
This transformation pervades the other symbols of Black Badge. The ‘Double R’ badge on the front, flanks and aft invert to become silver-on-black, while chrome surfaces such as the front grille surround, side frame finishers, boot handle, boot trim, lower air inlet finisher and exhaust pipes are darkened. While they appear black, the vertical grille bars remain polished, reflecting the blackened surfaces that surround them to add a frisson of movement that hints at the car’s dynamic intent.
The overall effect artfully simplifies and enlarges the motor car’s exterior design graphics, emphasising its imposing proportions and confident stance. This is further dramatized by all-new 22-inch forged alloy wheels, reserved exclusively for the Black Badge Cullinan. Designed in the Black Badge house style, the gear-like graphic emphasises the model’s vast reserves of power while also recalling an infinitely occurring lemniscate.
The gloss black and polished design also creates the perfect stage for the marque’s first ever coloured brake caliper. The high gloss Red paint has been specifically developed to withstand the rigours of elevated temperatures generated by the motor car’s uprated braking system while still offering a perfectly smooth finish befitting of Rolls-Royce.
Superlative comfort, audacious interior design
Ordinarily, great efforts are expelled to distance occupants from a Rolls-Royce’s mechanical function. However, the marque’s Colour and Trim experts gently sensationalised the engineering substance of the Black Badge, seamlessly blending superlative comfort, bold aesthetics, advanced materials and precise, meticulous craftsmanship.
This ethos is perfectly embodied by the Black Badge Cullinan’s Technical Carbon veneer. In the spirit of Sir Henry Royce’s founding philosophy, “When it does not exist, design it”, a collaboration between the marque’s designers, engineers and craftspeople saw the creation of a new luxury material. Inspired by masterpieces of urban architecture, a naked-weave carbonfibre finish has been developed to create highly accurate repeating geometrical shapes that produce a powerful three-dimensional effect.
Each leaf of Technical Carbon is finished with six coats of lacquer before being left to cure for 72 hours then hand-polished to Rolls-Royce’s hallmark mirror finish. This process takes 21 days and is only deemed complete once every piece is inspected by a craftsperson to ensure complete reflective uniformity across each of the 23 pieces within the car.
Starlight Headliner has joined historical Rolls-Royce iconography such as the Spirit of Ecstasy, Pantheon Grille and ‘Double R’ monogram. Its presence in Black Badge Cullinan intensifies the cabin’s ambience by casting a low light over the lavish leather seats. Presented in fine Black leather, handwoven with 1,344 fibreoptic lights, it is a true reflection of the sky at night and incorporates eight brilliant white shooting stars that dart at random predominantly over the front occupants, subtly acknowledging the motor car’s owner-driver appeal.
A final touch completes the interior seating: the Infinity lemniscate motif is embroidered into the fold-down rear armrest as an elegant reminder of the power contained within. This simple but potent symbol is also incorporated in the illuminated treadplates and engraved on the clock face, itself framed by brushed and darkened steel case bearing the name ‘Cullinan’. Red-tipped clock hands and instrument display needles also serve as a discreet reminder of the motor car’s dynamic prowess.
The Architecture of Luxury’s dark side
The Black Badge is far more than an aesthetic treatment. In creating this class of motor car, it was of vital importance for Rolls-Royce to conceive a meticulously considered dynamic personality that perfectly harmonised with the motor car’s remarkable visual identity. Indeed, the exceptionally high expectations of the marque’s clients defined a rigorous testing protocol lasting more than 3 years to ensure that the Black Badge Cullinan would be relevant to their needs.
Key to the visceral thrill of Black Badge Cullinan is the Architecture of Luxury, Rolls-Royce’s proprietary all-aluminium architecture that debuted with Phantom. The sub-structure not only delivers extraordinary body stiffness but its flexibility and scalability allowed the SUV to be fitted with all-wheel drive and 4-wheel steering. These dynamic features have been comprehensively exploited and re-engineered for the Black Badge while retaining the peerless quality of ride that has driven Rolls-Royce’s success.
The Architecture of Luxury has been engineered to meet size and weight requirements of different propulsion systems. When the driver presses the ‘Low’ button situated on the gear selection stalk, they unlock Black Badge Cullinan’s full suite of technologies. This is asserted by the proud amplification of the motor car’s 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 through an entirely new exhaust system, announcing its arrival with a deep, authoritative basso profundo.
It was deemed unnecessary to make changes to the engine’s ample internal capacity, however the flexibility of the twin-turbo V12 has been exploited to generate an extra 29 ps, creating a total output of 600 ps. The sense of a single, infinite gear has also been sensationalised with the addition of a further 50 Nm of torque, bringing the total to a 900 Nm.
The Black Badge Cullinan gets a Bespoke transmission and throttle treatment that creates a sense of urgency without ever undermining its Rolls-Royce peerage. The drivetrain, ZF 8-speed gearbox and both front and rear steered axles work collaboratively to adjust the levels of engagement depending on throttle and steering inputs. Changes to suspension components and settings add to the suite of dynamic technologies that ensure an appropriate balance between dynamism and refinement. The result is an extremely well-mannered tourer at low speeds and a vivid driver’s device when pressed.
To bolster confidence when exploiting Cullinan’s alter ego, the braking bite point has been raised and pedal travel decreased. Redesigned brake disc ventilation also allows consistency in these changes while braking at elevated temperatures.
The Black Badge Cullinan is priced from RM1.8 million (excluding Malaysian taxes) and can be commissioned through Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Kuala Lumpur.
As the Rolls-Royce Ghost nears the end of its 10-year tenure, the carmaker has prepared an exclusive collection as a fitting farewell to the model line. This is a very rare occasion – once in 10 years at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars – that gives collectors of luxury the chance to obtain an item that is truly at its apex.
Highest levels of Bespoke
Known as the Ghost Zenith Collection, there will be just 50 Zeniths that celebrate the timeless elegance of a nameplate which has become the cornerstone of contemporary Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. In true keeping with its name, the Ghost Zenith Collection will feature the highest levels of Bespoke ever seen on a Ghost Collection car.
The only previous occasion when collectors around the world were afforded this privilege was in 2016 when an equally limited number of Phantom VII Zeniths celebrated the end of its extraordinarily long and successful reign. The cars immediately became highly collectable and sought after, re-setting the bar of luxury and, in doing so, creating a modern legend.
Model with a rich and extraordinary past
The Ghost is a luxury icon that carries with it a rich and extraordinary past. From the Silver Ghost, the car that established the moniker of ‘The Best Car in the World’ over 100 years ago, to the 200EX (pictured below), the experimental car that introduced the concept of a contemporary expression of this nameplate at the Geneva Motor Show in 2009, this model has offered patrons of the marque a modern, lithe and driver-focused Rolls-Royce.
When the Ghost went on sale in 2009, its elegant lines and dynamic offering quickly made it the most successful Rolls-Royce car ever to be built. Notably, it attracted a new group of young entrepreneurs to the marque. Indeed, the reduction in average age of a Rolls-Royce customer to around 43 is in part testament to Ghost’s global success.
“The Ghost Zenith Collection presents an entirely forward-looking study of the unique characteristics that have seen Ghost ascend to the status of the most progressive super-luxury saloon ever conceived. This unique Collection provides customers with a rare opportunity to own a car truly evocative of our time. Ghost is the most successful Rolls-Royce ever created and the Zenith Collection marks an important milestone in our modern history,” commented Torsten Muller-Otvos, CEO, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
References from the 200EX
The Ghost Zenith Collection draws many references from the 200EX (pictured above), with perhaps the most significant being the inclusion of a commemorative ingot. This came from the original 200EX Spirit of Ecstasy, melted down and set into the centre console of each of the 50 Zeniths. Engraved with the three key design lines of Ghost, the plaque details its significant origins. The Collection’s own Spirit of Ecstasy and clock are engraved with the name of this highly anticipated collection.
Furthermore, 200EX is immortalized in a complex engraving on the centre console of Ghost Zenith. A blueprint inspired artwork enlarged to a point of abstraction has been divided into 50 distinct parts, allowing each Ghost Zenith customer their own personal and individual work of art while, at the same time, uniting the collection as a group homage to Ghost.
An interesting feature is the interior of the Collection’s doors, owing to the illuminated door pockets. Ambient light emits through perforated leather enhancing the architectural elegance of Ghost’s interior. One will also encounter a complex piece of marquetry, created by the master craftsmen and women in the marque’s legendary woodshop. Available in either wood, Technical fibre or piano finished veneer, the door marquetry transitions from the driver’s suite to passenger suite, emphasizing the dual nature to Ghost.
Details inspired by original 1907 model
The rear seats feature embroidery that takes its inspiration from the seat details of the original 1907 Silver Ghost. This embroidery elegantly transitions from the rear to the front of the cabin and, in the case of the Extended Wheelbase Zenith, the headliner thrusts purposefully forward into the poised silhouette of the Spirit of Ecstasy. The seats themselves are accentuated in a contrasting leather, accenting Ghost as the ultimate 4-seat limousine.
Occupants of the Ghost Zenith Standard Wheelbase will experience an extraordinary phenomenon. The famed starlight headliner is presented in a unique Shooting Star configuration. Shooting stars fire at random across the cabin roof, adding an extraordinary sense of theatre. This surprise and delight feature consists of over 1,340 individually mapped and hand-woven fibreoptic lights.
Reminiscent of its Phantom counterpart, The Ghost Zenith Collection’s exterior styling takes on a new interpretation of its own: a special two-tone application with a gloss-contrast paint finish. Customers may select three different colour-ways – Iguazu Blue with Andalusian White, Premiere Silver with Arctic White or a daring Bohemian Red with Black Diamond, with multiple variants available highlighting the flexibility of the model. The Silver Satin bonnet was first seen on 200EX.
This year’s Geneva Motor Show sees Rolls-Royce return to Switzerland only six months after the world’s media confirmed the new Phantom as ‘The Best Car in the World’ during its global launch on the shores of Lake Lucerne. Three distinct Phantoms, commissioned by discerning connoisseurs of luxury, will demonstrate why Rolls-Royce is a Luxury House in the business of motor cars and the by-word for Bespoke.
In addition, Rolls-Royce will introduce the Dawn Aero Cowling, transforming the silhouette of the world’s sexiest drophead coupé.
Three different Phantoms, three distinct customer visions
At this year’s Geneva Motor Show, Rolls-Royce will show why it is considered to be the world’s leading luxury house by showcasing three very different Phantoms curated for specific patrons of the brand.
The first of these three Phantoms is known as The Gentleman’s Tourer and harks back to the era of the grandest of Grand Tourers – the Phantom II Continental Saloons of the Thirties. These Phantom II Continental Saloons were always four-door standard wheelbase cars driven by the owners themselves on long journeys across Europe or the United States with friends. This idea of a large four-door trans-continental Grand Touring car appealed to this customer, and he commissioned a standard wheelbase New Phantom in this spirit.
Phantom II Continental Saloons were always notable for being commissioned for the road, their colours and interiors specified for driving endurance rather than show, necessarily. The Gentleman’s Tourer pursues this approach, with a unique Iced Gunmetal exterior paint, complemented by a satin silver bonnet. This new paint was developed specifically for this customer to appeal to his interest in high performance aircraft, with its satin appearance reminiscent of cutting edge military tech. The 22 inch alloy wheel centres are also accented in Iced Gunmetal, another first use of this process on a wheel.
The interior of The Gentleman’s Tourer is a masculine, utilitarian-feeling space, bespoked for the purpose of long, luxurious journeys. Tones of Black, Selby Grey and Anthracite leathers are blended beautifully by Goodwood’s craftspeople across the snug cabin while details such as the embossed Spirit of Ecstasy in each door panel and the silver pinstripe across the Piano Black veneer draw the eye to the detail paid to this minimalist, modern interior. One final precious feature confirms the technical modernity of this beautiful motor car – the Cascade Steel Gallery finished in Ruthenium, a rare and precious metal from the Platinum group. With only 20 tonnes of this metal mined annually – compared with 2,500 tonnes of Gold – this indeed is a very precious way to detail one’s Phantom.
Two beautiful and very significant Phantom Extended Wheelbase also grace the Rolls-Royce stand at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. Whispered Muse and A Moment in Time are the first two new Phantoms commissioned with completely one-off, artist designed Galleries. These two individual Galleries have each been developed independently of the standard Gallery offer, and independently of each other, demonstrating the marque’s commitment to the maxim ‘Bespoke is Rolls-Royce’.
Whispered Muse is adorned with a one-off Gallery created by London-based designer Helen Amy Murray. This Gallery reinterprets Charles Sykes’ original drawings for the much revered Spirit of Ecstasy. By creating different planes in silk through directional sculpting, Helen has created individual contours, beautiful in their own right, that fuse together to resolve in a partial image of the Spirit of Ecstasy’s dress flowing backwards from her neck.
The silk that Helen has employed is the perfect accent for this beautiful car that features unique Piano Seashell veneer on the interior surfaces, created by hand polishing for 12 hours, beautiful handstitched Charles Sykes Spirit of Ecstasy embroidery and Rose Gold Bespoke Audio speakers on the interiors of the rear doors. The delicate colourway delineates areas of the motor car – the Dark Spice of the front seats for the chauffeur, whilst the owner relaxes in the comfort of the Seashell leather-clad Serenity seats.
The exterior features a newly-developed Crystal effect over the two-tone Selby Grey and Palais Nemaskar Dawn bespoke paint. 10 layers of paint are built up with the last being a layer of glass infused clear-coat to create the crystal effect. The Rose Gold pain motif is set off by the first ever Rose Gold Spirit of Ecstasy – specially created for this valued patron, and is continued with the coachline and the pin stripes around the wheel centres of this magnificent and regal Phantom.
Helen Amy Murray, artist, said of the design, “I was inspired by the ethereal quality of the illustrations of the Spirit of Ecstasy by Charles Sykes. They led me to incorporate the female form into my work; I wanted my Gallery commission to look soft and organic. The subtle spacing of lines brings the draped figure into perspective.”
A Moment in Time is a second customer-commissioned Phantom Extended Wheelbase present at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. Its Gallery sums up, in art, what Claude Johnson meant when he said, “The spirit of Rolls-Royce, namely, speed with silence, absence of vibration, the mysterious harnessing of great energy, and a beautiful living organism of superb grace…”
This Phantom’s Gallery captures A Moment in Time as though the Spirit of Ecstasy’s shawl was allowed to drape over the car at high speed, capturing that moment that leaves time standing still. Achieved through the artistic process of photography, fluid dynamics and sculpture by the Based Upon Collective in London. The final interpretation was machined from a solid billet of aluminium and hand polished before being mounted into The Gallery space as a beautiful, valuable artwork.
The creation of A Moment in Time is as remarkable as its muse. A swath of silk was pulled through a tank of water, weighted and suspended, controlling this moment. Captured on camera, the resulting fluid form was then analysed by the Rolls-Royce design team and the artists of Based Upon, before being remastered in clay. A malleable wax sculpture was then reworked to optimise the impact of ‘The Gallery’s’ space. This final interpretation was machined from a solid billet of aluminium, polished to accentuate the curvature of the alluded to fabric.
Again the motor car that bears this beautiful artwork is designed in perfect harmony with its Gallery. This time a unique Piano Milori Sapphire veneer, hand-polished for 12 hours, complements the Navy and Selby Grey interior, this time with the beautiful hand-stitched Charles Sykes Spirit of Ecstasy embroidery, also in Navy. The exterior of this beautiful Phantom features a newly created Blue Crystal over Milori Sapphire Bespoke paint. Six layers of paint are built up with the last being a layer of clear-coat infused with blue glass to create the blue crystal effect. The exterior is finished with a Selby Grey coachline and pinstripes to the wheel centres.
The 2018 Geneva Motor Show is also witness to a transformed Dawn. This new take on Dawn results from the recognition by Rolls-Royce’s designers that some clients may wish for enhanced flexibility in terms of style and practicality from the world’s most luxurious drophead coupé. Thus the Dawn Aero Cowling was born.
The Aero Cowling transforms one’s Dawn into a two-seater roadster-style motor-car without sacrificing the option of remaining the most social of all open top luxury cars, by creating an extended tonneau cover over the rear seat area.
The Aero Cowling encloses the rear seat area of Dawn in a beautifully hand-made unit that features two cowls that rise from the leading edge of the tonneau area, which conceals the Dawn hood, to behind each front seat. The form of the cowls was precisely sculpted to funnel the air gracefully, so to enhance driver comfort.
Each cowl offers enhanced lockable leather-lined storage compartments for personal effects. The cover itself is made of carbon-fibre and aluminium and so is incredibly light and strong. The lids of the cowls are swathed in Rolls-Royce leather which matches the interior of the car.
The Dawn Aero Cowling present on the Rolls-Royce stand at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show is a beautifully-specified motor car clad in a silver and tan colour scheme. The sensuous exterior is painted in Cassiopeia Silver and features beautiful 21inch part-polished alloy wheels, whilst the interior is swathed in Casden Tan leather, highlighted by Selby Grey piping and stitching and Black contrast elements. The carbon-fibre on the central spine of the Aero Cowling is exposed to showcase its lightweight structure and its weave is book-matched to a contemporary chevron graphic, adding to the dynamic character of Dawn Aero Cowling. Dashboard and centre consoles featuring an intricate dark technical fibre veneer continue this ‘spine’ running down the centre of the car, which when paired with the woven leather floor mats echo the technical nature of the carbon-fibre on the Aero Cowling.
If you happen to be attending the Geneva Motor Show, Rolls-Royce invites you to visit the Rolls-Royce stand (6041, Hall 6).
The Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Bespoke department is an extraordinary collective of designers, engineers and craftspeople, who bring the marque’s discerning and influential patrons’ most ambitious and personal visions to reality.
Today, almost every motor car that leaves the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, England, is Bespoke. 2017 was the year that Rolls-Royce elevated Bespoke to unprecedented new levels, resulting in one of the most significant years for Bespoke in the 114-year history of the brand, surmised in this video…
What follows is a snapshot of some of the finest examples of Bespoke design and craftsmanship to be completed by the luxury house over the past 12 months.
Rolls-Royce Torpedo Photo: James Lipman / jameslipman.com
‘Sweptail’
Rolls-Royce ‘Sweptail’, the realisation of one customer’s coachbuilt dream. Premiered in 2017, ‘Sweptail’ is a compelling representation of true luxury, taking Bespoke coachbuild personalisation to new heights. Check out the video…
The result of a collaboration between patron and artisan, ‘Sweptail’s’ bold design embraces the marque’s heritage as the world’s leading coachbuilder whilst reaffirming its pinnacle position in Bespoke personalisation.
This automotive equivalent of Haute Couture draws on the lineage of 1920s and 1930s Rolls-Royce motor cars. The client’s vision was for a coachbuilt two seater coupé featuring a large panoramic glass roof. The result is a contemporary masterpiece.
Rolls-Royce Torpedo Photo: James Lipman / jameslipman.com
The grille, milled from solid aluminium, presents a distinct formality. The side profile of ‘Sweptail’ defines its stately character, whilst the rear taper of the motor car pays homage to the world of racing yachts, shaping a completely new perception of a dramatic Rolls-Royce coupé. The elegant and characterising rear culminates in the registration number 08, milled from ingots of aluminium and hand polished to a mirror finish.‘Sweptail’ is a personal, Bespoke, motor car like no other.
New Phantom and ‘The Gallery’ – An Art Gallery on Wheels
New Rolls-Royce Phantom was unveiled to global critical acclaim in 2017. At the heart of the motor car’s design aesthetic is ‘The Gallery’, a contemporary and luxury reinterpretation of a motor car’s dashboard and instrument panel.
An application of glass runs uninterrupted across the fascia providing an unprecedented opportunity to present artwork, within your motor car. ‘The Gallery’ is an innovation that furthers Rolls-Royce’s unparalleled Bespoke vision and mastery of materials and craft.
Dawn and Wraith at Porto Cervo
Two unique motor cars were created in honour of the 2017 Rolls-Royce Summer Studio, Porto Cervo, Sardinia. A Bespoke Dawn drophead coupé and a Wraith Black Badge were commissioned to encapsulate the essence of this beguiling island.
Dawn adopted a nautical theme, evoking emotions of a languid Mediterranean sojourn. The Porto Cervo motif, encrusted with genuine Sapphires and Mother of Pearl, is embedded into the front facia of the motor car. The navy blue and arctic white hues complement an expanse of teak, including the decking and floor.
The Porto Cervo Wraith playfully emulates Sardinia’s night time ambience. A two-tone Diamond Black exterior is contrasted with gloss and matt paint applications, while black woven leather door panniers infer Wraith Black Badge’s dark and complex character, under the night sky.
‘Spirit of Calligraphy’ Ghost
A special one-off commission unveiled in Dubai in 2017, the Bespoke ‘Spirit of Calligraphy’ Ghost draws its design inspiration from the ancient art of Arabic calligraphy. Words are harmoniously moulded into shapes, creating a unique effect where texts and images become one. Sir Henry Royce’s resonant words “Take the best that exists and make it better. When it does not exist, design it”, in their Arabic form are shaped into Rolls-Royce’s flying mascot, the Spirit of Ecstasy. The calligraphy motif, created by renowned artist Khaled Al Saai, features as a silver inlay on the centre panel and as embroidery on the rear centre seat, amidst an eye-catching array of Turchese, Black and Arctic White leathers.
‘Elegance’
Commissioned for an individual collector, the Ghost ‘Elegance’ raised the bar of Bespoke by becoming the first motor car to be finished in a paint infused with diamonds. Named ‘Diamond Stardust’, the unique paint incorporates 1,000 diamonds crushed to form a very fine powder, giving the finished panels unmatched lustre and sparkle.
The flanks of the motor car are highlighted with Mugello Red and Black twin coachlines, reflected inside with black leather seats and accents in Mugello Red, carried through stitching on the doors and piping on the seats. The detailed fascia of smooth open-pore Tudor Oak veneer is also complemented with a Mugello Red single stitch along the top of the dashboard, and finished with a Bespoke clock.
‘Dawn in Fuxia’
In 2017, US collector Michael Fux was presented with his tenth Bespoke model from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Following a visit to Pebble Beach in 2016, where he collected a cluster of eye-catching fuchsia petals, he challenged the Bespoke team at Goodwood with a commission to bring a striking new colour to Dawn. Subsequently unveiled during The Quail automotive gathering in California, the vibrant ‘Dawn in Fuxia’ represents the addition of another unique hue to the Rolls-Royce Colour Collection, and is reserved exclusively for Mr. Fux to use. His most recent commission is his second Dawn, having collected the first – in one-off ‘Fux Blue’ – in 2016. Reminiscent of that car, the interior of ‘Dawn in Fuxia’ is trimmed in stunning Arctic White leather.
‘Dawn B50’ for Hotel Byblos
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Hotel Byblos in Saint-Tropez in 2017, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars revealed the ‘Dawn B50’, a highly Bespoke and unique motor car inspired by the warmth and vibrancy of the Côte d’Azur. Commissioned by the Hotel Byblos as the automotive ‘Jewel of Saint-Tropez’, the Dawn B50 exudes two dominant exterior colours. The lustrous combination was developed exclusively to celebrate the hotel’s anniversary, along with bespoke door treadplates and a unique hand-painted coachline on each side bearing the ‘B50’ logo. The sophisticated interior takes inspiration from the intense Mediterranean sun, with vibrant tangerine tones that accentuate the dashboard and echo the stitching across the seat upholstery and floor mats.
Homage to a special Silver Dawn
Prominently displayed at the Home of Rolls-Royce is a remarkably rare 1952 Silver Dawn, one of very few ever made. It was sold new to a customer in Canada, and in 2017 a commission for a new Dawn from the same country led to a beautiful homage to this particular car in its 65th anniversary year.
Finished in two-tone Midnight Sapphire and Jubilee Silver, the new Dawn closely emulates the original finishes of the 1952 motor car, with a Bespoke painted coachline, broken for the first time on a Rolls-Royce. Inside, Selby Grey and Navy leather are combined with Crossbanded Walnut Burr veneer, closely matched to the original. The finishing touches include a Bespoke clock with ‘1952’ lettering and a Spirit of Ecstasy veneer inlay.
Inspiration from South Korea
The ‘Bespoke Collection for Korea’ unveiled at the British Embassy in Seoul, embraced the aesthetic heritage of South Korea with a contemporary flare. The Ghost Seoul Edition reflects colours that grace the country’s Taegukgi national flag, finished in bright Andalusian White with a twin coachline in Cobalto Blue and Mugello Red – along with a hand-painted Bespoke motif that captures the silhouette of the iconic Namsan Seoul Tower. Inside, the black leather is complemented by contrasting bands in Arctic White, as well as blue and red highlights for stitching and piping.
The ‘Wraith Busan Edition’ is inspired by the hues of the coastal city of the same name, with a two-tone exterior in Royal Blue and Jubilee Silver that conjures up the shimmer of the surrounding sea. The rear pillar motif echoes the delicate latticework of traditional Korean ‘hanok’ screen doors, and is also carried inside the car across the dashboard. Emulating the dusk sky across nearby mountain ranges, a single coachline in Blushing Pink draws attention to the shoulder line. The colour is also applied to the seat stitching, instrument panel and ‘RR’ headrest monograms inside, as the final flourish to the Selby Grey and Cobalto Blue upholstery.
