Following the announcement a year ago that Lunaz Design was taking orders for its first batch of classic electric Range Rovers, demand has been growing and now accounts for 45% of the marque’s total production. The orders are for two configurations – ‘Town’, which focuses on rear seat and driver comfort, and ‘Country’, which incorporates engineering features that enable ‘better-than-new’ off-roading capability – which will be made in a 70:30.
The company says that the first two units are the most complex Range Rover builds ever undertaken by Lunaz Design. The first is a Long Wheelbase variant in ‘Town’ configuration and the second is a fully open Safari model – the same type that featured in the James Bond film, Octopussy – in ‘Country’ specification.
Lunaz is a young (in existence since 2018) British company which remanufactures and electrifies vehicles, and it claims to be the world’s leading creator of upcycled, restored and electrified classic cars. Models which it has electrified include the Jaguar XK120, 140 and 150, Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud and Rolls-Royce Phantom V, Bentley Continental, and Range Rover Classic.
The company typically does work on commission, and it has three divisions providing all the necessary services that further the legacies of the most celebrated cars in the world. Its most recent project which has been completed is a 1952 Jaguar XK120.
The car presented a world-first for a project of this type – a leather-free interior that utilises ocean clean-up materials. This includes carpets that are woven from reclaimed nylon sea-fishing nets. Additionally, the backing of these carpets is upcycled from marine plastic pollution such as plastic bottles.
The process of reclaiming waste materials from the ocean is already being successfully utilised in the worlds of fashion, fine furniture making and high-end watch manufacturing. Global demand for these kinds of sustainable materials is driving significant positive environmental impact: for every tonne of the raw material produced to make the materials that make Lunaz’ carpets, 7 barrels of crude oil can be saved and nearly 7 tonnes of carbon will not be emitted.
In handing over this beautiful electrified and upcycled Jaguar XK120, we conclude a project that has empowered our designers to re-imagine the traditional classic car material palette. We are proud to take materials and create processes that significantly reduce the global impact of enjoying these cars by unlocking the power of upcycling,” said David Lorenz, Founder & CEO of Lunaz (which has David Beckham among its investors).
While such a car is already exclusive, Lunaz’ customers would expect to be able to personalise their cars further and this is handled by an in-house design department. The team works in close collaboration with customers to understand their aesthetic and personal sensibilities. In the case of this very special build, the customer visited Lunaz throughout the commissioning and specification process to understand the way that alternatives to leather and innovative upcycled materials perform from a visual and comfort perspective.
This led to a decision (by the customer) to create an entirely leather-free interior specified to complement the bespoke Obsidian Blue exterior colour scheme. This was painted in-house at Lunaz’ home in Silverstone, UK and is one of the limitless palettes of colours available to every Lunaz customer.
This very close collaboration yielded an interior finished in an innovative blend of textiles, traditional woods and upcycled materials. For example, the seat frame is constructed from recyclable aluminium. This offers both a contemporary aesthetic and an alternative to traditional classic material palettes while delivering the functional requirements of the seat.
The seats are finished in a super-high-quality fabric material. Subtle reference to the driver-focus of this particular car is made through the addition of a black stripe to the driver’s seat.
The Burr Walnut veneer wood has a contemporary aesthetic through a satin lacquer. Wherever possible, material from the 70-year old car was painstakingly restored to minimise the requirement to create new materials. This extended to the substrates which were then re-veneered in sustainably sourced timber.
Lunaz’ team of engineers subtly integrated the latest infotainment and audio technology into the car. This includes the discreet placement of a screen installed with Apple CarPlay to operate the customer’s preferred navigation and music streaming apps.
The Lunaz modular powertrain used in the Jaguar was developed by a team of engineers drawn from some of the leading names in automotive design and technology and under the leadership of Jon Hilton, former Technical Director of Renault Formula 1.
Lunaz’ proposition has created unprecedented global demand from both new classic car owners and existing collectors seeking to rebalance their collections in line with shifting global sensibilities. An independent environmental audit found that once a Lunaz vehicle undergoes the brand’s process of re-engineering and electrification, it reclaims more than 80% of the embedded carbon of the original car’s manufacture.
Therefore, this approach represents a sustainable means to keep the most celebrated cars in history on the road while addressing the other key barriers to classic car ownership, usability and reliability.
With the latest James Bond movie being in the news as it is about to be released worldwide, there is more than usual awareness of Aston Martin which has a number of cars used in the movie ‘No Time to Die’. The carmaker has been publicising its association with the secret agent for decades and even produces a limited run of the DB5 used in ‘Goldfinger’. The cars are equipped like the one in the movie, guns and all, and are virtually similar to those made 55 years ago.
Lunaz Design, a company owned backed by David Beckham, is also benefitting from the publicity associated with Aston Martin. The company is a specialist in converting existing cars to be electrically powered (such conversions are not permitted in Malaysia) and it has announced production of restored, re-engineered and electrified Aston Martin DB6 cars.
They will join the other models offered by the company that include the world’s first and only electric Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Range Rover and Jaguar sportscar models. Customers can also commission Lunaz Design, which is only 3 years old, to convert Aston Martin DB4 and DB5 models.
“The introduction of electric Aston Martin DB6 cars has been driven by sustained demand from our existing clients. It also reflects the desires of an entirely new classic car buyer. These women and men have been drawn to Lunaz because, for the first time, they are presented with the powertrain and modern conveniences of today, clothed in a design that speaks of an era when aesthetic purity was the only requirement,” said David Lorenz, Founder and CEO of the Lunaz Group.
The company is now accepting orders, with deliveries to start in the third quarter of 2023. The prices will depend on customer requirements but Lunaz Design says that each car will cost more than US$1 million (around RM4.2 million). Following confirmation of orders will commence production and the cars can be in lefthand drive or righthand drive.
Each electrified DB6 by Lunaz will undergo an exhaustive bare-metal restoration and re-engineering process. This means clients are assured of the key requirements of usability, reliability and sustainability.
The car will be powered by Lunaz’ proprietary modular electric powertrain, developed entirely in-house. It uses the very highest standard European-sourced Tier-1 OEM battery cells and electric motors. The battery capacity ranges from 80 – 120 kWh and a single charge is said to provide a range of around 400 kms. Lunaz has chosen to fit CCS (Combined Charging System) capability, an internationally accepted system that allows for fast-charging.
With the different and higher performance characteristics compared to the original DB6 produced in the 1960s, the brakes, suspension and steering are all uprated for safety and driveability. Though owners may like the ambience of the original car, interior comfort and convenience are modernised with the provision of air conditioning and inclusion of the latest infotainment and navigation systems along with wifi connectivity.
The design and engineering team is said to be the largest of its kind in the world. The work is overseen by Jen Holloway, the Design Director who is from Aston Martin’s Q-Branch, and Jon Hilton, the Engineering Director who worked across James Bond Aston Martin projects. They lead the team of over 100 engineers, restoration specialists and craftspeople drawn from companies such as Aston Martin, Bentley, F1, Ferrari, Jaguar, Land Rover, McLaren and Rolls-Royce.
The Lunaz conversion facility at Silverstone in England.
The original Range Rover was launched in 1969 and final production took place in 1996. It has come to be known as the Classic Range Rover and can be regarded as the first premium 4×4 (the ‘SUV’ term didn’t exist then). Well-kept units are collectors items and with the engineering having been robust, they remain capable vehicles even today.
Electrifying classic models
For those who want the Classic Range Rover, there is also a new source from Lunaz, a company in England that specialises in making electric classic cars. Lunaz has earlier ‘electrified’ Jaguar, Bentley and Rolls-Royce classics and now intends to also create an initial run of 50 original Range Rovers built in the ‘classic era’ between 1970 and 1994.
The original Range Rover which as produced between 1969 and 1996.
Since unveiling its electrified classics, Lunaz has received requests from customers to apply its re-engineering and restoration approach to the Range Rover. In response to this, the company has decided to offer two versions – the ‘Town’ and ‘Country’ specifications – which can be delivered in mid-2021.
The more urban expression of these cars will be presented with increased focus on rear-seat and driver comfort, reflecting their dual use as either self-driven luxury vehicles or chauffeured cars. They will be available in both standard and long wheelbase and either the classic 3-door configuration or the 4-door models.
Lunaz has been converting these other classic models with electric powertrains. These include the Jaguar XK120 (below).
Modern engineering, classic looks
The ‘Country’ specification will include a full suite of engineering, technological and design features that augment a full electric classic off-roading experience for the first time. Every vehicle Lunaz produces goes through a full bare metal restoration and re-engineering process ahead of conversion to the company’s proprietary electric powertrain. This approach allows Lunaz to answer the questions of usability and reliability that detract from the experience of owning the most celebrated classic cars in the world.
The electric classic Range Rovers will include a 4-wheel drive system, updated suspension including anti-roll bars and uprated brakes. Within the cabin, the pure utility of the original interior design will be significantly elevated. The Lunaz design philosophy balances the integration of technology and usability within a classic architecture.
Design Director Jen Holloway and her team will work in close consultation with customers to tailor the car to their exact requirements. Material palettes that honour the textile interior that debuted on the original classic Range Rover will be offered as well as more traditional upholstery options with the very finest leathers and woods.
Usability is further enhanced with the inclusion of a full suite of contemporary technologies. Modern conveniences and features will include an infotainment system, air conditioning and entertainment screens integrated into the existing design scheme to ensure the spirit of the original car is maintained.
Electric vehicles have usually been expensive due to the advanced and new technologies but those that have become mainstream models have the benefit of economies of scale to push prices down. Not so with the classic electric Range Rovers by Lunaz which are expected to start at £245,000 (about RM1.33 million), ex-factory. This is the price of exclusivity and being one of 50 owners in the world.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will eventually offer a fully-electric model and its CEO has indicated that this may happen around 2040. As it is, many companies are already ‘electrifying’ their new models and have announced plans to increase the proportion of models with hybrid or all-electric powertrains during this decade.
UPDATE [29/9/21): Rolls-Royce will have its fully electric model out by late 2023.
2040 is 20 years away and if you can’t wait to own an electrically-powered Rolls-Royce – which usually comes with a 12-cylinder engine – a company called Lunaz can offer you one soon. It will however not be the latest model and will instead be a 1961 Rolls-Royce Phantom V.
Lunas is already producing electric versions of classic Bentley and Jaguar models.
Lunaz is a creator of electric classic cars and has already turned made Jaguar and Bentley classic models emission-free with electric powertrains. Now it will start restoration of the Phantom V, a classic model and install its proprietary electric powertrain with a full suite of hardware and software upgrades.
The battery pack for the electric powertrain is the largest of its type in the world at 120 kWh, ensuring range claimed to be over 480 kms – significantly more than required for traditional chauffeur-driven use.
The 8-seat interior scheme tastefully echoes the exterior. The very finest sustainably-sourced leather is crafted by an in-house specialist team and specified in Argent Grey. Instead of traditional seat piping, a double welt feature is presented in Whisper with Argent Grey, creating a contemporary pinstripe detail.
The original woodwork will be painstakingly restored and finished with a contemporary satin treatment. This sympathetic update is offset with rose gold inlays. This approach extends to the door cappings, front fascia and the picnic table backs affixed to the privacy division that separates the driver and rear passenger compartment.
There will be numerous modern technological conveniences and two screens are integrated behind the privacy division’s picnic tables, allowing rear occupants to watch films and mirror screens from mobile devices. A bar service occupies the centre of the unit and is custom-built to perfectly fit the owner’s favourite brand of tequila. Every Lunaz client will be invited to specify dimensions for their beverage of choice.
Retaining the character of these significant cars is the priority throughout the conversion and restoration process. This extends to every detail including the weighting of switchgear which has been exhaustively engineered to operate an entirely new powertrain with the same haptic feedback as the original. Instrumentation also stays true to the spirit of the 1960s design, with delicate integration of a battery range meter and power gauge.
The 1961 Rolls-Royce Phantom by Lunaz is built in eight-seat configuration with a front bench for three occupants, rear bench for a further three and two occasional seats. Occupants throughout will benefit from Lunaz’s commitment to specifying only the very best materials. For example, rear floormats have been custom made in alpaca wool, a material that is rarer than cashmere, softer than lambswool and is considered highly sustainable.
“My approach to design is defined by Sir Henry Royce’s philosophy that ‘small things make perfection and perfection is no small thing’. Together with our clients, we work to create relevant expressions of the most significant cars in history. I am proud to give new purpose to some of the most beautiful objects ever created,” said Jen Holloway, Design Director at Lunaz.
Production is initially planned to be strictly limited to 30 units and orders are already being taken from the company’s existing client base as well as some of the most celebrated and influential institutions in the world.
Following demand for electrified Phantoms, Lunaz has also elected to begin creating Rolls-Royce Silver Clouds. Customers are invited to secure allocation for these cars in a range of bodystyles – 4-door limousine, 2-door coupe and drop head coupe.
The start of production of the world’s first electric Rolls-Royce cars follows a surge in demand for the electrification of pinnacle classic cars. This is driven by a rebalancing of car collections for a clean air future. Demand is forecast to be so great that Lunaz is doubling its workforce at its factory in Silverstone, England.
“No car in the world matches a Phantom for presence, style and significance. Through electrification we proudly further the legacy of the ‘best car in the world’, making Rolls-Royce ownership a relevant choice for a new generation,” said David Lorenz, the company’s founder.
Ex-factory, the Silver Cloud by Lunaz starts at £350,000 (around RM1.91 million)), while pricing for a Phantom V by starts at £500,000 (around RM2.74 million). Orders will be accepted from anywhere in the world only by the factory.
