In July 2020, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars unveiled the Wraith Kryptos Collection of 50 cars. As clients around the world begin to receive this highly limited model, they will also embark on decoding the mysterious messages found within the Bespoke elements of the motor car’s interior and exterior.
It’s a unique challenge created by Rolls-Royce Bespoke Designer, Katrin Lehmann, and only two people know what the secret code is – the designer and the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Torsten Muller-Otvos. The answer remains in a sealed envelope in the CEO’s safe.
“Wraith Kryptos is a Rolls-Royce Collection like no other. It is embedded with a cryptographic cipher and filled with mystery and intrigue. The first client to decrypt this code will receive a unique gift from Rolls-Royce in recognition of their extraordinary talent!” he explained.
The subtle clue
Designer Lehmann said that finding the ‘key’ is the first step in uncovering the mysterious code. It has now been revealed that the Spirit of Ecstasy, the figurine that graces the bonnet of every Rolls-Royce limousine, holds the key to uncovering this code. The word KRYPTOS is engraved in Rolls-Royce cipher around the base of the figurine, and with this information, clients will be able to embark on their cryptographic journey.
Mysterious messages inside and outside
With that subtle clue provided, the owners can embark on decoding the mysterious messages found within the Bespoke elements of the motor car’s interior and exterior. The seven deciphered characters around the figurine will aid clients on their journey of discovery as they begin to identify these letters on Wraith Kryptos’ complex fascia.
Similarly, the embroidery on the headrests translates as the double-R monogram, rendered in the cipher. The Bespoke team hopes that, together, these clues may provide a ‘way in’ that enables owners to attempt the puzzle.
Owner are invited to submit their efforts at cracking the code via the marque’s Whispers application for owners, from February 2021. The first to complete the puzzle will be awarded a unique and prestigious prize.
Customers of Rolls-Royce can personalise their car to almost any extent (as long as it’s legal) and most do, with the help of the company’s Bespoke division. And for those who just don’t know how they want something exclusive to look, the Bespoke division can also come up with many ideas which can be adapted further to the customer’s tastes.
One of the recent ideas presented is ‘Neon Nights’, a vibrant trilogy of cars. Inspired by nature, they are finishing in a newly developed Bespoke paint applied to the Black Badge variants of Wraith, Dawn and Cullinan.
Inspired by the natural world
Taking cues from the natural world – an Australian green tree frog, a Hawaiian tree flower and an exotic butterfly – these limited hues show a Black Badge model bolder in colour, appealing to patrons around the world who want to be different.
“Any pre-conceived notion that Rolls-Royce’s Black Badge variants all have to be black is comprehensively laid to rest by the super-solid Neon Nights colours,” said Sami Coultas, Bespoke Designer Colour & Trim.
Only three of each colour
Created initially for clients in the USA, three further iterations of each colour are available for commission worldwide, making a limited run of just four of each colour.
The Wraith Black Badge (above) is finished in Lime Rock Green, a near-luminous hue naturally bestowed on the Australian green tree frog, which Rolls-Royce Bespoke Paint Specialist Sami Coultas first encountered on a trip Down Under. The interior (below) is swathed in Scivaro Grey leather, with Lime Rock Green accents in the form of stitching and piping.
The striking Eagle Rock Red created for this Dawn Black Badge (above) mimics the flowers of ‘Ōhi‘a lehua, an evergreen tree native to Hawaii. The interior is finished in Selby Grey leather with Koi Red stitching and piping details.
For the Cullinan (below), the Bespoke Collective looked to an exotic butterfly, Rhetus periander for inspiration. Known as the Periander metalmark, this species is found across Central and South America; the vibrancy of its wings is faithfully captured on the Cullinan’s Mirabeau Blue finish. The Arctic White leather interior detailed in Lime Rock Green provides a dramatic contrast.
In all three cars, the Technical Fibre fascia is embellished with a spectacular graphic. The paint effect provides an intense neon glow and depicts the distortion of artificial light with speed.
The Neon Nights cars follow a suite of Black Badges that grabbed headlines at the 2019 Pebble Beach event. There, the Ghost, Wraith and Dawn were presented in Bespoke pastel colours. Such was the demand for these cars that the colour palette was embraced and developed, inspiring a new and dynamic colour palette for Black Badge.
The limitations of the COVID-19 notwithstanding, work still goes on at Rolls-Royce building cars and at the Bespoke department, the specialists continue to create exclusive cars for customers. One such project for a customer in the Middle East is the ‘Wraith – Inspired By Earth’, commissioned through Rolls-Royce Abu Dhabi.
The latest creation takes its design cues from the entire Solar System, and our own beautiful planet as seen from space. The exterior is finished in Royal Blue, representing the 75% of the Earth’s surface that is covered by water. There is also a hand-painted Emerald Green coachline incorporating the Sun and the eight planets of the Solar System – Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
The most striking feature, however, is the bonnet artwork, which depicts a satellite’s view (or that of an astronaut on the International Space Station) of the Middle Eastern region. Centred on the United Arab Emirates, the panorama extends across the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman, all meticulously air-brushed by hand – not just an artwork pasted on – in a process that took over 100 hours to complete.
By contrast, the interior aesthetic focuses on the Earth’s surface and the human and natural life that inhabits it. The seats are made from Moccasin leather to mimic the sands of the Emirates’ deserts; Navy and Cobalto Blue accents are suggestive of rivers and lakes and Emerald Green piping symbolises nature in all its forms. Arctic White ‘RR’ monograms and stitching hint at clouds and translucent running water.
The rear waterfall features a spectacular scene of atmospheric clouds rendered in minutely detailed embroidery using Photoflash technology. On the fascia, the Piano Milori veneer is embellished with a satellite image of the Middle East, so realistic that it appears to be a photograph but in fact is skilfully air-brushed.
The customer’s chosen theme is ideal for having the Bespoke Starlight Headliner overhead. Often showing constellations in the night sky, the headliner in this Wraith is embroidered to illustrate all the planets of Solar System, centred on the Sun.
Other Bespoke details include treadplates, a clock with metal radial background, and inlays showing the planets in silver, with planet Earth accentuated in gold.
“We’re used to clients bringing us grand visions for their Bespoke Commissions, but this provided a new perspective altogether. In our response to the brief, we’ve worked at both the ‘macro’ level, referencing the Sun and planets of the whole Solar System, and the much more personal ‘micro’ level, centring our view of the world on the place the customer calls home,” explained Michael Bryden, Lead Bespoke Designer at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
The Bespoke department is where customers’ most ambitious and personal visions are brought to reality by a collective of designers, engineers and craftspeople. Today, almost every car that leaves the Rolls-Royce factory has also been enhanced and personalised by the specialists Bespoke.
Before developing the new Ghost, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars consulted its customers extensively to ensure that they would provide exactly the sort of limousine the new generation of buyers expect and would want to own. One of the expectations was for a chauffeur-driven ‘business tool’ during the week to be able to transform into a serenely comfortable and dynamic self-driven saloon for the weekend.
The new Ghost Extended is the answer, offering enhanced rear seating space with no compromise to driving dynamics. It is 170 mm longer than the standard Ghost and the wheelbase has been stretched by the same length to 3465 mm. All the extra space available goes to the rear to create more legroom than any 4-seat sedan.
Engineered, not cut
Unlike some other limousines which gain their extra length by a crude cutting and welding approach (usually done by independent customisation companies), the Ghost Extended’s bodywork is originally engineered as an extended model. Beam-melted metal components are welded to the body-in-white, while parts made by multi-jet fusion and selective laser sintering are individually fitted.
Customer centricity has informed every step of the development process, which led to the Ghost’s minimalist design. The designers worked to cloak the extra length by only extending the rear door and body around the rear door apertures, preserving the lines of the car.
A suite of enhancements to the rear of the cabin reflects Ghost Extended’s flexibility. For the first time, a reclining Serenity Seat can be specified, offering a new dimension of rear seat comfort akin to a business jet cabin environment.
The rear cabin can also alter its environment, transitioning from business to leisure. For celebrating another contract signed or a birthday, there’s a champagne fridge provided between the rear seats. Designed with the advice of a Master Sommelier, the refrigerator operates two cooling modes, chilling to 6 degrees and 11 degrees C., The optimum serving temperatures of non-vintage champagne is around 6 degrees and vintage champagnes is around 11 degrees.
Technology without distraction
Rolls-Royce claims the Ghost is the most technologically advanced car it has ever created for sale. However, technological functions have been deployed with care to reflect customer demand for a serene environment, free from unnecessary distractions. Standard in all Ghosts is the new Micro-Environment Purification System which was described in an earlier article.
A suite of technologies enhances the driving experience in urban and country settings, as well as ensures safe motoring. This includes laser headlights with more than 600 metres of illuminated range and key safety enhancements such as a 7×3 high definition head-up display, vision assist with day and night-time wildlife and pedestrian warning, alertness assistant, active cruise control, collision warning, cross traffic warning, lane departure and lane change warning.
A 4-camera imaging system creates a panoramic view with all round-visibility and there’s also a helicopter view (which Rolls-Royce was the first in the world to offer many years ago) to help with parking. However, the owner can also use the self-parking capability and have the car positioned precisely with little personal effort needed.
For over 100 years, the figurine known as the Spirit of Ecstasy has been at the front of every Rolls-Royce car, providing instant brand recognition – although it would be hard to mistake a Rolls-Royce for any other car. Synonymous with luxury, she has been a timeless symbol for a brand known for hand-craftsmanship and exclusivity.
In recent years, however, Rolls-Royce has experienced change at a quicker rate than ever before in its storied past. The Rolls-Royce portfolio has expanded to 5 models, each with their own distinct character, and almost every car is Bespoke – tailored to the lifestyle requirements of diverse and discerning patrons.
The introduction of the Black Badge, for instance, has met the needs of a subset of these clients, answering their call for an edgier, alternative Rolls-Royce, one that carries an assertive and dominant persona. Incidentally, the age and demographic of the marque’s clients have decreased significantly to an average of just 43.
How then, does a brand present itself via its visual language and remain true to its heritage while speaking to its bright and contemporary future?
“As the marque’s digital presence increases, there has never been a more important time for the visual language of the company to reflect our standing as the leading luxury brand in the world. We have embarked on a fascinating journey of modernising our brand identity to echo those changes seen in our portfolio, our client demographic, their lifestyle and the luxury world that surrounds them,” observed Torsten Muller-Otvos, Chief Executive of Rolls-Royce.
Creating a new brand identity
Rolls-Royce appointed Marina Willer, partner at Pentagram – a multi-disciplinary design studio which is revered within its field – to create a new brand identity that could move beyond the mechanics of being the ‘Best Car in the World’, to encapsulate the brand’s presence and standing as a true ‘House of Luxury’. The identity was designed to appeal to the new demographic of clients and all that they represent both digitally, and physically.
Pentagram embarked upon a deep exploration of Rolls-Royce, including its products – both new and old, its design ethos, its designers, items that are sacrosanct to the marque, and also the unique relationship the marque maintains with its clients. They spent time in the factory, understanding the very essence of Bespoke and how this was key to the establishment of contemporary Rolls-Royce.
“What soon became apparent is that Rolls-Royce has evolved from being regarded as an automotive manufacturer into a leading light in the world of luxury. It was essential for us to ensure that the brand’s new identity reflected this shift. We needed to present Rolls-Royce in a forward-facing, fresh and relevant way – speaking to new audiences while respecting the company’s loyal clients,” revealed Willer.
Not coming from an automotive background, Willer was able to approach the re-design from a completely fresh perspective. “This vantage point provided me with the opportunity to observe Rolls-Royce as a manufacturer of luxury products. My ambition was to celebrate the luxuriousness of the brand while providing it with the means to visually communicate with Rolls-Royce’s younger, increasingly diversified audiences,” she explained.
In the new brand identity, which will be adopted from September 1 2020, the Spirit of Ecstasy gains increased prominence. While the sculpture that leads each car in silent grace remains unchanged, an iteration of the enigmatic figurine has evolved into the form of an illustration – one that reads clearly in today’s virtual world.
The original figurine was drawn and sculpted by British artist Charles Sykes. In homage to this historical commission, Chris Mitchell, a leading illustrator of brand and identity icons, was called upon by Pentagram to envisage the distilled form of the iconic statuette. Working closely with Pentagram’s direction, she paid close attention to those proportions which embrace strength and power that cannot be deemed fragile or meek. When depicted in two-dimensional form, her direction has changed from left to right, boldly facing the future, reflective of the marque itself.
“The use of the Spirit of Ecstasy marks a shift in the resonance of the brand – from an automotive to a lifestyle context. She commands an aspirational quality in the luxury sphere and by placing her at the centre of the visual language. The Spirit of Ecstasy can now be interpreted as the muse for the marque, in addition to the motor cars themselves,” said Willer.
Choosing the colour palette
When choosing a colour palette for the new identity, Pentagram’s design team initially turned its attention to the company’s products. Rich in textural materiality, wooden brown hues and graphite coloured technical fibres complemented a colourful array of Rolls-Royce leathers. Although true to their artisanal origins, brown and slate palettes confined the identity to the past. The desire was to seek a more expressive, luxurious colour palette, one appealing to both male and female clients, one with a future vision.
Pentagram was drawn to purple hues, specifically those with a deep and majestic tone. Historically rare in nature and with roots in mythology, art, piety and royalty, purple has always signified wealth and power. In a nod to the Spirit of Ecstasy, a colour named ‘Purple Spirit’ will become Rolls-Royce’s signature colour.
A metallic Rose Gold is chosen to complement this colour. This elegant and modern hue will be reserved for items of longevity and used only in printed form. A wider palette of expressive colours has been determined to be used alongside these primary tones.
“Purple Spirit has a deep and powerful tone. It is a colour of modernity that evokes connotations of the dark and majestic night. It has an energy that conjures emotion with thoughts of strength and ambition – a tone well suited to inspiring greatness. This will be complemented by a foiled Rose Gold which will add elegance and grace to the marque’s printed materials,” Sami Coultas, Bespoke Colour and Trim designer at Rolls-Royce, explained.
The Noir imagery which surrounds Rolls-Royce’s Black Badge range is now punctuated by bursts of colour, reflecting each model’s launch specification, illustrating the bold nature of its signature alter ego.
The new badge
The double ‘R’ Badge of Honour representing Rolls and Royce, the marque’s founding fathers, is known world-wide as a symbol of engineering excellence and the very best of human endeavour. It is no surprise therefore, that this famed signifier is unchanged.
The Monogram also retains its original form but replaces the Badge of Honour on collateral, while the Wordmark ‘Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’, as found presiding above the door of the marque’s establishments, was found to be corporate and unrepresentative of the marque’s standing as a House of Luxury.
The old (left) and the new, which will be used from next month.
Pentagram uncovered typography in the marque’s archives from the 1930s and used an art-deco style as the basis from which to envisage a new Wordmark – one suitable for the modern-day Rolls-Royce. The words ‘Motor Cars’ have reduced in size, with the emphasis reverting to Rolls-Royce, in recognition of the marque’s significantly wider influence outside of the automotive industry.
The Wordmark has become more refined in its appearance, depicting the quiet, whispering power of contemporary Rolls-Royce. Special significance has been paid to the letter ‘R’, to provide additional stability and prominence to this important character in the Rolls-Royce script.
The Spirit of Ecstasy Expression
A wholly new visual treatment of the Spirit of Ecstasy has been created, called ‘The Spirit of Ecstasy Expression’. With an aethereal yet tech-like feeling, The Expression adds a cutting-edge aura to the new visual identity. Contemporary in appearance, The Expression speaks of the marque’s modern lifestyle presence.
Akin to a silken fabric, The Expression adopts a fluid form and is versatile in nature. An innovative digital tool that uses coding has been developed by Pentagram to enable The Expression to be used on any surface, from projection to embroidery, printing to engraving. It can be found in both physical form at the marque’s global establishments and in digital form – connecting the elements of the marque’s portfolio. The Expression will become a distinctive and recognisable element of the marque’s visual language.
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.
The Rolls-Royce name is well known throughout the world and associated with the super luxury and exclusive cars of superlative quality. However, there is also Rolls-Royce plc which is better known among those in the aviation industry and provides, among other products, jet engines for many of today’s airliners.
Before the 1970s, there was just one Rolls-Royce company which was an engineering company started in 1884 and also made cars. In 1973, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars was established as a separate entity and progressed on its own, while the original company went through various stages of evolution.
The aeronautical roots of Rolls-Royce are not forgotten by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and the carmaker’s Bespoke Collective has created a unique collection of just 50 Wraith Eagle VIII cars that tell the epic tale of one of the most pivotal moments of the 20th century. This was the first non-stop trans-Atlantic flight which took place in June 1919.
A Vickers Vimy aircraft like the one used by Alcock and Brown in 1919.
The flight was done by Captain John Alcock and Lieutenant Arthur Brown, contemporaries of Sir Henry Royce, one of the founders of Rolls-Royce. The modified World War I Vickers bomber aircraft they flew was powered by twin 20.3-litre, 350 bhp, Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engines.
They safely crossed from St. John’s, Newfoundland to Clifden, Ireland in less than 72 hours, a feat which Rolls-Royce marked the 100th-year anniversary of this feat last year with a highly contemporary Collection that speaks to today’s adventurers, whilst honouring those who changed the course of history.
“I do not know what we should most admire – their audacity, determination, skill, science, their aeroplane, their Rolls-Royce engines – or their good fortune,” commented Sir Winston Churchill at that time when he presented the brave men with the £10,000 award by the Daily Mail.
A hundred years later, Torsten Muller-Otvos, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, commented at the unveiling of the Wraith Eagle VIII Collection Car: “Wraith Eagle VIII is at once an object of desire; homage to heroes and a protagonist to today’s visionaries. This Rolls-Royce Collection demonstrates the extraordinary skill of our Bespoke Collective at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, West Sussex. Bespoke remains the jewel in the crown of the marque, creating luxury items that defy the trend of mass luxury manufacturers using ‘tick-box’ options to answer customer demand.”
The car is swathed in Gunmetal with a Selby Grey upper two-tone finish, the colours separated by a brass feature line which hints at the detailing that lies within. The black grille vanes draw immediate reference to the Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engine cowling on the Vickers aircraft, while the wheels are partially polished with a translucent shadow finish.
Within, the finely executed interior mirrors the exterior hue. Selby Grey and black leather are accented by brass, redolent of the brass sextant so integral to the success of the transatlantic journey. Executed in a contemporary fashion, the material populates key areas throughout the cockpit of the Collection.
Brass speaker covers depict the estimated flight distance of 3,027 kms and ‘RR’ monograms are embroidered in brass-coloured thread onto headrests. A flash of brass complements the navigator door paniers, whilst the door of the driver includes a brass plaque with Churchill’s quote commending the duo’s remarkable achievements.
Inspired by the night-time conditions of the flight over the ocean, the fascia represents a modern-day abstract interpretation of the view the pair would have enjoyed as finally, their craft cleared the thick fog and cloud. In a fusion of contemporary and traditional practises, Smoked Eucalyptus wood is vacuum metalized in gold before being inlaid with silver and copper, to depict the rich detail seen in view of the Earth from above.
The scene extends to the centre console providing both an emotive and immersive experience for today’s occupants – the cockpit is in perspective with the headliner. Below, the brass-stitched quilted sides of the centre tunnel provide a direct nod to the V12-engined Vickers Vimy.
The clock of a Rolls-Royce is frequently viewed as jewellery, with many patrons choosing this canvas to tell the story of their motor car in miniature. The Wraith Eagle VIII is no exception. Our intrepid pioneers recounted that their instrument panel was frozen from the high altitude and the poor conditions, referring to the only illumination coming from the green glow of the control panel lighting and the burst of flame from the starboard engine.
In homage to this, the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective has masterfully fabricated a clock with an iced background effect which glows a faint green at night. The red hour hand sits atop compass-inspired lines on the clock’s fascia, whilst the landing location coordinates are engraved below.
Perhaps the most alluring feature is the extraordinary unique Starlight Headliner. Created with no less than 1,183 starlight fibres, the celestial arrangement at the time of the flight in 1919 is shown. The flight path and constellations are embroidered in brass thread, whilst the exact moment the pair left the cloud to navigate by the stars is indicated by a red fibreoptic light. Clouds are embroidered and a plaque reading, ‘The celestial arrangement at the halfway point 00:17 am June 15th, 1919, 50” 07’ Latitude North – 31” Longitude West” shows the halfway point of the momentous journey.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Kuala Lumpur, the authorised Rolls-Royce dealer in Malaysia, has received one of these very special cars – only 50 are made available – evocative of Alcock and Brown’s compelling adventure.
“Rolls-Royce is at the forefront of Bespoke Cars here in Malaysia. Our customers are connoisseurs who want luxury that is highly unique. This car not only fêtes a very special achievement in global history, but also resonates with our own regional development at a time when aviation was catalysed by the exploits of fearless airmen who depended on the reliability and excellence of the Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engines,” said Anas Zawawi Khalid, Director, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Kuala Lumpur.
The first Rolls-Royce Ghost reflected a layer of clients who use their Rolls-Royce in a completely unique way. These men and women required a motorcar able to offer an impeccable chauffeur-driven experience as well as a vibrant dynamic personality when they chose to drive it themselves.
In 2009, when the first Ghosts entered the market, this collective of business leaders, founders and entrepreneurs were unanimous in their feedback that the marque had created a product that balanced their requests perfectly.
When these clients were informed that Rolls-Royce would begin developing the second generation of the Ghost – expected to be unveiled before the end of this year – their request was simple: deliver a motorcar that they could use even more. They desired something even more refined to be driven in and even more enjoyable to drive.
Meeting the challenging brief
To fulfil this challenging brief, the engineering experts at the 114-year old company rejected the use of a pre-existing platform. Instead, they have configured the marque’s proprietary ‘Architecture of Luxury’ aluminium spaceframe chassis to incorporate elements of the brand’s existing model portfolio such as all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering.
At the same time, the structure has been adapted to accommodate significant advances in Rolls-Royce’s hallmark magic carpet ride and dynamic abilities. Naturally, these qualities are expected especially by those who have owned a Rolls-Royce.
“Ghost clients told us that it’s the car in their collection that they’re drawn to the most. They love its uncomplicated versatility. It’s not trying to be a sportscar, it’s not trying to be a grand statement – it’s simply exceptional and exceptionally simple,” said Jonathan Simms, New Ghost Engineering Lead.
The Planar system
A key development was the Planar system, which is consists of three elements. The system allows new Ghost to anticipate and react to even the most demanding road surface.
The first is an Upper Wishbone Damper unit which is mounted above the front suspension assembly and creates an even more stable and effortless ride. The result of three years of development, this is a world-first technology.
The second is the Flagbearer system, a predictive system which uses cameras to read the road ahead and prepare the suspension system for any changes in road surface. The third is Satellite Aided Transmission, which draws GPS data to pre-select the optimum gear for upcoming corners.
Pushing the architecture further
During the engineering design process, chassis and suspension specialists were tasked with regularly presenting the technical advances they had made to other departments, as well as showcasing how these remarkable developments met the client brief.
“When it came to creating a new Ghost – one that outshines its incredibly capable predecessor – the engineering team had to start from scratch. We pushed our architecture even further and created a car even more dynamic, even more luxurious and, most of all, even more effortlessly useable,” Simms promises.
Rolls-Royce recently unveiled Wraith Kryptos Collection, an exclusive collection of 50 cars which have cryptic codes around the bodywork. Owners of these cars are invited to crack the codes and submit their findings via Rolls-Royce’s highly exclusive members’ club, the Whispers Application.
Only two people know the answers which are locked in a safe in the CEO’s office – the person who created the codes and the CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Rolls-Royce doesn’t set a time limit on the challenge nor says what it will reward the person or persons who submit the right answer.
Having learnt that the public is also intrigued by this challenge but not everyone can buy one of the cars, Rolls-Royce has created an interactive online game with a similar theme. The carmaker stresses that the game – known as ‘The Kryptos Enigma‘ – is inspired by, but not linked to the cryptic codes on the cars. So owners who participate should not think they can have an easier way to discover the hidden messages.
The game, which requires the use of a mobilephone or tablet, has four levels, each getting progressively harder. Participants start off guiding an orb through a maze by tilting their mobile device in the direction they wish to travel, in a time-pressured challenge. Next, a series of questions will reveal just how keen the cryptographer player really is.
The third level will test the observation skills of the participant – only the most cunning will succeed! The final phase consists is designed to boggle and bewilder. This level is the reserve of the most agile and determined minds alone.
The first ten individuals from anywhere in the world to complete the game will receive their very own personalised Rolls-Royce treadplate. Terms and conditions apply and these can be viewed at this linkwhere the game also has its beginning with a QR code.
You have until to 12 noon British Summer Time on September 23rd, 2020 (7 pm Malaysian time) to submit your answers. Should you not succeed, we will disavow any knowledge of sending you on this mission. Good luck!
Anything that Rolls-Royce makes has to be the best possible, in keeping with the brand promise. To most of the world, that obsession often centres around its cars, but it equally applies to many other things like lifestyle accessories and even model cars. It even has a Clean Room at its manufacturing facility with the extremely high standards comparable to microchip manufacturing plants and in pharmaceutical and medical equipment production facilities.
Unprecedented levels of purity
Now, Rolls-Royce engineers have also come out with a cabin filtration technology that is said to live up to the brand image of superlative quality. Aiming to elevate the already high quality of air in their cars to unprecedented levels of purity, they have utilised the latest sensor and filtration technology. The micro environment is said to be the cleanest in any car today , further complementing the sense of oasis created by the design and material substance of its interior environments.
The importance of protecting the occupants in a Rolls-Royce from harmful carbon and pollen particles, as well as viruses and bacterial contaminants, is not something that has come to attention as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2015, all Rolls-Royce cars have been using state-of-the-art air filtration equipment for the cleanest possible environment.
For the new Ghost, which debuts in the fourth quarter of 2020, the new technology incorporates a full suite of hardware and software improvements, collectively known as the Micro Environment Purification System.
Super-fine Nanofleece mesh filter
Highly sensitive Impurity Detection Sensors have been introduced to detect ambient air quality, automatically switching fresh air intakes to Recirculation Mode if unacceptable levels of airborne contaminants are present. This channels all cabin air through a Nanofleece filter which is made of fibre that is a super-fine mesh with gaps of 150 nanometres.
To put this in perspective, a typical human red blood cell is 6,000 to 8,000 nanometres across. This means nearly all ultra-fine particles, viruses and bacteria in the cabin environment can be removed and in less than 2 minutes to provide pure, clean air.
Following the initial implementation of this technology, it will be possible in future for the occupants to remotely pre-condition the micro environment within their Rolls-Royce via an app in preparation for their arrival.
