Rolls-Royce Archives

Rolls-Royce to present second Coachbuilt Boat Tail at Concorso d’Eleganza, Villa d’Este 2022 this weekend

The Bespoke department of Rolls-Royce already offers the ultimate in personalisation of the brand’s limousines and Cullinan SUV. Virtually every customer today uses the services of the Bespoke team in some way to add or create something special for their Rolls-Royce. But there is yet another level beyond Bespoke and that is Coachbuild. The department, re-established in 2021, brings back a lost art and science of making cars which goes back to the earliest years of the motorcar, before mass production began in factories.

“Our Coachbuild department is for those patrons who wish to go beyond the existing restraints, and explore the almost limitless possibilities this opens up for them. We are able to offer our customers the opportunity to create a motor car in which every single element is hand-built to their precise individual requirements, as befits our status as a true luxury house,” said Torsten Muller-Otvos, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

The Sweptail, presented in 2017 as a demonstration of the coachbuilding expertise of Rolls-Royce attracted the attention of a number of customers. Within this group, it emerged that three potential customers shared a deep appreciation of contemporary nautical design. In consultation with the customers concerned, an agreement was reached whereby three cars – to be known as Boat Tail – would share a common body, but each would then be individually, highly personalised, reflecting the confluence between vision, capability and ambition of the marque and each of the individual commissioning patrons.

Rolls-Royce Boat Tail Coachbuilt No. 2 2022 — *The second (of only three) Boat Tail comes one year after the first one which was unveiled in May last year (below).*

The first Rolls-Royce Boat Tail was completed a year ago and the commissioning customers, who are a globally successful couple, were willing to let the world see their ultra-exclusive car. Their fascination of the Boat Tail form was furthered by a car in their private collection – a 1932 Rolls-Royce Boat Tail, lovingly restored by them, in time for their modern Boat Tail’s completion.

Now comes the next chapter of its Boat Tail coachbuilt commission and as will be the case with all three cars, each will have a story entirely unique and personal to its owner, reflecting their own history, tastes and sensibilities. With this in mind, the latest Boat Tail, to be revealed at Concorso d’Eleganza, Villa d’Este 2022 on the shores of Lake Como in northern Italy, is a masterwork of restraint, sophistication, elegance and attention to detail.

It was commissioned by a customer whose family business has grown from his father’s origins in the pearling industry. Widely travelled, internationally educated and cosmopolitan in his tastes and influences, the customer is an established patron of the arts, who additionally owns a sizeable collection of classic and modern cars, housed in a dedicated private museum.

A level of sophistication, garnered from the client’s extensive knowledge of luxury, is clearly. The overall design aesthetic is restrained; a study in carefully considered materials and precise details that together create a highly personal and emotionally resonant homage to the customer’s father.

At the onset of the commissioning process, the customer presented Rolls-Royce Coachbuild designers with a selection of 4 pearl shells, personally chosen from his private collection for their unique colour and complexity. The shells provided inspiration for the exterior colour, which is one of the most complex Bespoke finishes ever created by Rolls-Royce.

The foundation of the colour is a shimmering blend of oyster and soft rose, with large white and bronze mica flakes adding a unique pearlescent quality that changes subtly under different light conditions. The contrasting cognac-coloured bonnet, created specifically for this Boat Tail, contains fine bronze and gold coloured aluminium mica flakes complete with a layer of crystal and iced matt clear coat, adding significant warmth and depth to the car’s appearance. The technical fibre lower sills of Boat Tail incorporate a rose gold woven thread.

The rear deck, which houses Boat Tail’s unique ‘butterfly-design’ hosting suite, is swathed in Royal Walnut veneer, inlaid with rose gold-plated pinstripes with a satin-brushed finish to ensure a sensitive and sophisticated appearance. The Royal Walnut was specifically selected by the customer for its beautiful properties as it matures over time, a material that will gradually transition to the tonal properties of the cognac colour. From above, one observes a harmonious balance and satin effect of the iced bonnet and tactile wooden rear deck, in contrast with the high-gloss front and side perspectives.

The interior is a beautifully curated combination of perfectly matched cognac and oyster-coloured leathers and Royal Walnut veneer, with rose gold and mother-of-pearl accents throughout. The leathers, complete with a pearlescent finish, accentuate the surfaces and forms of Boat Tail’s seats and interior design. The transmission tunnel is formed from Royal Walnut veneer with rose gold pinstripes, drawing a direct visual reference to the rear deck and adding a glowing warmth to Boat Tail’s interior.

The centrepiece of the dashboard is a timepiece made from mother-of-pearl, chosen and supplied by the client from his own collection. The fascia is pure and minimal in its appearance so as not to detract from the precious material. The same prised substance graces the control switches and instrument dials, creating a strong visual and material connection between the car, the owner, and his family heritage.

The Boat Tail is entirely hand-built, with the body panels fashioned from vast, single sheets of aluminium to create the distinctive outline inspired by the racing yachts of the early 20th century. From the front, the Pantheon Grille, milled from a single, solid billet of aluminium, is graced with a Spirit of Ecstasy fashioned in rose gold.

With the Architecture of Luxury – which includes a proprietary all-aluminium spaceframe chassis – the marque has ushered in a new coachbuilding movement that encompasses both highly sophisticated 21st Century technology and materials, and a tradition extending back more than 100 years.

Rolls-Royce re-establishes its Coachbuild department to go beyond Bespoke

Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II gets a ‘new expression’

During the time a car model is on sale, it will often receive upgrades or updates to keep it ‘fresh’. These typically include cosmetic changes that may be significant or subtle and they are referred to as ‘facelifts’. Rolls-Royce, being at the pinnacle of the car market, doesn’t use such a term. Instead, it refers to such changes as ‘a new expression’, which it announces today for the Phantom Series II.

Customer requests and feedback
The model, now in its fifth year, has received visual and aesthetic enhancements in line with customer requests and feedback that guided the designers and engineers. Not surprisingly, the customers ‘implored Rolls-Royce not to make any major changes to an already iconic motorcar’, the company reveals.

Thus the alterations made have only the lightest of design touches, embellishments, and adaptations. In this case, it is not about what should be changed but, in fact, what should be preserved and protected.

“The subtle changes we have made for the new Phantom Series II have all been minutely considered and meticulously executed. As Sir Henry Royce himself said: ‘Small things make perfection, but perfection is no small thing’,” said Torsten Muller-Otvos, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

The subtle changes
The most obvious and important feature to be retained is the limousine’s commanding presence. This has been further enhanced by a new polished horizontal line between the daytime running lights above the Pantheon Grille. This provides a new and assertive modernity, reflecting its driver-focused character.

A subtle geometric change to the Pantheon Grille makes the ‘RR’ Badge of Honour and Spirit of Ecstasy mascot more prominent when viewed from the front. The grille itself is now illuminated, a feature debuted and popularised in Ghost. The headlights are graced with intricate laser-cut bezel starlights, creating a visual connection with the Starlight Headliner inside, and adding further ‘surprise and delight’ to the Phantom’s night-time presence.

The silhouette viewed from the side preserves the elegant key lines running from the Spirit of Ecstasy to the tapering rear tail. The ‘split-belt’ line begins at the front fender and curves gently towards the rear door, emphasising the car’s long dash-to-axle proportions, before falling gently towards the lantern-like rear lamps. The heavily undercut ‘waft line’ creates a strong shadow, visually signalling the marque’s unequalled ‘Magic Carpet Ride’.

The side profile is further enhanced with a suite of new wheels. A 3D, milled, stainless steel wheel with triangular facets is available to commission in a fully or part-polished finish. Alternatively, a customer may choose a disc wheel with an elegant design recalling the romance of 1920s Rolls-Royce models. This wheel is produced in both polished stainless steel and black lacquer.

Responding to Phantom customers who have previously requested a darkened chrome grille surround, black bonnet reins, windscreen surround and side frame finishers, these may now be commissioned as well. This aesthetic now enables Rolls-Royce to transform Phantom into the lightest of light – or the darkest of dark appearances.

The ‘base’ interior has been virtually unchanged and only very sharp-eyed observers will see that the steering wheel has been made slightly thicker. This is to provide a more connected and immediate point of contact for the owner-driver.

A new ‘Rolls-Royce Connected’ feature seamlessly links the Phantom with the marque’s private members’ Application known as ‘Whispers’. This enables the owner to send an address directly to the car from Whispers, providing seamless navigation to an event, restaurant, dealership or even the Rolls-Royce headquarters where the car was born.

Phantom Platino
To mark the introduction of Phantom Series II with the new expression, and to illustrate Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke capability, a new Bespoke masterpiece has been created. This is the Phantom Platino, named after the silver-white finish of the coveted and precious metal, platinum.

The Phantom Platino continues Rolls-Royce’s exploration into fabric interiors, a story which began in 2015 with the launch of the Serenity, a truly Bespoke Phantom with a hand-painted, hand-embroidered silk interior. Now, the Phantom Platino introduces materials other than leather, an area of exploration for Rolls-Royce and a move that demonstrates a greater acceptance of alternative interior upholsteries.

In a unique design created especially for the Phantom Platino, the ‘stars’ of the Starlight Headliner overhead are placed to draw the eye rearwards, with whimsical shooting stars following the sweeping arc of the pattern.

“With Phantom Series II, we have retained and carefully protected everything our clients love about this superlative and luxurious item; subtle, yet meaningful enhancements reflect their evolving tastes and requirements. Phantom has always been viewed as the ‘best car in the world’: our Bespoke capabilities mean that, for our clients, it can be the best car for their world, too,” said Mr. Muller-Otvos.

Rolls-Royce customer in Singapore personalises Phantom with country’s national flower

Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge Landspeed Collection

The world’s first automobile, built by Karl Benz, was able to travel at a maximum speed of 16 km/h. That would certainly have been very fast in 1886 when he first drove it along rough tracks in Mannheim, Germany. But before long, the challenge of building ‘the fastest car’ was taken up by many and Land Speed Records began to be listed.

The first person on the list was Frenchman Count Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat who took an electrically-powered Jeantaud Duc to a speed of 63.13 km/h. As an indication of how fast technological advances were taking place, just one month later, Belgian Camille Jenatzy reached 66 km/h in a GCA Dogcart. No, it was not powered by dogs but by electricity as well, like the car it beat.

By 1909, the fastest speed achieved was around 200km/h, a speed so fast that there were people who believed it would be impossible to survive because you’d simply not to be able to breathe! The challenge of going faster and faster did not diminish and in the 1920s, the British asserted dominance.

Among those who pushed cars to the limits was a mechanical engineer by the name of George Eyston. In the late 1920s, he was seriously engaged in developing and running cars that broke records. His car, called the Thunderbolt, established 3 new land speed records between 1937 and 1939. The records were set on the wide expanse of the Bonnevile Salt Flats in the American state of Utah where such events have been held for decades.

2022 Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge Landspeed Collection — *While the Thunderbolt was powered by two 37-litre, V12 Rolls-Royce aero engines, the Wraith uses a 6.6-litre V12 with an output of 632 ps and 870 Nm of torque.*

His projectile-shaped machine had 3 axles, 8 wheels and weighed 7 tonnes (and that was even with the body being made from aluminium). The Thunderbolt was powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce R supercharged 37-litre, V-12 aero engines, each producing well over 2,000 horsepower. Less than 20 of these engines were ever made; so rare were they that the Thunderbolt’s engines had actually been used earlier in the Schneider Trophy-winning Supermarine S6.B seaplane that would lay the foundations for the legendary Spitfire fighter aircraft of World War II.

Inspiration for the Landspeed Collection
The story of Eyston’s dauntless, fearless, pioneering spirit and his Thunderbolt served as inspiration for the Rolls-Royce Land Speed Collection, a series specially designed and built by the company’s Bespoke division. The two cars are Black Badge versions of the Wraith and Dawn and of the 35 units of the Wraith available, one was acquired by a customer in Malaysia.

The Wraith Landspeed is presented in a specially created two-tone finish which marries Black Diamond Metallic with a new Bespoke colour, Bonneville Blue. This specially developed hue bears particular significance to the Collection, with a colour that transitions under sunlight from light blue to silver, illustrating the reflections of both the vast sky over Bonneville and the crisp salt flats on the Thunderbolt’s aluminium body.

However, Anas Zawawi Khalid, Director, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Kuala Lumpur, suggested a change in the colour scheme which the customer agreed to. Instead of the light coloured flanks and dark bonnet, there is a reversal of the colours with Bonneville Blue on the bonnet instead. To add to the unique difference, the grille is also in chrome instead of black, which is the usual colour for Black Badge versions.

To associate the Wraith with the Thunderbolt, the Bespoke team of skilled craftsmen and craftswomen read everything they could about the record-breaking events that took place on the desert-like salt flats in the 1930s. In particular, they learnt about how, while rocketing over the ground, Eyston had to hold the car on a very precise course – to deviate even slightly would be disastrous at the extreme speeds. To help him guide the car, his team painted darkened track lines on the salt surface for Eyston to follow – effectively his sole means of keeping the Thunderbolt straight at over 560 km/h.

This simple yet ingenious idea is recalled in the Wraith by perforated line in the upper-centre of the steering wheel, which continues through the centreline of the driver’s seat and can also be seen on the rear right seat. It is subtle and is only evident when the left seats are compared to the right ones.

A cracking dashboard?
Then there’s the fascia to the right of the classic analogue clock. At a glance, it seems like the surface is cracking… which would be shocking to see on a Rolls-Royce! But it is not actually a defect in the material: the ‘cracks’ are reproductions of those on the surface of the dry and dusty salt flats. The tiny fissures form a distinctive texture that was digitally retraced from the surface itself, onto the wooden veneer of the fascia (and console lids as well).

Records commemorated for all time
The interior references continue with the Thunderbolt’s unique silhouette, and the records it achieved, depicted on the polished, anodized aluminium surface of the Landspeed Collection’s front tunnel.

According to the record books, Eyston’s third and final land-speed record of 575.57 km/h stood for 341 days. In the Landspeed Collection Cars, it is commemorated for all time, engraved into the housing of the clock alongside the name ‘Bonneville’, in homage to where the record was set. Based on the instrument dials from the Thunderbolt, with yellow and black details, the black-tipped hands of the clock are inspired by the arrows painted on the original car’s exterior.

Recreating the night sky
The Bonneville Salt Flats are so vast, open – and with no artificial light – that they are an ideal place to look at the stars in the exceptionally dark night skies. In the Wraith Landspeed, the Starlight Headliner on the ceiling perfectly recreates the skies as they appeared over the Flats on September 16, 1938, the date on which Eyston and his Thunderbolt set their record. The constellations are precisely marked using 2,117 individually placed fibreoptic ‘stars’, the largest number of stars in a Rolls-Royce Wraith Starlight Headliner ever featured.

Paying tribute to the man himself, Eyston’s military honours are marked with a subtle detail in the driver’s door, made in the same Grosgrain weave silk and colours to match the original medal ribbons. The armrests on both the passenger side and below the ribbon detail are specially padded to give them the comfortable ‘club armchair’ quality that Eyston favoured in his driving seats, much to the amusement of his fellow racers.

The Thunderbolt was originally left unpainted, which caused an unexpected problem. During the first record attempts, the photo-electric timing equipment was unable to detect the polished aluminium body against the searing white of the Salt Flats’ surface, making accurate timing impossible. Eyston’s brilliantly simple solution was to paint a large black arrow with a yellow circle on the side, to heighten visibility when travelling at great speed. Hence, the yellow inserts around the inlets on either side below the front bumper.

“As with many of the cars I bring to Malaysia, I try to make them unique. Not only do we have some of the most discerning customers here who appreciate true luxury, I also believe in the mantra: “Rolls-Royce is Bespoke, Bespoke is Rolls-Royce.” The Wraith Landspeed is Bespoke Luxury of the finest order, craftsmanship and an unwavering dedication to achieving the very highest levels of excellence,” declared Encik Anas Zawawi Khalid.

Black Badge Ghost by Rolls-Royce for those who refuse to adhere to established conventions

For the Cullinan owner who wants to go camping in style with his SUV

The Cullinan SUV by Rolls-Royce costs upwards of RM1.8 million and for most owners, it would probably be part of a fleet, perhaps used for occasions when some rough conditions are expected. There might be some owners who will want to make use of all the off-road capability that Rolls-Royce engineers have given it and travel far off-road.

One such customer in the Arabian Peninsular seems to have such an intent and got Delta 4×4, a German tuning company, to ruggedize his Cullinan and also add some accessories for camping in comfort (probably in the desert). In total, the project would have cost the owner at least 150,000 euros (about RM690,000).

It’s the sort of assignment that Delta 4×4 has expertise in and apart from installing its own line of accessories like a brush bar, spotlights (10 PIAA units in total), skid plates, and a snorkel, it also incorporated a roof rack with a rooftop tent.

To enable it to cross rougher terrain, Delta4x4 added wider fenders over the custom bead-lock 20-inch wheels and Mickey Thompson off-road tyres. Ground clearance is extended with a 3.15-inch lift kit to add 150 mm more than a standard Cullinan.

The 6.75-litre twin-turbo V-12 engine under the long bonnet has plenty of power – 563 bhp with 850 Nm of torque – so no upgrading would be necessary. The exhaust system, however, is customised ‘for a nicer sound’ and improved performance. Likewise with the 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive which are also unchanged from the standard model the customer purchased originally.

While this is a one-off conversion for the Cullinan, Delta 4×4 can apply the same expertise for other models and it has done so with vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and X-Class, Ford Ranger, Volkswagen Amaro, Mitsubishi Triton and even a Porsche 911 Carrera 4S.

Unique features for Rolls-Royce Cullinan owners to enjoy their outdoor adventures

First pictures of electric Rolls-Royce Spectre, to go on sale in 2023

(more…)

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dubai commissions the Carbon Veil for The Gallery in the Phantom

Unique to the latest Rolls-Royce Phantom is an area of the dashboard called The Gallery. It is a glass enclosure running almost the entire width of fascia and it has been incorporated to house bespoke artistic creations inside the limousine. The owners of the Phantom can insert whatever they wish as part of the personalization of their limousine and Rolls-Royce dealerships also come up with some creative ideas for their customers.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dubai is one of them and it has commissioned the Carbon Veil for the Phantom Gallery. The work of art was designed by the Rolls‑Royce Bespoke Collective in England and realized by artist and sculptor Alastair Gibson, who combined knowledge and expertise gained in Formula 1 to create his carbonfibre masterpieces.

The Carbon Veil took 2 years to create and unlike most automotive applications where just 3 or 4 layers of carbonfibre are used, no fewer than 150 sheets were permeated with resin and compressed to form a single, solid billet for the Carbon Veil. The construction technique is genuinely ground-breaking, with the result being ultra-stylish, contemporary and beautiful.

“It required a huge amount of experimentation to produce the Carbon Veil Gallery. The main challenge in creating the shape was ensuring that the weave of the carbonfibre remained horizontal and parallel throughout. It had to be perfect – because this is a Rolls‑Royce,” said Gibson.

As an original work of art, the Carbon Veil introduces a highly contemporary note to the Phantom’s interior. Its sharp, angular surfaces and the distinctive woven surface are synonymous with innovation, technology and performance. Depending on the customer’s preference, the carbonfibre is finished in either clear or matte lacquer which brings out the weave pattern and protects it from harmful ultraviolet rays. The whole piece is sealed under a single pane of glass.

The Gallery is a space protected behind glass. This space affords the opportunity to introduce sharp and aggressive forms, which are unprecedented for the interior of a motor vehicle. The design of the faceted milled carbonfibre sculpture was originally inspired by the angular, aggressive, stealthy shapes of the 118 WallyPower (a luxury yacht said to cost £14 million).

Each Phantom Gallery is individually assembled in the Clean Room at the factory. Completed in 2020, this medical-grade facility provides a 100% sterile environment where Bespoke items and other delicate components can be produced entirely free of dust and particles.

The gunmetal exterior of the car is bolstered with an iced finish with gunmetal contrast bonnet, while the coachline and waftline are accented in a vivid mandarin orange. At the helm of the bonnet proudly stands the retracting Spirit of Ecstasy crafted from carbonfibre.

Within the interior, the anthracite brightwork provides moments of contrast, along with the colour-keyed rotary controls and leather detailing. The dark tones and light leather flourishes beautifully accent the Veil Gallery upon the Phantom’s fascia. The flawless Black Pack elements on the exterior include an alluring black trim on the windows, the grille and the exhausts.

The very attitude and nature of The Gallery has been extended to the other Bespoke details on both the exterior and interior of the Phantom it resides within. With a highly contemporaneous edge, the limousine exemplifies the spectrum of Bespoke potential, with the Phantom itself as a canvas quite like no other.

Remodelling the iconic Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy for the fully electric Spectre in 2023

Next year, Rolls-Royce will unveil Spectre, its fully electric limousine that will go on sale in 2024. The final form that the car will have would have been approved so much work would have been done in the wind tunnel to make it as aerodynamically efficient as possible. For electric cars, this is vital to minimise the power used to overcome wind resistance and achieve high performance.

Wind tunnel studies cover every centimetre of the bodywork and even the tiniest details need to be shaped correctly for minimum wind resistance. This includes the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy figurine that stands on the edge of the bonnet. She will also grace the bonnet of the Spectre and after 111 years since being registered as intellectual property of Rolls-Royce, the Spirit of Ecstasy is being remodelled again.

The figurine has been remodelled with a lower, more dynamic stance that brings her much closer to the drawings made by her original creator, the illustrator and sculptor Charles Sykes, in the early years of the 20^th century. It also sees her physical form represent ‘The Expression’, a visual device that forms part of the marque’s new visual language.

The new Spirit of Ecstasy stands 82.73 mm tall, compared to her predecessor’s 100.01 mm. Her robes, which flow behind her in the slipstream (often but incorrectly characterised as ‘wings’) have been subtly reshaped to make them more aerodynamic and realistic.

The most visible change is her stance. Previously, she has stood with her feet together, legs straight and tilting at the waist. Now, she is a true goddess of speed, braced for the wind, one leg forward, body tucked low, her eyes focused eagerly ahead.

*The new stance of the Spirit of Ecstasy and the one (inset) seen on current Rolls-Royce models.*

These changes have both practical and stylistic benefits, contributing to the Spectre’s aerodynamic properties which Rolls-Royce says will be remarkable. The earliest Spectre prototypes have already shown a drag coefficient of just 0.26 Cd, making it the most aerodynamic Rolls-Royce ever created. The figure is expected to improve during the product’s exhaustive testing protocols undertaken in the course of this year.

This new expression captures the essence of Charles Sykes’ original drawings, but rather than simply being ‘redrawn’ or ‘redesigned’, her new shape has been digitally sculpted by a computer modeller working at the Rolls-Royce, who has a passion for life drawing and sculpture. Their experience in this field was invaluable in developing the figurine’s elegant lifelike facial features as well as her expression, which deftly combines focus and serenity.

The designers also consulted stylists at Roll-Royce for their perspective on her hair, clothes, posture, and expression, adding an authentically contemporary aura to her dynamism and commanding presence.

While all figurines are made using one of the oldest known casting techniques, named ‘lost wax casting’ or ‘cire-perdue’, each is individually finished by hand, so will be minutely different from figurine to figurine. As well as continuing a long Rolls-Royce tradition – until 1939, the mascots were made and polished by Charles Sykes himself – this subtle, ephemeral human element creates an intriguing contrast to the precise, highly engineered motor car she sits atop.

Though relatively rare in the modern era, changes to the Spirit of Ecstasy have been made throughout her 111-year lifespan. She has been rendered in various sizes and materials and, briefly, in a kneeling position. The new version created for the Spectre will appear on all future models. The current design will still be used on Phantom, Ghost, Wraith, Dawn and Cullinan and their Black Badge alter egos where applicable.

*The fully electric Spectre will make its debut in 2023 and it will be the most aerodynamic Roll-Royce ever designed for sale.*

“The Spirit of Ecstasy is the most famous and desirable automotive mascot in the world. More than just a symbol, she is the embodiment of our brand, and a constant source of inspiration and pride for the marque and its clients. Like our brand, she has always moved with the times while staying true to her nature and character. In her new form she is more streamlined and graceful than ever before – the perfect emblem for the most aerodynamic Rolls-Royce ever created, and for gracing the prow of our bold electric future,” said Torsten Muller-Otvos, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

Leading every Rolls-Royce for 110 years – the Spirit of Ecstasy

Rolls-Royce customer in Singapore personalises Phantom with country’s national flower

The Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective – an elite team of engineers, designers and craftspeople based at the Home of Rolls-Royce in England – provides Rolls-Royce customers with the ultimate in personalisation of their cars. Almost every Rolls-Royce sold nowadays has some involvement from the Bespoke Collective – after all, when you pay over a million ringgit, why not spend a bit more to make your car truly unique.

Most of the cars created by the Bespoke Collective are not publicised as their owners may prefer not to do so but some allow Rolls-Royce to show them to the world. The latest one is for a customer in Singapore, and appropriately, this customer wanted the orchid as the theme. The beautiful flower is especially close to the hearts of Singaporean as it is their country’s national flower.

Pioneering Bespoke work
Designers, craftspeople and artisans collaborated with artist Helen Murray over a period of 2 years to create this ‘one of one’ Rolls-Royce known as the Phantom Orchid. Helen and her team have undertaken pioneering bespoke work with Phantom’s Gallery – a wholly contemporary and luxury reinterpretation of a motor car’s fascia and instrument panel area.

She was inspired by several kinds of orchids, including the Singapore Orchid, spending over 200 hours relentlessly refining her design and artwork with her team. “I started by focusing on the actual orchids, which promptly led me to realise that colour was key to capturing the essence of the species. I have created artworks featuring orchids in the past, but my idea for the Gallery was to create something in realistic full colour, which pushed us to refine our digital printing skills,” explained the UK-based artist and textile designer.

Murray started by illustrating the design by hand before creating a digital version that she could print directly onto the silk crepe satin. The final part of the process involved a meticulous hand-sculpting of the flowers, releasing layers of fabric to create a 3D effect.

Orchid Sanctuary
Within the interior, Rolls-Royce Bespoke Designer Yohan Benchetrit applied his talent to the Bespoke orchid-inspired Picnic Table inlays in the rear of the suite which, when opened, gracefully reveal a beautiful layer of orchids set into Piano Black veneer. He added Bespoke treadplates emanating a similar theme sans text to welcome the owner and passengers into the motor car. The interior suite meanwhile was furnished with elegant, natural colours which provide a soothing ambience akin to an Orchid Sanctuary.

To complete this special Phantom, a unique paint was specially created using the latest paint technology. Arctic White was chosen as the base colour, while a tint of violet was added, inspired by orchids. Combined with fine glass particles through a special process, the result is a stunning pearlescent appearance. Under bright light, the paint technology creates a shimmering effect like no other, changing as an observer views the motor car from different angles. An eye-catching single coachline on either side of Phantom incorporates a Bespoke motif, inspired by an orchid, completing the theme.

Parallels with the Garden City
“It draws parallels with the Singapore I know; a thoroughly modern garden city merging nature and technology effortlessly in its make-up,” said Michael Bryden, Lead Designer, Rolls-Royce Bespoke, who has not only spent time in Singapore but designed the now famous, ‘one of one’ ‘SG50 Bespoke Ghost’, created to celebrate the country’s 50th Anniversary.

“It was the first time we had produced a motorcar to celebrate such an occasion, so I am again delighted to have participated with Yohan and the Bespoke Collective to create another masterpiece for Singapore,” he said.

He explained that the concept envisaged a balanced yet progressive design which echoes the values of the Singapore region. “The orchid is seen in many facets of Asian life, a reminder that the resilient adapt and thrive regardless of the evolving environment. Phantom is the only motorcar in the world to feature the Gallery, a space that enables one to exhibit art, sculptures, or objects of self-expression in the sanctuary of Phantom’s interior,” said Bryden.

Rolls-Royce re-establishes its Coachbuild department to go beyond Bespoke

Black Badge Ghost by Rolls-Royce for those who refuse to adhere to established conventions

Today, ‘disruptor’ has become the popular label for those who refuse to adhere to established conventions. This attribute has made fortunes, slain great institutions and even challenged the very notion of currency. Had the term existed in the early 20th century, Rolls and Royce would have been among the era’s arch-disruptors. Through their pursuit of perfection, they proved that a car could credibly replace the horse and carriage.

In the new era following the relaunch of the Rolls-Royce brand in 2003, a new generation of customers desired a less formal expression of brand. These clients in this new era were from new industries and geographies. Their success was defined on their own terms and Bespoke allowed them to have cars that countered the expected codes of luxury. Bespoke would come to even subvert Rolls-Royce – respectfully, of course. This was confirmed following a chance meeting between Rolls-Royce Motor Cars CEO, Torsten Muller-Otvos and a customer who had asked an outside tuning house to give his Wraith a finish of black chrome with darkened wheels.

A permanent Bespoke series
‘Darker’ Rolls-Royces were in fashion but those who desired them did not believe Rolls-Royce would agree to their wishes. However, they were misinformed because the brand’s contemporary success is defined by a willingness to listen, participate and define changing cultures and norms. And so Black Badge was born as the marque’s first permanent Bespoke series.

Last year, 27% of new Rolls-Royce cars delivered worldwide were Black Badge editions, the number having grown since the first such edition was introduced for the Wraith and Ghost in 2016. Today, the carmaker introduces the purest and most technologically advanced Black Badge model yet – the new Black Badge Ghost.

Black is the most favoured colour
Although customers are free to select any of the 44,000 ‘ready-to-wear’ colours or even create their own entirely unique colour, the overwhelming majority of women and men who requested this darker expression of Ghost have selected the signature Black. To create what is the auto industry’s darkest black, 45 kgs of paint is atomised and applied to an electrostatically-charged bare bodyshell before being oven dried. The car then receives two layers of clear coat before being hand-polished to produce the signature high-gloss piano finish.

At between three and five hours in duration, this operation is entirely unknown in mass production, creating an intensity simply unattainable elsewhere in the automotive industry. It is this depth of darkness that customers can also add a high-contrast, hand-painted Coachline, which has done much to create the Black Badge ‘black and neon’ aesthetic that has come to characterise this vivid family of Rolls-Royce cars.

To complement the exterior finish, an entirely customisable process was created that allows Rolls-Royce hallmarks such as the high-polished Spirit of Ecstasy and Pantheon Grille to be ‘subverted’. Instead of simply painting these components, a specific chrome electrolyte is introduced to the traditional chrome plating process that is co-deposited on the stainless-steel substrate, darkening the finish. Its final thickness is just one micrometre – around one hundredth of the width of a human hair. Each of these components is precision-polished by hand to achieve a mirror-black chrome finish before being installed.

Special wheel with carbonfibre
The Bespoke 21-inch composite wheelset is also something special. Designed in the Black Badge house style and reserved for Black Badge Ghost, the barrel of each wheel is made up of 22 layers of carbonfibre laid on three axes, then folded back on themselves at the outer edges of the rim, forming a total of 44 layers of carbonfibre for greater strength.

A 3D-forged aluminium hub is bonded to the rim using aerospace-grade titanium fasteners and finished with the marque’s hallmark Floating Hubcap, ensuring the Double R monogram remains upright at all times. To celebrate the material substance and remarkable surface effect, a lightly tinted lacquer protects the finish but still allows the technical complexity of the unique carbonfibre construction to be visible.

Advanced luxury materials
Advanced luxury materials created and crafted for a unique ambience within are defined by authenticity and material substance rather than overt statement. In this spirit, a complex but subtle weave that incorporates a deep diamond pattern rendered in carbon and metallic fibres has been created by the craftspeople.

Multiple wood layers are pressed onto the interior component substrates, using black Bolivar veneer for the uppermost base layer. This forms a dark foundation for the Technical Fibre layers that follow. Leaves woven from resin-coated carbon and contrasting metal-coated thread laid in a diamond pattern are applied by hand to the components in perfect alignment, creating a three-dimensional effect. To secure this extraordinary veneer, each component is cured for one hour under pressure at 100°C. This is then sand-blasted to create a keyed surface for 6 layers of lacquer, which is hand-sanded and polished before being incorporated into the car.

If specified, the Technical Fibre ‘Waterfall’ section of the individual rear seats receives the Black Badge family motif: the mathematical symbol that represents potential infinity known as a ‘Lemniscate’. Rendered in aerospace-grade aluminium on the lid of Black Badge Ghost’s Champagne cooler, it is applied between the third and fourth layer of a total of six layers of subtly tinted lacquer, creating the illusion that the symbol is floating above the Technical Fibre veneer.

By its very name, virtually all brightwork is subdued. The air vent surrounds on the dashboard and in the rear cabin are darkened using physical vapour deposition, one of the few methods of colouring metal that ensures parts will not discolour or tarnish over time or through repeated use.

For the Black Badge Ghost timepiece design, only the tips of the hands and the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock markers are picked out, in a subdued chrome finish, creating a remarkably minimal clock. The timepiece is flanked by a world-first Bespoke innovation that debuted with Ghost: the Illuminated Fascia, which displays an ethereal glowing Lemniscate, surrounded by more than 850 stars.

Located on the passenger side of the dashboard, the constellation and motif are completely invisible when the interior lights are not in operation. As in Ghost, the Lemniscate motif is illuminated via 152 LEDs mounted above and beneath the fascia, each colour-matched to the clock and instrument dial lighting. To ensure the Lemniscate is lit evenly, a 2 mm-thick light guide is used, featuring more than 90,000 laser-etched dots across the surface. This not only disperses the light evenly but creates a twinkling effect as the eye moves across the fascia, echoing the subtle sparkle of the Shooting Star Starlight Headliner.

Increased engine output
From the engineering point of view, there is a general similarity to the standard Ghost model and key to its potent character is the Architecture of Luxury. This is Rolls-Royce’s proprietary all-aluminium spaceframe architecture that debuted with Phantom. This sub-structure not only delivers extraordinary body stiffness, but its flexibility and scalability allowed Ghost to be equipped with all-wheel drive, 4-wheel steering and the Planar Suspension system. For Black Badge, these engineering qualities have been comprehensively re-engineered, including the fitting of more voluminous air springs to alleviate body roll under more assertive cornering.

Under the long bonnet, the Rolls-Royce twin-turbocharged 6.75-litre V12 engine has 29 ps more, increasing total output to exactly 600 ps, while the addition of another 50 Nm of torque boost the output to exactly 900 Nm. The powertrain also has Bespoke transmission and throttle treatments to further enhance the engine’s increased power reserves. The ZF 8-speed transmission box and both front and rear-steered axles work collaboratively to adjust the levels of feedback to the driver, depending on throttle and steering inputs.

As with all products in the marque’s Black Badge portfolio, the ‘Low’ button situated on the gear selection stalk unlocks Black Badge Ghost’s full suite of technologies. This is asserted by the amplification of the engine through an entirely new exhaust system, subtly announcing its potency. All 900 Nm of torque is available from just 1,700rpm and, once underway in Low Mode, gearshift speeds are increased by 50% when the throttle is depressed to 90%, delivering the abundant power reserves almost instantly.

“In the 5 years since Black Badge became publicly available, this bold family of motor cars has come to symbolise the pinnacle of a new type of super-luxury product, setting in motion a shift across the wider luxury industry. Subsequently, nearly all luxury makers create products that seek to capture the Black Badge spirit,” said the CEO of Rolls-Royce.

New fully-electric Rolls-Royce will be called ‘Spectre’, to be launched in late 2023

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Rolls-Royce founders experienced electrified vehicles even in the early 20th century

Just as SUVs eventually reached the highest levels of the car market with the Rolls-Royce Cullinan being Introduced, the process of electrification will also ascend to the ‘summit’ of the industry before this decade ends. Rolls-Royce has already indicated on various occasions that it will offer an electrically-powered car in future and it confirms that this will be fully electric, without a hybrid powertrain.

The company is not intending to rush into launching the new product and says it will do so ‘when the time is right’. In the meantime, its engineers and designers are ensuring that every element meets Rolls-Royce’s technical, aesthetic and performance superlative standards.

Understanding that there is considerable interest and speculation surrounding the development of a totally different type of Rolls-Royce for the future, the company offers some perspectives in its transition to electric power.

*Both founders of Rolls-Royce – Charles Rolls (above) and Henry Royce (below) – had personal experiences of using electrically-powered cars in the early 20th century.*

Henry Royce was an electrical engineer
Interestingly, Henry Royce, one of the founders of the company, was one of the world’s first electrical engineers. Having developed an interest in electrical power, he joined the Electric Light & Power Generating Company (EL&PG) in Southwark, London. Eventually, he was made Chief Electrician at one of the company’s subsidiaries but when the company closed down, Royce chose his own path forward.

He established F. H. Royce & Co, initially producing small electrical appliances such as doorbells, lamps, fuses and switches. The business thrived, and was soon producing larger, more complex devices such as dynamos, electric motors and winches. In 1902, Royce supplied electric motors for Pritchett & Gold, a London-based battery-maker that had diversified into building electric cars (yes, there were already electric cars over 100 years ago).

Though Royce himself never built or owned an electric car, he created internal combustion engines with strong torque, silent running and smoothness… qualities which can also be found in electric powertrains.

Electrically-powered cars existed alongside cars with internal combustion engines during the early part of the 20th century. However, their extremely limited range and the absence of a charging infrastructure, as well as bulky batteries, made them less popular as time went on and the petrol and diesel engines became the default powerplants.

Charles Rolls owned an electric car
The other founder of Rolls-Royce, Charles Rolls, acquired an electric-powered car while still an engineering student at Cambridge. It was an American-made vehicle called The Columbia Electric Carriage, and described as a ‘City & Suburban’ car. That car made a strong impression on Rolls who said: “The electric car is perfectly noiseless and clean. There is no smell or vibration, and they should become very useful when fixed charging stations can be arranged. But for now, I do not anticipate that they will be very serviceable – at least for many years to come.”

Rolls made his own small contribution to solving the problem, by providing a battery-charging station at his car showroom for the private or rentable electric Broughams that were popular in London at the time. In 1904, he was to have become an agent for the Contal Electromobile electric car but after meeting Royce and seeing his new car, he didn’t go ahead with that venture.

Phantom Experimental Electric (102EX)
In the spirit of the founding figures, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars aims to be an electrification pioneer in the years to come. It has already been hard at work carrying out research and development for the new model. Some of its Ideas have already been shown to the world in concept models such as the Phantom Experimental Electric (EE), codenamed 102EX, of 2011. This was a fully operational and road-legal battery-electric car – never intended for production – but serving as a working test-bed for clients, VIPs, the media and enthusiasts to experience electric propulsion. Rolls-Royce designers and engineers spoke to all who tried the Phantom EE to help them in their work and understand Issues as well as expectations.

The car’s 6.75-litre V12 petrol engine and gearbox were replaced with a lithium-ion battery pack and two electric motors mounted on the rear subframe, connected to a single-speed transmission with integrated differential. This system gave a maximum power output of 290 kW and torque of 800 Nm, compared to 338 kW and maximum torque of 720 Nm for the V12 Phantom of the time.

VISION NEXT 100 (103EX)
The VISION NEXT 100 (103EX), presented in 2016, was a radically innovative concept car set out to define the marque’s long-term vision of luxury mobility. Its coachbuilt bodywork allowed clients to commission a car reflecting their personal vision and its size and scale – 5.9 metres long and 1.6 metres high – the car ensured a Grand Arrival on reaching its destination. The EX-suffix confirmed that 103EX was a purely experimental electric car. Following its debut in London, the car embarked on a 3-year world tour, returning to the factory in 2019.

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