Hardly anyone can match Rolls-Royce when it comes to building luxury automobiles. After all, for over a hundred years they have been raising the bar when it comes to opulent and meticulously crafted four-wheeled machines. In 2024, Rolls-Royce once more emphatically proved why it remains the preeminent name in bringing bespoke models to life.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom Scintilla.
“Every Rolls-Royce motor car serves as a blank canvas for an owner’s bespoke commission,” explains Chris Brownridge, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “These commissions demonstrate, inspiration can come from anywhere, and increasingly we see clients requesting even more personal touches in their motor car, creating expressive works in their own right and as part of a broader legacy.”
A Landmark Year
Last year marked a momentous period for Rolls-Royce bespoke with the luxury automaker realising some of its clients most ambitious visions. From cars featuring paint inspired by celestial phenomena to a bespoke gold golf putter, the examples presented by the brand is nothing short of mesmerising.
The bespoke Starlight Headliner of the Phantom Scintilla.
Take for instance the Phantom Scintilla, which celebrates the beauty, grace and legacy of the Spirit of Ecstasy. Limited to just 10 examples worldwide, the interior boasts a Celestial Pulse Gallery, capturing the fleeting presence of the Spirit of Ecstasy through seven individually milled ribbons, cloaked in the same ceramic finish. Above, the bespoke Starlight Headliner features an animation with 1,500 fibre-optic ‘stars’, inspired by the spirit’s flowing gown.
Inspired Creations & Tributes
London served as a muse for the Black Badge Ghost City Lights.
The city of London served as inspiration for the Black Badge Ghost City Lights. A UK exclusive, the motor car features an Illuminated Fascia recreating a bird’s-eye panorama of London. Over 8,000 laser-etched lights within the Piano Black veneer surface lights up the feature.
For a bespoke Cullinan Series II, the Phantom Rose – specially bred for Rolls-Royce – served as a muse for this highly artistic commission. An embroidered rose motif is seen on the front and rear headrests and Coachline.
The Phantom Goldfinger celebrates the 60th year of the James Bond film.
2024 also saw Rolls-Royce paying homage to the world’s most famous fictional spy for a highly-unique bespoke treatment. Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the James Bond, the brand crafted a Phantom Goldfinger which paid homage to the eponymous villain’s 1937 Phantom III Sedanca de Ville.
The modern iteration sports the original motor car’s famous black and yellow exterior finish. The model also features references to the film’s pivotal scenes such as a gold golf putter to a solid 18-carat gold speedform in the centre console. As a finishing touch, a hidden projector displays the iconic ‘007’ logo when the boot opens.
Lunar Encounters
The Spectre Lunaflair.
Commissioned by a client from the United States, the Spectre Lunaflair draws inspiration from the optical phenomenon of a lunar halo. This is where the moonlight is refracted through high-altitude ice crystals creates a bright ring around the moon.
To capture this spectacle, the marque’s specialists spent a year developing a unique holographic paint finish, reserved exclusively for the commissioning client. The captivating ‘rainbow’ effect is achieved by applying seven layers of lacquer, including a pearlescent layer infused with fine magnesium fluoride and aluminium flakes. The effect creates a deep metallic glow in low light that bursts into rainbow technicolour under bright sunshine.
A dragon comes to life on the Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended.
The Phantom Extended is a commission piece to mark the Lunar New Year and the ‘Year of the Dragon’. The interior features meticulously crafted details inspired by a traditional dragon symbol. Standout design features include a unique hand-painted artwork on the front passenger panel as well as dragon embroidery on the headrests and coachline motif. The vehicle also featured the first-ever depiction of a dragon in a bespoke Starlight Headliner, crafted from 677 ‘stars’.
