Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will return to the Geneva Motor Show and debut its full current product portfolio for the first time on an international stage. Representing the near-infinite Bespoke possibilities at the heart of its record-breaking success in 2018, the marque will present one of an extraordinary collection of 25 Phantoms alongside the first publicly-revealed Bespoke Cullinan commission.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will return to the Geneva Motor Show and debut its full current product portfolio for the first time on an international stage. Representing the near-infinite Bespoke possibilities at the heart of its record-breaking success in 2018, the marque will present one of an extraordinary collection of 25 Phantoms alongside the first publicly-revealed Bespoke Cullinan commission. In addition, two powerful visions of Black Badge and a highly Bespoke Dawn will be revealed, each informed by the taste patterns of a younger, more assertive breed of entrepreneur drawn to the brand.
The Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, West Sussex continues to be celebrated as a global centre of luxury manufacturing excellence and the remarkable business record set in 2018 – the greatest sales result in the brand’s 115-year history – called for the marque to further expand. 200 new jobs have taken the total workforce beyond 2,000 for the first time while the company remains profitable, generating a financial contribution to its shareholder, the BMW Group.
Phantom Tranquillity
Created for those who conceive and achieve the impossible, Tranquillity is an expression of Phantom’s standing as the rarest and most desired object in the luxury world. This Collection is strictly limited to just 25 examples worldwide and available as both Phantom and Phantom Extended Wheelbase, which discerning collectors have already purchased.
For the precious few who commission a Phantom, the realisation of their personal vision represents a moment that sees them view the world from a rare place. Phantom Tranquillity is a statement piece for the visionaries who push beyond accepted limits. Named and crafted to celebrate the feeling of euphoric tranquillity one achieves within the car, this unique Phantom beautifully curates objects and inspirations from worlds beyond earthly bounds.
Within Tranquillity’s Gallery is a design inspired by the X-Ray coded aperture masks used on the British Skylark space rocket. High energy radiation passes over and through the distinctive perforated pattern, creating a coded shadow on the layers beneath. The properties of the original radiation sources were mathematically reconstructed from this shadow and rendered in highly reflective stainless steel, 24-karat gold plating and space grade aluminium.
Space exploration is further manifested with a unique first for Rolls-Royce; the incorporation of meteorite within the Volume Controller, further enhanced with a polished gold grip that matches the gold finish in the Collection Gallery, creating a distinctive accent feature. This remarkable application of authentic Muonionalusta meteorite, which fell to earth in Kiruna, Sweden in 1906, is complemented by detailed engraving of the location and date of its discovery.
Inspired by the light and dark sides of the Moon, the interior colourway of Arctic White or Selby Grey leather integrates unique veneer combinations of gloss and satin, both with an exclusive metallic effect. Black gloss runs from the fascia onto all the centre consoles, while a satin finish is used for the upper glovebox and door armrests. Black gloss elements are highlighted with elegant stainless steel Pinstripes.
In both the Light and Dark variants, Bespoke Audio Speaker Frets are finished in yellow gold, complementing the additional gold elements throughout the car. These unique elements are inspired by the historic NASA ‘Voyager’ satellites that carried into space two gold records with sounds and images that portrayed the diversity of life and culture on Earth, for any intelligent extra-terrestrial life that might find them.
A unique embroidery detail on the Extended Wheelbase door panel matches the pattern on the Collection Gallery with tone-on-tone stitching for a subtle, crafted detail. A Bespoke ‘Technical’ yellow gold, vapour blasted and engraved titanium clock complement the interplanetary motif alongside an engineered titanium Spirit of Ecstasy with yellow gold accents.
Cullinan Genève 2019
Following its global launch in the peaks of the Grand Tetons, Wyoming, the world’s media declared Cullinan unequivocally “Effortless Everywhere”. This transformative all-terrain vehicle has now begun a remarkable Bespoke journey with the marque’s patrons who continue to create truly personal expressions of their lifestyles. An exclusive Cullinan has been curated in recognition of this extraordinary adventure.
The Genève 2019 commission intelligently reconciles the distinct notions of luxury and utility that Cullinan embodies. The brand’s hallmark five-coat high gloss paint finish is rendered with a Petra Gold hue and fine Navy Blue coachline, recalling the khaki shades favoured by explorers, while Navy Blue and Oatmeal interior appointments celebrate a similarly functional colourway wrought in the finest leather hides. In addition, natural Open Pore Royal Walnut veneer is jewelled with a Bespoke timepiece and highly polished aluminium Bespoke Audio speaker grilles, subtly referencing the technical capability of Rolls-Royce’s proprietary audio system.
To the rear, the brand’s Bespoke Collective of designers, engineers and craftspeople present Genève 2019’s most indulgent expression of all-terrain luxury. Mounted within a removable Recreation Module modestly stowed in the motor car’s boot, The Hosting Service embodies the notion of giving pause to extraordinary company and is perfectly appointed to enrich time spent with loved ones.
Once the motorised door is raised and drawer fully deployed, hosts are presented with an upper tier of Bespoke stainless steel cocktail and seasoning services and lower tier of elegantly stowed glassware and American Walnut serving boards. Should the user wish to present their guests with appetisers, two stainless steel dishes etched with the RR monogram can be removed from their Natural Grain leather holster in the centre of the Hosting Service and placed to one side in recessed, leather-trimmed coasters finished with aluminium bezels.
Aperitifs can be mixed in highball crystal glasses, discreetly frosted with the RR monogram, using the stowed zester, jigger, ice tongs and American Walnut muddler. A hidden compartment contains linen napkins to serve while paring knives, stainless steel drinking straws and a pepper grinder complete the set. This remarkable piece will be exhibited alongside Viewing Suite, two rear-facing, beautifully contemporary, leather chairs and a cocktail table stored in the rear compartment of Cullinan.
Dawn Genève 2019
Celebrating the distinct personalities each Bespoke commission imbues on a Rolls-Royce motor car, the Genève 2019 Dawn is finished in a newly developed Blue Crystal over Milori Sapphire paint that incorporates a layer of lacquer infused with glass particles to create a playful shimmering crystal effect. The extraordinary coachwork has been complemented by the marque’s carbon fibre Aero Cowling, trimmed in Navy Blue leather, creating the elegant silhouette of a two-seat roadster.
Dawn Genève 2019’s cockpit is trimmed with Selby Grey leather afore and Navy Blue leather astern, highlighting the prominence of the driver’s position. The spirited interior ambience is further enhanced with a Piano Milori Sapphire dashboard, hand-polished for 12 hours and delicately framed by silver pinstriping, while Open Pore Royal Walnut veneer, applied full bleed to the Canadel door panels, rear deck lid and centre console, introduces a soft lightness and haptic texture.
Black Badge
Since the introduction of the brand’s family of Black Badge motor cars, younger, more dynamic patrons of luxury have responded by evolving the marque’s bold alter-ego through their own highly personal Bespoke commissions. For the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, Rolls-Royce presents two powerful visions informed by the taste patterns of this new breed of entrepreneur who wishes to amplify the character of their Rolls-Royce.
Galileo Blue was selected to dramatize the dynamic substance of Black Badge Wraith, while Mandarin coachlines were applied to reflect an ongoing trend towards small but impactful contrasts within each commission’s colourway. Inside, Arctic White and Navy Blue leathers are similarly specked with Mandarin accents on the seat piping and veneer pinstripes while a bold hexagon pattern is worked in fine cotton thread between the two rear seats.
Ghost is presented in Gunmetal with an Iced satin finish upper and deep gloss lower, yet, this masculine, utilitarian palette is similarly invigorated by Lime Green pinstriping applied to the motor car’s wheel centres. Anthracite and Black hides are used for both front and rear seating while Lime Green piping and door pockets continue the exterior’s theme. An embroidered pattern on the rear seat armrest speaks of the Technical Fibre veneer and combines vibrant fine cotton with soft leather, further expressing the coachwork’s combination of gloss and satin qualities.
Rolls-Royce Art Programme
The Rolls-Royce Art Programme has supported a number of high profile artists in recent years, including Isaac Julien, Asad Raza, Dan Holdsworth and Yang Fudong. The world of art is one that the marque shares a clear affinity with; a commitment to creative expression, an exploration of technical and conceptual boundaries, and a willingness to take time in the search for quality and meaning.
The House of Rolls-Royce will preview a new work by artist Tomás Saraceno at the show, between 7-17 March, 2019. The artwork sees the artist create a new work in collaboration with a spider. Appearing as a floating galaxy, this artwork, woven by social and semi-social spiders, provides an encounter between shifting scales and phenomena. From the cosmic web to the minute dust particles collecting on the silken threads, the artwork shows that we co-exist on multiple levels with non-human beings. Following the show, the artwork will reside permanently at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, West Sussex, from 28 March, 2019.
Source: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars PressClub
