Rolls-Royce Motor Cars PressClub

ROLLS-ROYCE MARKS TRIPLE ANNIVERSARY OF GOODWOOD-ERA EXPERIMENTAL MOTOR CARS

Tue, 7 Apr 2026 14:05:00 +0200

Rolls-Royce celebrates triple anniversary of three Goodwood-era Experimental motor cars
101EX, 102EX and 103EX record 20, 15 and 10 years respectively in 2026
Essential proving grounds for battery electric technology and Bespoke individualisation
Part of a through-line of EX motor cars extending back to 1EX in 1919

“Throughout its history, Rolls-Royce has created Experimental, or EX, motor cars, as part of its product development process. But an EX motor car is not a concept created to ‘test the waters’: it is fully realised, drivable, and informed by our deep understanding of our clients’ needs and desires. Each of the three EX cars marking their anniversary this year has made an immense contribution to the development of Goodwood-era models such as the legendary Phantom Coupé, Spectre and the coachbuilt Sweptail, as well as introducing the world to Bespoke through expressions like our signature Starlight Headliner. In their innovation, creativity, dynamism and engineering accomplishment, they perfectly translate the technical brilliance of Sir Henry Royce and the pioneering vision of Charles Rolls into the modern age.”
Bernhard Dressler, Director of Engineering, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

In 2026, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars marks a special triple anniversary; three groundbreaking Experimental – or EX – motor cars, built during the Goodwood-era, are recording 20, 15 and 10 years since their respective unveilings.

Each of these motor cars played a foundational role in establishing Rolls-Royce’s contemporary design language, technology, engineering hallmarks and commitment to Bespoke individualisation. Unlike conventional concept cars, which are used to ask the market what it wants, EX motor cars are developed to answer specific needs and desires, identified through Rolls-Royce’s deep understanding of its clients and a clear view of what comes next. They allow Rolls-Royce’s engineers to evaluate innovative technologies, advanced production methods, and bold new material palettes.

The three Goodwood-era EX cars are part of a through-line going back to 1EX, which Henry Royce built in 1919. When Royce found his new Phantom II, launched in 1929, too large and heavy for his own use, his designers produced a lightweight Experimental version, 26EX, on an adapted short chassis. It proved ideal for high-speed, long-distance touring on Europe’s smooth, straight roads, and entered production as the now rare and highly prized Phantom II Continental. During the early-to-mid 1930s, Rolls-Royce built 30EX and nine further experimental cars under the codename Spectre as part of the V12 engine development programme that would enter production in 1936 as Phantom III. Drawing inspiration from those experimental Phantom III motor cars, the name Spectre was later revived for the marque’s first battery electric motor car, unveiled in 2022. The last of the pre-Goodwood EX motor cars, 45EX, was built in 1957.

101EX, UNVEILED IN 2006 – 20 YEARS AGO

101EX made its debut at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show. A full four-seat coupé with twin coach doors, it was built on the same aluminium spaceframe as Phantom VII, but is 240 mm shorter. Combined with bodywork constructed from carbon fibre composite, and power from a 6.75-litre V12 engine, it was designed to have a more performance- and driver-focused character than its larger sibling. It also has a lower roofline and shallower glass area; the Pantheon grille is discreetly reclined and extended back across a brushed aluminium bonnet and windscreen surround.

The interior features the first-ever Starlight Headliner. Comprising hundreds of fibre-optic ‘stars’, it proved an instant sensation and is now a fundamental element of almost every Rolls-Royce motor car, with its own almost unlimited potential for Bespoke individualisation. Like its predecessor – 100EX, unveiled in 2004 – 101EX would find lasting fame as a series production car; the legendary Phantom Coupé, launched in 2008.

Phantom Coupé, together with the closely related Phantom Drophead Coupé, was foundational to Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ development as a modern House of Luxury. They introduced the world to the full possibilities of Bespoke, informed by the company’s growing understanding of the wider luxury market, and the idea of a Rolls-Royce as a canvas for deep, Bespoke individualisation. 101EX also gave designers and engineers vital insights into materials and construction techniques that would inform the development of the first Coachbuild project of the modern era: Sweptail, presented in 2017.

102EX, UNVEILED IN 2011 – 15 YEARS AGO

102EX has a unique place in history as the first battery electric vehicle (BEV) ever built by Rolls-Royce. Also known as the Phantom Experimental Electric (EE), it was created as a one-off, working test bed for alternative drive-train technologies, and thus represented the first tangible step on the road that would lead to the advent of Spectre, more than a decade later.

One of the most significant engineering challenges was converting everything that runs directly off the engine in a standard motor car, from power steering and ABS to heating and audio, to battery power. 102EX had what was then the largest capacity battery fitted to a motor car anywhere in the world: its wireless induction charging system was also a world first.

Following its Geneva debut, 102EX embarked on a year-long ‘world tour’ of client, media and public events, culminating in a landmark appearance at the prestigious Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. This gave owners, VIPs, media and enthusiasts the opportunity to discover Rolls-Royce’s emerging drivetrain technology and share their experiences and impressions; this information proved crucial to engineers’ understanding of the potential and practicalities of BEVs. 102EX’s international odyssey would later be eclipsed by the 2.5 million kilometres Spectre accumulated in some of the world’s most hostile climates and challenging terrain for its own pre-launch testing.

103EX, UNVEILED IN 2016 – 10 YEARS AGO

In 2016, the marque commissioned a special ‘Vision’ motor car named 103EX, which would define the future of luxury. Hand-built using the most advanced materials, and powered by a zero emissions powertrain, it revealed a future in which Rolls-Royce offered clients a completely personal, effortless and autonomous experience.

The passenger cabin, known as ‘The Grand Sanctuary’, surrounds occupants with precious and contemporary materials carefully chosen to create a feeling of lightness, simplicity and effortless elegance. The seats are replaced with an opulent sofa, which, thanks to artful lighting, appears to ‘float’ within the cocoon of the cabin.

At 5.9 metres long and 1.6 metres high – the same dimensions as Phantom Extended – 103EX guarantees a Grand Arrival for its owner. For the first time, the Spirit of Ecstasy was made in glass and illuminated from below.

As well as an all-electric powertrain, 103EX includes a digital assistant called ‘Eleanor’. The choice of name was inspired by Eleanor Thornton, who was believed to have been sculptor Charles Sykes’ muse for the original Spirit of Ecstasy mascot. Within the Vision motor car, Eleanor was conceived to enable fully autonomous driving while also facilitating a seamless digital interface between motor car and owner. This forward-looking concept anticipated aspects of today’s Whispers app, which provides clients with a curated digital connection to Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

UNITED BY HERITAGE

Although these three motor cars are very different in conception and execution, they share a single, highly exclusive, distinguishing feature.

The use of the Rolls-Royce Badge of Honour, with its overlaid double ‘R’ for the founders’ second initials, can be traced back to the earliest days of the brand, with the first examples appearing on Rolls-Royce 10 H.P. motor cars in 1905. The first badges featured the ‘RR’ symbol in red on a silver background, but in 1931, the process began to change the lettering to black – a style that has remained ever since.

However, the original-style red badge has periodically resurfaced over the decades – albeit rarely and on a highly restricted basis. In 1979, to mark the company’s 75th anniversary, Rolls-Royce fitted red badges to all 212 examples of the Silver Shadow II Anniversary model, together with a single Camargue and the sole Silver Wraith II. Red badges were also specified for the final series of 25 Corniches, the turbocharged Corniche S.

This practice continues today, with red badges occasionally assigned to carefully selected motor cars. Most notably, they have also been fitted to all the Goodwood-era EX models – including the three celebrating their anniversaries this year. This shared feature underlines their historic importance to Rolls-Royce, preserving a through-line of innovation, experimentation and challenging of convention that can be traced back to the marque’s foundation.

LE ROSSIGNOL: A REFUGE FOR CREATIVITY

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:58:00 +0200

Le Rossignol: the name of the house in which Sir Henry Royce’s designers and engineers lived in the South of France
French for ‘the nightingale’, Le Rossignol was named as a tribute to Rolls-Royce’s Derby factory
Henry Royce personally designed the Derby factory on Nightingale Road
Nightingale Road was home to Rolls-Royce motor car production from 1908 to 1939
Royce later built Le Rossignol near Villa Mimosa, his residence in the South of France
Le Rossignol reflects Royce’s pursuit of creative focus and deep connection with the Côte d’Azur

“The time Sir Henry Royce spent on the French Riviera offers a more private view of how he worked. Le Rossignol, which was purpose-built as a residence for his designers and engineers, adjacent to his house, became a setting for focused creativity, where ideas were formed, tested and refined. That it was named as a heartfelt tribute to Nightingale Road, the Rolls-Royce factory in Derby which Sir Henry himself personally designed, only adds to the significance of this special location in Rolls-Royce’s story. Sir Henry’s closeness to his creative team, and his belief in their ability to achieve remarkable things, remains a point of pride at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars today. It lives on in the work that demands the most from us and matters most to our clients.”
Domagoj Dukec, Director of Design, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

During the later years of his life, Sir Henry Royce spent each winter at his private residence on the French Riviera. The villa, named La Mimosa, was built in the hills above the village of Le Canadel in 1911, after Sir Henry had visited the area during a period of rest after the intense effort of establishing Rolls-Royce’s manufacturing base at Nightingale Road, Derby.

In addition to La Mimosa, Royce had two other houses built: Le Bureau served as a design studio, and Le Rossignol – French for ‘the nightingale’ – was the house in which the designers and engineers lived. It was very important to Royce that the designers and engineers were close to him, so they were able to bring their respective visions to reality quickly.

Le Rossignol’s naming was a heartfelt tribute to Nightingale Road, where Royce had personally designed the factory buildings, down to their internal layout, in 1908. He also revealed his genius for logistics, orchestrating the transfer of plant and machinery from the previous Manchester site without a single day’s delay in production. The name Le Rossignol commemorated Sir Henry’s achievements in Derby, and reflected the purpose of this new building: a quiet space where ideas could be developed, tested and perfected to Royce’s standards.

Royce often invited his most trusted engineers and designers to visit him at La Mimosa, many of whom stayed at Le Rossignol while working closely with him. Despite the tranquillity of the French Riviera, he remained obsessive in his commitment to precision and productive use of time.

One visiting engineer recounted how he was once invited to listen to some records with Royce. Expecting an evening of music, he was instead handed a set of recorded French language lessons. When the guest remarked that this was not what he had anticipated, Royce replied: “No time for leisure. We must use every moment to learn.”

Yet even with such discipline, Royce found moments of pleasure on the Riviera. In a rare moment of levity, he was photographed on the balcony of La Mimosa, playing the flute in the sunshine with the renowned British sculptor Francis Derwent Wood. He also took every opportunity to test his creations on the winding corniches near Le Canadel, often driving them himself.

Even when unwell, Royce couldn’t resist the thrill of his motor cars’ performance. On one journey back to England for emergency surgery, with Commercial Managing Director Claude Johnson at the wheel, Royce noticed a car gaining behind them and urged Johnson to accelerate, insisting: “A Rolls-Royce should never be overtaken.” As the motor car drew closer, Royce recognised its outline and said: “Don’t worry. It’s one of ours.”

The Riviera remained Royce’s sanctuary until his death in 1933, and was a place where nature, design and discipline coexisted. The legacy of Le Rossignol, both as a name and a place of disciplined creation, endures quietly within the Rolls-Royce story: an echo of the brand’s creative heritage that continues to inspire today.

PRESENTING ROLLS-ROYCE CULLINAN YACHTING: A BESPOKE CELEBRATION OF MARINE CRAFT AND DESIGN

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0100

Four Cullinan motor cars celebrate the material palette and design codes of yachting
Each features a hand-painted fascia inspired by the wake of a tender at speed
Unique Starlight Headliners chart the prevailing winds of the Mediterranean Sea
Intricate marquetry compass motif comprises more than 40 individual pieces
Reflects Rolls-Royce’s links to yachting, including C.S. Rolls’ family yacht, Santa Maria

“Yachting is a world inhabited by many of our clients, and one we’ve come to know intimately. These highly Bespoke Cullinan motor cars celebrate the deep connection between that culture and Rolls-Royce: a relationship that began with our founder, Charles Rolls, and continues to this day. From shared design values with racing vessels to collaborations with marine designers for clients who wish to pair their motor car with their yacht, maritime craft has long informed our approach. In these four Bespoke commissions, that long-standing association is expressed through meticulous marine-inspired details and authentic materials, true to the spirit of adventure that defines Cullinan and the world of yachting alike.”
Martina Starke, Head of Bespoke Design, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Rolls-Royce presents Cullinan Yachting: four Private Commissions celebrating the aesthetics, materials and spirit of contemporary yachting. Each motor car is defined by one of the cardinal points of the compass – North, South, East or West – a subtle thematic thread expressed through both interior and exterior details.

All four commissions feature marine-grade teak detailing, hand-painted nautical fascias, Mediterranean wind-pattern Starlight Headliners, and distinctive exterior finishes. Together, they reflect Rolls-Royce’s longstanding relationship with the world of maritime craft – from Charles Rolls’ own family yacht to contemporary client collaborations with leading yacht designers.

HAND-PAINTED FLOURISHES: AWASH WITH COLOUR

Hand-painted elements are an increasingly sought-after form of Bespoke expression, with Rolls-Royce now employing full-time artisans dedicated to this specialised craft. In each of the Cullinan Yachting motor cars, the fascia and picnic tables include artworks that capture the trailing wake of a tender at speed, bound for a yacht at anchor. The direction of the wake reflects the orientation of each commission – North, South, East or West – ensuring each motor car is a true one-of-one.

Development of the composition required two months of experimentation, refining paint hue combinations, application techniques and lacquering processes. To achieve the lifelike wave effect, pigment is airbrushed onto the wet lacquer before being shaped by hand with a fine brush. By directing air across the surface and manually guiding the paint, the artist achieves a natural sense of movement.

The painted composition sits within a broader treatment spanning the full width of the motor car. The fascia is finished in a Bespoke paint named Piano Milori Sparkle: a rich, metallic blue that evokes the deep, crystalline tones of the Côte d’Azur.

Beyond the fascia, Open Pore Teak is used throughout the interior, including the rear Waterfall, rear centre console lid and door panels. Commonly found on yacht decks, this material was selected for its maritime authenticity, natural tactility and understated visual warmth.

On the rear Waterfall, a marquetry compass motif anchors the theme. Each design comprises more than 40 individual pieces of veneer in Sycamore, Teak, Ash and Black Bolivar, precisely cut and assembled by hand.

BESPOKE INTERIOR: A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY

The interior is finished in Arctic White and Navy Blue leather, with contrast stitching, piping and headrest monograms in Navy. The seat inserts feature a Bespoke rigging pattern, hand-stitched in diagonal bands using Rolls-Royce’s signature thread. Created by an artisan with a personal connection to the Royal Navy, and trained in yarn, weave and embroidery construction, the piece has been carefully orchestrated to echo the twining of rope, where multiple strands are twisted together to create strength. The direction of each stitch reflects this structural composition, elegantly translating the craft of nautical ropework into embroidery. A rope motif also appears on the illuminated treadplates, visible when opening the coach doors.

STARLIGHT HEADLINER: STEER BY THE STARS

Each Cullinan Yachting is fitted with a unique Starlight Headliner, combining static and animated hand-placed fibre-optic ‘stars’ in patterns inspired by Mediterranean wind maps. The shifting air currents – charted and interpreted by the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective of designers, craftspeople and engineers – are rendered in subtle motion across the roof of the interior suite.

FOUR DIRECTIONS, FOUR IDENTITIES

The exterior finish of each Cullinan Yachting reflects the cardinal point of the compass it is named after. North is presented in Crystal over Light Blue, evoking the colder waters of higher latitudes; South captures warmer climes in a deep, serene Crystal over Arabian Blue IV; East is rendered in Dark Silk Teal, suggesting the calm and mystery of deep water; while West appears in Sapphire Gunmetal, echoing a storm-lit ocean sky. The motor cars are finished with a hand-painted compass motif on the front wings, in which the corresponding directional point is highlighted in red, complemented by a hand-applied Twin Coachline in Phoenix Red and Arctic White.

Each commission is resolved with 22-inch Fully Polished alloy wheels, subtly recalling the mirror-polished brightwork and deck fittings of contemporary yachts.

ROLLS-ROYCE’S YACHTING LEGACY: MORE THAN A CENTURY OF CONNECTION

The connections between Rolls-Royce and the world of yachting are deep and longstanding. In Rolls-Royce's design language, the lower line of the bodywork – known as the ‘waft line’ – borrows directly from yacht design, creating an uncomplicated sense of motion by reflecting the road passing beneath it, much as a yacht hull reflects the water as it cuts through it.

Many heritage motor cars, together with Goodwood-era series models including Phantom Drophead Coupé and Spectre, as well as the contemporary coachbuilt Boat Tail commissions, have incorporated design cues and material influences from racing yachts. A particularly potent reference-point is the peerless J-class, built in the 1930s to compete in the prestigious America’s Cup. With their elegant proportions, long overhangs, sweeping lines and large sail plans, these classic high-performance vessels combined beauty with breathtaking speed, and are still revered as floating works of art.

There is also a more direct, personal link between the marque and the maritime world. Long before he met Henry Royce, Charles Rolls' family owned the substantial but graceful Santa Maria - a 154ft (47m), 235 ton single screw schooner, powered by a twin cylinder 80HP steam engine, typical of fashionable late Victorian and early Edwardian nautical society. After graduating from Cambridge in 1898, the youthful Rolls briefly served as her Third Engineer in what was one of his earliest engineering roles, before fulfilling his true vocation as a pioneer of both motoring and aviation.

Logbooks and records from the late 19th and early 20th centuries show Santa Maria taking the family on frequent cruises from Shoreham, less than 30 miles from the Home of Rolls-Royce, on the south coast of England to the Mediterranean, where her ports of call included Naples, Malta, Algiers and Côte d'Azur. The latter – still a favoured destination and home port for many Rolls-Royce clients who are also yacht owners – provides the creative focal point for Cullinan Yachting.

ROLLS-ROYCE AND YACHTING: A SHARED HERITAGE

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0100

INTRODUCTION

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has a longstanding relationship with the world of yachting, through a shared interest in harnessing fine materials and craftsmanship in the pursuit of performance and an overlapping clientele. Historically and in the modern era, racing yachts have informed key elements of Rolls-Royce’s design language, and provided direct inspiration for motor cars, including the fabled Phantom Drophead Coupé and the Boat Tail Coachbuild commissions.

A SHARED HERITAGE

The links between the marque and the maritime world are deep, personal and predate the marque’s foundation. Charles Rolls’ family owned the substantial but graceful Santa Maria – a schooner-rigged steam yacht, with two masts and auxiliary steam power, typical of fashionable late Victorian and early Edwardian nautical society. Logbooks and records from the late 19th and early 20th Centuries show Santa Maria taking the family on frequent cruises from Shoreham on the south coast of England to the Mediterranean, where her ports of call included Cannes, Naples, Malta and Monaco, still favoured destinations and/or home ports for the many Rolls-Royce clients who are also yacht owners.

After graduating from Cambridge in 1898, six years before his historic first meeting with Henry Royce, the youthful Rolls briefly served as her Third Engineer. This was his foundational engineering role before fulfilling his true vocation as a pioneer of both motoring and aviation. His fellow motoring enthusiast, Lord Montagu of Beaulieu was, like so many of the marque’s aristocratic early adopters, also an active yachtsman and motorboat racer.

MAKING WAVES

In the decades that followed, Rolls-Royce forged deep connections with the maritime world, much as it did in aviation, as a world-class engine manufacturer. In the early 1960s, the graceful Riva Caravelle yachts were powered by Rolls-Royce engines, combining Italian craftsmanship with British engineering excellence. (Between 1989 and 1997, Vickers owned both Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and Riva.) In 1965, Rolls-Royce developed the ‘Rolls-Rio’, a marine-adapted V8, in collaboration with another leading Italian boatbuilder, Avionautica Rio.

From 1954 to 1997, Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia was the official vessel of the British Royal Family, the late Queen Elizabeth II describing it as “the one place I can truly relax”. Now permanently berthed at Ocean Terminal in Leith, Edinburgh, as a five-star tourist attraction, during her service life, HMY Britannia famously carried a Rolls-Royce Phantom V Park Ward limousine for the Queen’s use when the yacht docked in foreign ports. The motor car was hoisted on and off the deck using a small crane, or davit, and kept in a garage on the Shelter Deck: in order to fit inside, it had to have its bumpers removed, then reattached at the destination.

ON LAND AND SEA

The strongest historical connection between Rolls-Royce and yachting lies in their shared clientele. During the early 20th century, yacht-racing was a highly prestigious and exclusive pursuit, attracting many of the same wealthy British and American industrialists, financiers, aristocrats and entrepreneurs who were also Rolls-Royce owners.

Then as now, the pinnacle of this rarefied sport was the America’s Cup. For many, this reached its own zenith in the 1930s, when it was contested by the peerless J-class yachts. With their elegant proportions, long overhangs, sweeping lines and enormous sail plans, these classic high-performance vessels combined beauty with breathtaking speed, and are still revered as floating works of art.

One example, Endeavour, was owned by Sir Thomas ‘Tommy’ Sopwith. Another aviation pioneer, whose designs included some of the most influential machines of the First World War, Sopwith ran a Rolls-Royce dealership early in his career, and owned an extensive collection of Rolls-Royce motor cars throughout his life. Similarly, the media magnate Sir William Berry, Viscount Camrose, owned both a J-Class yacht, named Cambrai, and a Rolls-Royce Phantom II.

THE LANGUAGE OF SPEED

In the early 20th century, Rolls-Royce motor cars were frequently bodied in styles directly inspired by yachts, incorporating materials such as mahogany and construction methods derived from traditional boatbuilding.

In Rolls-Royce’s contemporary design language, the lower line of the bodywork – known as the ‘waft line’ – borrows directly from yacht design. A defining feature of Phantom, Ghost, Cullinan and Spectre, it creates an uncomplicated sense of motion by reflecting the road passing beneath it, much as a yacht hull reflects the water as it cuts through it.

Launched in 2007, Phantom Drophead Coupé was designed to evoke a classic motor yacht at speed, with a dynamic rise in the waistline over the rear wheels, and graceful lines sweeping up towards the front. Completing the nautical theme, the tonneau cover, boot lining and rear passenger cabin were finished in bleached teak decking.

A decade later, the first Coachbuilt motor car of the modern era, ‘Sweptail’, was inspired by classic yachts in the commissioning client’s personal collection. It was followed in 2022 by the triptych of Boat Tail Coachbuild commissions, which, like their 20th Century predecessors, feature a rear deck inspired by classic yachts, with extensive use of wood and a sculptural, hull-like form.

Most recently, Spectre – the marque’s electric super coupé – continues this lineage. Its design was informed by J-class racing yachts, with a vertical bow line leading the eye rearwards to the sweeping fastback form.

ON COMMON GROUND

The present-day Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood is located close to Chichester Harbour, the largest recreational boating harbour in Europe. A designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, its tidal waters flow through a direct channel connection at the harbour mouth into the eastern Solent, and onward into the Solent itself – one of the world’s most important maritime and yachting centres, and home to one of the most active sailing communities anywhere.

Cowes, at the very heart of the Solent, is the birthplace of organised international yacht racing and international sailing culture; it is also home to Cowes Week, one of the longest-running regular sailing regattas in the world. The world’s oldest international sailing trophy, the America’s Cup, originated from a race that began in the Solent. Many other competitive offshore sailing races also either begin or are culturally rooted there, including the Fastnet Race and the Round the Island Race, which both start and finish off Cowes. In addition, the round-the-world sailing competition, known today as the Ocean Race, originally started and finished in Portsmouth.

The decision to establish the modern Home of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars at Goodwood was shaped in part by its proximity to one of the world’s most concentrated centres of maritime craft skills. Across the Solent region, generations of specialist knowledge endure through bespoke boat builders, naval architects and master shipwrights.

ROMAN RECYCLING PRACTICES UNCOVERED ON ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS EXTENSION SITE

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0100

Roman well constructed from recycled timbers unearthed during Rolls-Royce archaeological dig
Discovery made during detailed investigations on new Rolls-Royce extension site at Goodwood
Comparable with evidence of Roman material reuse previously identified in York, Carlisle and London
Adds to the long record of human habitation in the local area, dating back more than 6,000 years

“Working with the experts from Oxford Archaeology to uncover the history of our Goodwood-based site has been both fascinating and illuminating. It has long been understood that the Romans reused and recycled materials; discovering direct physical evidence on the site of our landmark new extension has been enormously exciting. The well timbers uncovered on our extension site demonstrate that recycling was a standard part of Roman construction practice, even beyond large urban centres like London and York. Finds like this remind us that recycling is not a modern invention – it is a legacy of the ancient past, and one we are proud to continue here at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.”
Andrew Ball, Head of Corporate Relations, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

A rare example of Roman-era recycling was recently unearthed during archaeological investigations on the site of the landmark new extension to the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood.

Experts from Oxford Archaeology, one of Europe’s largest and longest-established independent archaeology and heritage practices, discovered the remains of a Roman well during the closing stages of a six-month investigation, following earlier geophysical surveying and exploratory trenching. The well would have stood seven tiers high and was constructed from 28 timbers. The team identified evidence that eight timbers had previously been used as they displayed mortices, tenons and chamfered edges. These woodworking features suggest they were formerly used in buildings, most likely as sill beams and posts, before being reshaped to build the lining of the well. Comparable examples of recycled timbers have been recorded at other major Roman settlements, including York, Carlisle and London.

The timbers found at the Home of Rolls-Royce extension site originated from the base of the well and would have been permanently waterlogged; the timber bracing would have extended to ground level. The timbers are now being sampled for dendrochronological dating, which involves counting the rings to help determine the year in which the trees were felled. Further analysis should reveal the kinds of tools used to work the timbers; it may even be possible to reconstruct the forms of the trees from which the timbers were cut, providing insight into how woodlands were being managed and felled in the locality.

The Home of Rolls-Royce lies on the outskirts of Chichester, which from the mid 1st century when the Romans established the settlement was known as Noviomagus Reginorum until the end of their rule in Britain in the early 5th century; ‘Noviomagus’ widely thought to mean ‘new market’ in Latin and ‘Reginorum’ referring to the Regni, the local Celtic tribe allied with Rome. In addition to the well, the dig has revealed evidence of human activity dating back to the Neolithic period (4000-2200 BCE), including tools and pottery.

The artefacts are currently undergoing further study and cataloguing to develop a more detailed understanding of life in the local area over the past six millennia. One early hypothesis is that the site was once used for metal-working activities. If confirmed, this would suggest that Rolls-Royce is continuing a long, but often overlooked, tradition in this part of southern England.

Throughout the process of preparing its planning application, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has been committed to transparency and positive engagement with the local community. In this spirit, the artefacts were displayed at a Neighbours Information Evening and will eventually be given to Chichester’s Novium Museum situated less than three miles from the Home of Rolls-Royce, allowing the local community to gain new and fascinating insights into the place they and Rolls-Royce call home.

ROLLS-ROYCE ANNOUNCES AN ENTIRELY NEW PROPOSITION IN SUPER-LUXURY: THE COACHBUILD COLLECTION

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 01:06:00 +0100

Rolls-Royce introduces the Coachbuild Collection: a new proposition in super-luxury
Unites a coachbuilt motor car with a multi-year journey of unforgettable experiences
A Coachbuild Collection is a limited number production motor car, conceived and authored by Rolls-Royce, never to be repeated
Entry by invitation only via the marque’s global Private Office network, offered to clients with a deep affinity for Rolls-Royce design
Offers extraordinary access to the motor car’s creative and engineering development
Private events hosted for clients in the world’s most desirable destinations

“I have had the privilege of meeting clients around the world who seek the very pinnacle in luxury and share an extraordinary passion for Rolls-Royce design. It became clear that they wished to see not only what Rolls-Royce would create if left entirely to its own imagination and with the freedom offered by coachbuilding, but they also wanted to witness that journey at every stage. Coachbuild Collection is the result. This is something the super-luxury world has never seen before. The experience of this programme is inseparable from the motor car itself, and both will be brought to life with the care and ambition worthy of the collectors who inspired them – and of Rolls-Royce itself.”
Chris Brownridge, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

In response to global client demand, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announces the Coachbuild Collection: an entirely new proposition in super-luxury, in which a true coachbuilt motor car and an extraordinary multi-year programme of experiences are conceived as one. Each Coachbuild Collection is rare and extravagant, authored entirely by Rolls-Royce and created on a completely new canvas, never to be repeated. Clients with a special affinity for the marque are invited to participate in the programme through the global Rolls-Royce Private Office network.

AN UNPRECEDENTED COACHBUILDING LEGACY

Coachbuilding has been central to Rolls-Royce since the marque was founded. In the earliest years, a rolling chassis was delivered to specialist coachbuilders, who would design and construct a body of almost any form to the client’s precise requirements – similar to commissioning a suit on Savile Row or a dress from a Paris couturier. Charles Rolls and Henry Royce introduced one critical constraint: fixed proportions around the radiator ensured every motor car remained unmistakably a Rolls-Royce. That discipline endures today, enabling creative freedom while preserving an identity more than 120 years in the making.

THE WORLD'S MOST DESIGN-LITERATE COLLECTORS

The announcement of landmark coachbuilt motor cars in the Goodwood era – Sweptail in 2017, Boat Tail in 2021, Droptail in 2023 – deepened the affinity that the world’s most influential collectors had long held for Rolls-Royce design. For a significant and growing number among them, admiration evolved into something more.

What distinguished this group was the nature of their ambition. They were not seeking to direct the design process themselves. Instead, they were fascinated by the idea of entrusting Rolls-Royce to create something entirely of its own – to see what would emerge when the marque expressed its design principles with the total freedom of coachbuilding. This dialogue, sustained over years and geographies, became the foundation of the Coachbuild Collection.

THE COACHBUILD COLLECTION PROGRAMME

A Coachbuild Collection begins with a true coachbuilt motor car: a wholly unique body style formed, built and handcrafted by Rolls-Royce’s Coachbuild department. These motor cars will be fully homologated, road-legal, and created to be driven. Each Coachbuild Collection will be strictly limited in number and will never be repeated. Those clients known to have a special affinity for the Rolls-Royce brand, and who the marque believes would be fascinated to be part of such a remarkable project, are invited to participate in the programme through the marque’s global Private Office network: unique, creative and social spaces, located in Dubai, Seoul, Shanghai, New York, and at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood.

Rolls-Royce recognised that the collectors drawn to this proposition are equally collectors of singular experiences, and conceived a programme of equal ambition to reflect this. For the first Coachbuild Collection, clients will be granted exclusive access to closed testing facilities, witnessing the motor car’s development across performance and climate extremes. They will travel to locations chosen for their deep connection to this motor car’s story. They will be granted rare access to the innermost design studios within Rolls-Royce. They will be welcomed into the ateliers of master craftspeople from adjacent worlds within super-luxury, whose dedication to perfection mirrors that of Rolls-Royce itself. Clients will also gather in the world’s most desirable destinations for remarkable, curated private events at which the designers behind each Coachbuild Collection will share the inspirations and convictions that shaped it.

THE FIRST COACHBUILD COLLECTION

The design and engineering treatment of a Rolls-Royce Coachbuild Collection – as well as the number of motor cars produced, the features within them, and the experiences that participation unlocks – is not fixed and will be curated to serve the singular vision of each Collection.

The first Rolls-Royce Coachbuild Collection will be a fully electric motor car, reflecting the passion that so many clients have for a fully electric Rolls-Royce. Many of the collectors who inspired the Coachbuild Collections programme are existing Spectre owners who celebrate how its electric powertrain elevates the Rolls-Royce experience. For these individuals, the question of how the first Coachbuild Collection should be powered had only one answer. That so many of the world’s most exacting collectors responded this way is the most authentic measure of what Rolls-Royce has achieved with electrification.

The inaugural Coachbuild Collection represents a deeply considered first statement – one shaped as much by the convictions of its collectors as by the marque itself. Further details will be announced in April 2026.

ROLLS-ROYCE COACHBUILD: A GLORIOUS LEGACY. A SPECTACULAR FUTURE.

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0100

An overview of coachbuilding at Rolls-Royce from the 1900s to the present day
Virtually all Rolls-Royce motor cars were coachbuilt until the 1950s
Tradition all but died out with the introduction of monocoque construction
Contemporary renaissance sparked by Rolls-Royce in 2017 with Sweptail
New standards of innovation, excellence and ambition set by Boat Tail and Droptail
An established part of the marque’s offer, with the new extension at the Home of Rolls-Royce adding further capacity and capability

INTRODUCTION

This Press Kit provides an overview of the history of coachbuilding at Rolls-Royce, the marque’s contemporary capabilities and notable examples of Coachbuild motor cars past and present. For more detailed information about Sweptail, Boat Tail and Droptail and the materials and techniques used in their manufacture, please refer to the specific product Press Releases.

Coachbuilding is the art and science of creating bespoke bodywork on a pre-assembled chassis, a craft that predates the motor car itself. At one time all but extinguished by mass production, coachbuilding today lives on at the Home of Rolls-Royce, drawing on more than a century of experience and the marque’s unique Bespoke capabilities.

Today, Rolls-Royce Coachbuild allows a small, select group of clients to collaborate fully with the Rolls-Royce team in creating a genuinely unique, utterly personal motor car unlike any other. Coachbuild enables them to specify their motor car’s actual physical form, with body panels hand-sculpted by specialist craftspeople at the Home of Rolls-Royce. Coachbuild also opens up new possibilities in materials, methods, engineering and technology, free of the restrictions of conventional series production.

Every Coachbuild project is a true one-off, undertaken on the strict understanding that it will never be replicated. These creations are far more than motor cars; they are authentic works of automotive art that represent a highly expressive and enduring legacy for their owners.

THE GENESIS OF COACHBUILDING

Rolls-Royce was founded in an era when car manufacturers generally produced ‘rolling chassis’, which were sent to specialist coachbuilders to be fitted with bodywork to the client’s specification. Some of these coachbuilders had simply switched from making horse-drawn vehicles; others had begun capitalising on the new opportunities the motor car presented.

These pre-Edwardian car bodies were built in much the same way as their horse-drawn predecessors. It quickly became apparent that, when applied to motor cars, their traditional materials and methods were unequal to the speeds of 30 to 40 miles per hour they were now being subjected to. The art of coachbuilding would have to adapt to the new reality.

COACHBUILDING AND ROLLS-ROYCE: A BRIEF HISTORY

As the 1920s dawned, mass-market car makers increasingly brought body construction in-house, where engineers could address emerging issues such as vibration and torsional stress. Luxury marques like Rolls-Royce, however, continued to outsource coachwork to specialist houses for several more decades.

Until the 1930s, most coachbuilders remained true to long-established practice, which involved assembling a wooden frame, usually in ash, onto which aluminium or steel body panels were typically nailed, tacked or screwed. As materials improved and motor cars’ speeds increased, frames were increasingly made from metal tubing or angle-iron.

This traditional craft was eventually replaced by semi-monocoque construction, with subframes for the mechanical components. In the case of Rolls-Royce, this occurred in October 1965 with the introduction of Silver Shadow. Contrary to popular belief, this did not mark the end of coachbuilding at Rolls-Royce. The Phantom VI, built on a separate chassis, remained in production, albeit in small numbers, until 1993, with coachwork supplied by Rolls-Royce subsidiary H. J. Mulliner, Park Ward Ltd.

SOVEREIGNTY OF DESIGN

Although a coachbuilt Rolls-Royce could, in theory, be any shape the client desired, in practice, there were constraints. Rolls-Royce motor cars were designed on proven technical principles that were, to Henry Royce at least, unarguable and inviolable. By insisting on fixed dimensions for the bulkhead behind the radiator, he was able to ensure the bodywork maintained the essential proportions that visually identified it as a ‘true’ Rolls-Royce.

Those proportions remain essential to the marque’s design language. Every Rolls-Royce motor car maintains the 2:1 ratio of body height to wheel diameter first established with the Silver Ghost in 1907. The body shape is defined by three fluid lines running the length of the motor car: the ‘waft line’ that gives the car its sense of movement; the ‘waist line’ that lends it purpose and presence; and the silhouette, which expresses its individual character. It is also graced with the Pantheon grille, crowned with the Spirit of Ecstasy figurine.

Coachbuild clients and designers enjoy considerable creative freedom within these fundamental parameters.

GREAT COACHBUILT ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS OF THE PAST

40/50HP Phantom I Brougham De Ville (1926)

The great coachbuilders paid as much attention to the interior as the exterior of the cars they created. Among the key elements were the instrument dials, which frequently transcended merely displaying essential information to become miniature works of art in their own right.

In 1926, the 40/50HP Phantom I Brougham De Ville, known as ‘The Phantom of Love’ was built by Charles Clark & Son Ltd of Wolverhampton for Clarence Warren Gasque, an American businessman of French ancestry living in London, as a gift for his heiress wife, Maude. Gasque commissioned an interior to recreate the Rococo ambience of a salon in the Palace of Versailles, with polished satinwood veneer panelling, Aubusson tapestries and a painted ceiling inspired by a sedan chair owned by Marie Antoinette. It also included a remarkable French ormolu clock, mounted on the partition between the front and rear cabins – an extraordinary detail that represents the pinnacle of the instrument maker’s art.

17EX (1928)

By 1925, Henry Royce was concerned that the weight and size of some of the coachwork fitted to Rolls-Royce chassis was affecting the motor cars’ performance – a fact its competitors gleefully seized upon. In response, Henry Royce built an experimental Phantom with an open, lightweight, highly streamlined body. Dubbed 10EX, this was the foundation for a series of motor cars that provided crucial new insights into overcoming air resistance and represented a giant leap forward in automotive design.

The fifth in the series, 17EX, was completed in January 1928. It was capable of speeds in excess of 90 miles per hour and, because Royce was adamant that even his experimental motor cars should look as good as any that bore his name, was finished in blue to the marque’s exacting standards.

The colour blue has long been associated with dependability, stability and calm; it is also highly visible at speed, as demonstrated by the record-breaking cars and boats of Royce’s good friend, Sir Malcolm Campbell.

Phantom II Continental Drophead Coupé (1934)

Co-creation has always been at the heart of coachbuilding. Having commissioned a design for their perfect motor car, the customer worked with the designers and manufacturing specialists to produce a final design that was technically achievable. The coachwork would then be completed to the customer’s satisfaction.

This 1934 Phantom II Continental Drophead Coupé, designed by A. F. McNeil and built in London by Gurney Nutting & Co., is considered one of the most exotic and beautifully balanced examples of boat tail coachwork ever created. The sweeping concave curves at the rear rise upwards to the razor-edged varnished rear deck. A design that has stood the test of time well, it remains a fine example of sporting elegance.

As a historical aside, McNeil’s protégé and successor, John Blatchley, was responsible for two of the most successful Rolls-Royce models of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, the Silver Cloud and Silver Shadow.

Phantom VI limousine (1972)

The Phantom VI was the last Rolls-Royce model to be constructed with a separate chassis, and was thus the swansong of the coachbuilder’s art. This example was designed and built by H. J. Mulliner, Park Ward Ltd, then a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rolls-Royce. Much like a Goodwood era Private commission, it was based on the production model, but included numerous additional features specified by the customer. Indeed, so lavish and comprehensive were the enhancements that the marque produced a special promotional brochure for prospective patrons based on this motor car, highlighting the scope of its bespoke capabilities.

In addition to flower vases, a state-of-the-art sound and television system and a refrigerator for cooling wines and picnic food, the car was equipped with burled walnut picnic tables. Stored in the luggage compartment, these could be fixed to the front wings for alfresco dining; driver and passenger perched on a pair of ‘toadstool’ seats clipped to the front overriders.

CONTEMPORARY COACHBUILDING AT THE HOME OF ROLLS-ROYCE

Bespoke has been central to the marque’s offering and experience since production began at Goodwood in 2003. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars constantly seeks to create personal and deeply meaningful luxury products that reflect its clients’ ambitions and personal codes of luxury. Rolls-Royce’s unparalleled Bespoke capabilities enable clients to bring these desires to life through the commission of beautiful, handcrafted and truly individual Rolls-Royce motor cars.

A small group of exceptional individuals wished to elevate this remarkable, deeply personal experience even further and move beyond the canvas of existing Rolls-Royce products. Recognising this demand, and drawing on more than a century of experience, as well as its unique Bespoke capabilities developed in the modern era, the marque has defined a new coachbuilding movement.

The renaissance of contemporary coachbuilding began in 2017 with ‘Sweptail’, a bold two-door coupé created in response to a client’s wish to reprise the art of coachbuilding in partnership with Rolls-Royce. With its sharply tapered outline and full-length glass roof, it can be characterised as the Extrovert. It was followed by the unveiling of Boat Tail in 2021, a highly social open-top that amplified its clients’ love of hosting – a motor car that unashamedly represents the Hedonist.

Droptail, introduced in 2023, marked the third chapter in this remarkable story. For Droptail, the focus was placed on creating an intimate and cosseting interior, which would also serve as an unprecedented canvas for highly bespoke wood craft. Droptail captures the charm and embrace of two-seat motoring – it truly is the Romantic.

GOODWOOD-ERA COACHBUILT MOTOR CARS

Sweptail (2017)

In 2013, Rolls-Royce was commissioned to create a coachbuilt two-seater coupé featuring a large panoramic glass roof, inspired by the beautiful coachbuilt motor cars from the marque’s golden era in the 1920s and 1930s.

The first fully coachbuilt Rolls-Royce of the modern Goodwood era, Sweptail’s defining feature is its raked rear profile, with the roof-line tapering in a sweeping gesture to a ‘bullet-tip’ that houses the centre brake light. The coachbuilt bodywork wraps under the motor car with no visible boundary to the surfaces, like the hull of a racing yacht. The underside of the motor car describes a progressive upward arc at the rear departure angle, producing the swept tail that gives the car its name.

With its clean lines and grandeur, and contemporary, minimalist handcrafted interior, Sweptail caused an international sensation when it was revealed in 2017. Four years in the making, it is now regarded as a true modern classic and the world’s greatest two-seater intercontinental tourer.

Boat Tail (2021-2022)

During the 20th century, a number of Rolls-Royce motor cars were built with a beautiful and distinctive body shape known as the Boat Tail. The nautical design was inspired by the great J-Class racing yachts that contested the sport’s ultimate prize, the America’s Cup, in the 1930s. In 2021, Rolls-Royce revived the Boat Tail design with the second fully coachbuilt commission of the modern Goodwood era. Boat Tail is entirely hand-built, with the body panels fashioned from single sheets of aluminium.

Three Boat Tails were completed, each unique to its commissioning client. The first two were unveiled at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in 2021 and 2022. At the request of its owner, the third was never exhibited in public, and no official images have ever been released.

Boat Tail (First Chapter) (2021) The first Boat Tail was commissioned by longstanding Rolls-Royce clients, and drew inspiration from a 1932 Rolls-Royce Boat Tail they had lovingly restored as part of their extensive private collection. The motor car is finished in a rich, complex blue embedded with metallic and crystal flakes. The rear deck is swathed in Caleidolegno veneer normally reserved for interior surfaces and specially adapted for exterior use, inlaid with brushed stainless steel pinstripes. At the press of a button, the deck opens in a sweeping butterfly motion to reveal an intricate Hosting Suite, complete with cocktail tables, interlocking stools made by Italian furniture house Promemoria, and even a parasol to shelter from the sun. A unique double refrigerator houses the clients’ preferred vintages of Armand de Brignac champagne.

The interior is finished in leather in two shades of blue with a soft metallic sheen applied to the surface. The centrepiece of the fascia is a pair of unique BOVET 1822 reversible timepieces commissioned by the client; a hand-crafted aluminium and leather case in the glove compartment contains a cherished Montblanc pen. The instrument panel dials are finished with guilloché, an intricate decorative technique more commonly seen in fine jewellery and watchmaking.

Boat Tail (Second Chapter) (2022)

The second Boat Tail to be completed was commissioned by a client whose family business grew from his father’s origins in the pearling industry. At the start of the commissioning process, the client presented Rolls-Royce Coachbuild designers with four pearl shells: these inspired the exterior colour, which was then one of the most complex Bespoke finishes ever created by Rolls-Royce. A shimmering blend of oyster and soft rose with large white and bronze mica flakes adding a pearlescent quality, it changes subtly under different light conditions. The contrasting cognac-coloured bonnet contains fine bronze and gold-coloured aluminium mica flakes under a crystal and iced matt clear coat.

The rear deck, which houses Boat Tail’s unique ‘butterfly-design’ hosting suite, is made from Royal Walnut veneer, inlaid with rose gold-plated pinstripes. The interior is finished in cognac and oyster-coloured leathers and Royal Walnut veneer, with rose gold and mother-of-pearl accents throughout.

The centrepiece of the dashboard is a timepiece made from mother-of-pearl; the same material appears on the control switches and instrument dials.

Droptail (2023-2024)

Droptail represents a renaissance of the roadster body type, which breaks free from the four-seat convention previously associated with Rolls-Royce. In capturing this spirit, designers studied the 1912 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost ‘Sluggard’, the 1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom Brewster New York Roadster and the 1925 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Piccadilly.

Droptail has two very distinct characters: a lithe, open-top roadster; and with the carbon-fibre roof installed, a dramatic coupé. Since each client wished to use their motor car around the world in multiple climates, the roof incorporates electrochromic glass that adjusts the amount of light entering the interior. In a technique reserved exclusively for Droptail, the body is a rigid monocoque in which steel is used for the load-bearing front wing and door sections, and carbon fibre from the B-pillar rearwards: the rear quarter panels are the largest carbon fibre panels ever created for a Rolls-Royce motor car.

La Rose Noire Droptail (2023)

The first to be unveiled was La Rose Noire Droptail, inspired by the Black Baccara rose, an intense, velvet-like flower that originates in France. The exterior is finished in the lustrous and complex True Love red, a completely new paint process perfected over 150 iterations; like the Black Baccara rose, it appears to change colour depending on the viewpoint.

The interior features the most complex parquetry ever created at Rolls-Royce, with an abstract depiction of falling rose petals formed using 1,603 Black Sycamore veneer triangles, each cut, sanded and precisely positioned by hand.

The fascia incorporates an integrated one-off timepiece by Audemars Piguet, specially commissioned by the client. The 43mm Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date is removable, so it can be attached to a strap and worn. The motor car also includes a unique Champagne Chest finished in rose-petal parquetry.

Amethyst Droptail (2023)

Inspired by the eponymous gem – the birthstone of the commissioning clients’ son –Amethyst Droptail is finished in a soft purple main body colour with a delicate silver undertone. Named Globe Amaranth in tribute to a flower native to the clients’ home region, fine flecks of powdered aluminium reflect the light, creating a subtle iridescent effect. The deep purple Amethyst contrast paint on the upper coachwork contains red, blue and violet mica flakes to give a subtle metallic sheen. Inside, the primary Amethyst leather is finished with a subtle pearlescent lacquer.

Amethyst Droptail features the most extensive wooden surface area in Rolls-Royce history, extending from the fascia and doors to the shawl panel, cantilevered ‘plinth’ centre armrest and onto the rear deck. The deck was made using a new veneering process developed specifically for this project: the protective coatings, also unique to Amethyst Droptail, have been granted their own patent.

The fascia is graced with a unique timepiece commissioned by the client from the renowned Swiss haute horlogerie maison, Vacheron Constantin. Handmade in Geneva, the timepiece, named ‘Les Cabinotiers Armillary Tourbillon’, has an intricate hand-wound movement and is securely housed in a specially designed holder, enabling it to be removed and stored separately from the motor car if desired.

Arcadia Droptail (2024)

This commission takes its name from the mythical realm of Arcadia, depicted in Ancient Greek mythology as ‘Heaven on Earth’ – a land renowned for its extraordinary natural beauty and perfect harmony.

Arcadia Droptail is finished in a calm, natural duotone white, which appears as a solid colour at first glance, with aluminium and glass particles creating depth and shimmer when the light strikes it. In a key departure from the other Droptails, the carbon fibre used to construct the lower sections of Droptail is painted in the solid Bespoke silver colour rather than left fully or partially exposed. The wood elements are made from Santos Straight Grain, which has one of the finest grain types of all the woods used by Rolls-Royce. Despite its delicacy, it appears throughout Droptail, including the aerodynamically functional rear deck section, which is made up of 76 separate pieces.

The leather interior is finished in two entirely Bespoke hues, named after the client and reserved exclusively for their use. The main leather colour is a Bespoke White, continuing the exterior paint theme, while the contrast leather is a Bespoke tan colour that complements the veneer.

The fascia incorporates the most complex Rolls-Royce clock face ever created. Developed by Rolls-Royce Coachbuild designers and craftspeople, it incorporates an exquisite geometric guilloché pattern in raw metal with 119 facets, and partly polished, partly brushed hands and 12-hour markers or chaplets, each just 0.1mm thick.

THE FUTURE OF COACHBUILDING AT ROLLS-ROYCE

As clients’ desire for extraordinary expressions of contemporary Rolls-Royce coachbuilding continues to grow, Rolls-Royce is building for an even more ambitious future.

The marque’s site extension at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, which is scheduled for completion in 2029, will provide additional space and state-of-the-art facilities for Bespoke and the marque’s Coachbuild division, enabling more and increasingly complex commissions to be undertaken.

ROLLS-ROYCE EXTENSION PROJECT ADDS £3.1 MILLION TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY IN ITS FIRST YEAR

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 17:08:00 +0100

Landmark Rolls-Royce extension project at Goodwood adds £3.1 million to the local economy in first year of build
Figures set out in new Social, Local, Economic Value (SLEV) report
Up to 700 people across more than 50 trades working on site each day
Over 100 local supply chain jobs created
Project generates more than £500,000 in new business for local hotels in first year
New building remains on schedule to be fully operational by 2029

“The new extension at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood is a once-in-a-generation project that will enable us to build ever more extraordinary motor cars for our clients worldwide, safeguarding our business’s future and its immense contribution to the UK economy for decades to come. This new Social, Local, Economic Value report reveals that the presence of up to 700 tradespeople on site has brought new business worth over £3 million in the last year alone, directly into Chichester and the local area; we expect strong levels of local spending to continue for the duration of the build. Throughout the project, we have worked closely with our neighbours, Westhampnett Parish Council and local councillors, and we remain grateful for their continued support.”
Andrew Ball, Head of Corporate Relations, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

The landmark extension project currently under construction at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood has already added more than £3 million directly into the local economy, according to research.

The new Social, Local, Economic Value (SLEV) report, compiled by the project’s main contractor, TSL, shows that spending with local businesses involved in the supply chain totalled just over £3.1 million in 2025.

Local hotels have seen new business worth more than £500,000, with some now booked for weeks or even months in advance at a time.

The project has supported the creation of high-value roles, with 115 people recruited by local firms across the supply chain.

The SLEV report is the result of months of meticulous data-gathering and analysis by the project’s main contractor, TSL, which routinely conducts such studies on schemes of this magnitude, complexity and importance. It is the second major examination of Rolls-Royce’s contribution to the local economy, building on the foundational Economic Impact Report produced by the London School of Economics (LSE) in 2023. That study, the first of its kind in the company’s history, demonstrated that Rolls-Royce Motor Cars adds more than £500 million to the UK economy annually, with almost 20% generated locally in Chichester, West Sussex and surrounding areas.

The extension’s new building, which represents a total investment of over £300 million, has reached a significant milestone and is now fully weathertight, with the fit-out of Rolls-Royce’s specialist technologies already underway. Among their most significant tasks is installing a new Surface Finish Centre (paint shop) together with creating dedicated areas for Bespoke and Coachbuild commissions. The extension is on schedule to be fully operational in 2029.

ROLLS-ROYCE CREATES UNIQUE ARTWORK IN SUPPORT OF ALDINGBOURNE TRUST

Mon, 9 Mar 2026 12:38:00 +0100

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars creates unique artwork in support of local charity Aldingbourne Trust
Digital rendering created by Rolls-Royce designer inspired by a wooden model motor car made by the Wood@Aldingbourne team
Strictly limited run of three framed prints, all individually signed and numbered
One will adorn the Trust’s café and one will be retained by the Wood@Aldingbourne team. The third will be raffled at the Goodwood Members’ Meeting in April
Project extends support for the marque’s 2024 House Charity

“It was a privilege to work with Aldingbourne Trust as our House Charity in 2024. When we presented the final donation cheque, we received an unexpected gift – a model car made in Sapele wood by the Wood@Aldingbourne team. This delightful model inspired one of our designers to create a unique digital rendering, just as we would for a real client commission. We’re delighted that this artwork will be displayed in the Trust’s café and will also be offered as a significant prize in a fundraising raffle. It’s a pleasure to extend our support for this wonderful organisation beyond 2024.”
Andrew Ball, Head of Corporate Relations, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has presented Aldingbourne Trust, the marque’s House Charity in 2024, with a set of unique framed artworks produced by the Rolls-Royce design team and inspired by a handcrafted model created by the Wood@Aldingbourne team.

When Rolls-Royce presented the final donation cheque to the Trust at the end of 2024, it received an unexpected thank-you gift: a wooden model motor car made by the Wood@Aldingbourne team. Dubbed the ‘Sapele Shadow’ after the hardwood used in its construction and now displayed at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, the model inspired one of the marque’s designers to create a unique digital image using the same rendering technology used to prepare initial visuals for clients’ real-life commissions.

Just three copies of the renderings have been produced, each framed and individually signed by the designer and numbered to guarantee their authenticity. One will be displayed in the Aldingbourne Trust café; another has been presented to the Wood@Aldingbourne team; the third will be offered in a charity raffle at the Goodwood Members’ Meeting in April.

Wood@Aldingbourne is a social enterprise operating under the wider Aldingbourne Trust umbrella as a financially self-sustaining environmental group. It generates income through a wood collection service, wood and product sales and architectural salvage from local sources, including the Home of Rolls-Royce. Every piece of reclaimed wood is used productively, either transformed into unique wooden products sold in the Trust gift shop, or in its biomass boiler system.

Founded in 1978, Aldingbourne Trust provides a range of services for more than 1,500 people with learning disabilities, including autism, autism spectrum disorders and Down's syndrome, as well as those living with physical disabilities. The charity operates more than a dozen social enterprises, including Wood@Aldingbourne, as part of its entrepreneurial approach to provide opportunities, supported living and outreach. It delivers many of its work, training and other support activities through the Aldingbourne Country Centre, a popular visitor attraction and conference venue just 10 minutes’ drive from the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood.

During 2024, Rolls-Royce colleagues raised money to help fund the charity’s life-changing work. This latest project is an example of the deep, lasting relationships that grow between colleagues and their chosen House Charity and how their support can extend beyond the initial period.

Abigail Rowe, Aldingbourne Trust, said: “We were so appreciative of the fundraising efforts by Rolls-Royce staff, and the tremendous awareness we were able to generate through being their House Charity. It’s wonderful that the relationship has continued through this collaboration, which meant so much to the client who created the original wooden model, and will help raise further money for us. We’d like to thank the whole Rolls-Royce team, and particularly the talented designer who created these images for us.”

THE SPIRIT OF ECSTASY: A CONSTANT PRESENCE SINCE 1911

Thu, 5 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0100

One of the most famous, instantly recognisable emblems associated with the marque
Design first registered as the ‘official’ Rolls-Royce mascot in 1911
Origins and inspiration still a matter of conjecture, centred around two main theories
Private Collections have been inspired by and have featured unique incarnations of the Spirit of Ecstasy during the contemporary Goodwood era
‘The Whisper’ and other Spirit of Ecstasy figurines are on permanent display at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu

INTRODUCTION

This press kit provides an overview of the Spirit of Ecstasy – the enduring emblem of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars since 1911. It traces her origins, evolution and continuing relevance within the marque’s cultural and creative narrative. For information about Phantom, Ghost, Cullinan and Spectre – including Extended and Black Badge variants – and the materials and techniques used in their manufacture, please refer to the specific product press kits.

MORE THAN A FIGUREHEAD

The Spirit of Ecstasy mascot has a unique place at the heart of Rolls-Royce. Her origins are the stuff of legend and myth as well as recorded fact, with some details still veiled in mystery and intrigue. She is widely recognised, respected and admired, with a poise and grace that have secured her enduring recognition. To clients and enthusiasts around the world, she personifies ambition, achievement, excellence and success, just as she has since she first took her place on the prow of a Rolls-Royce motor car more than a century ago.

Like Rolls-Royce and its products, the Spirit of Ecstasy has changed over time. At various points in her long life, she has adopted different stances, sometimes stood slightly taller or shorter, and allowed the wind to sculpt her flowing garments in subtly altered forms. Yet she is also truly ageless: today, she more closely resembles the original drawings made in 1911 by her creator, the illustrator and sculptor Charles Sykes, than she has ever done.

For Rolls-Royce, she is far more than a mascot or symbol. She provides a tangible connection to the company’s heritage through her richly layered story, involving many of the foundational characters in Rolls-Royce’s own history, including the company’s first managing director, Claude Johnson. She inspires greatness; every motor car handmade at Goodwood has to be worthy of her presence.

Perhaps most of all, since, she is believed to be based on the vivacious, assertive and complex Eleanor Thornton, serving as a reminder of the essential human dimension to what Rolls-Royce is and does. Every Rolls-Royce motor car is created by hand for an individual customer; a reflection of their unique personality, and the realisation of their dreams, desires and vision.

ORIGINS OF AN ICON

Today, the ability to commission highly individualised Bespoke details for their motor car remains central to the marque’s relationship with its clients. But in fact, this merely continues a desire for personalisation that emerged in the marque’s very earliest days.

By 1910, just six years after the marque’s formation, it was already an established custom among owners to decorate their radiator grilles with specially commissioned mascots. To the chagrin of General Managing Director, Claude Johnson, these were often in the form of cartoonish animals or comical characters. He therefore decided to create an ‘official’ mascot that would protect the company’s products from what he decried as these ‘unsightly’ additions.

Among Johnson’s wide social circle was the motoring pioneer Lord Montagu of Beaulieu. As founder and editor of The Car Illustrated magazine, his lordship employed an illustrator, Charles Sykes, many of whose wonderful designs for advertisements and magazine covers are conserved at London’s world-famous Victoria and Albert Museum (the V&A).

Sykes was also an accomplished sculptor. Around that time – the precise date remains a mystery – Sykes had produced a mascot for Lord Montagu’s Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost: an aluminium statuette of a young woman in fluttering robes, which he named ‘The Whisper’. This original piece, together with other Spirit of Ecstasy figurines, is now on permanent display at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu.

Impressed and inspired, Johnson asked Sykes to create a new mascot for Rolls-Royce. In one version of the story, upon receiving Johnson’s commission, Sykes subtly reinterpreted ‘The Whisper’ to create what became known as the Spirit of Ecstasy. An alternative view is that on a trip to Paris, Johnson had been impressed by the artistry of the Grecian marble statue of The Winged Victory of Samothrace, Goddess of Victory, sculpted in 190BC and exhibited in the Palais du Louvre since 1883. Some authorities have suggested that it was from this ancient Hellenic masterpiece that Johnson asked Sykes to draw his inspiration.

The Spirit of Ecstasy’s final form lends credence to both theories. She appears as an ethereal young woman leaning forward eagerly, her arms stretched back behind her, with flowing robes appearing to give her wings. Her serene expression offers no clues to the mysteries that still surround her.

WHERE MYTH MEETS REALITY

One of the most enduring of those mysteries was whether the Spirit of Ecstasy was in fact modelled on a real person. It was long suspected, and has now been confirmed, that Sykes’ inspiration for ‘The Whisper’ was a young woman named Eleanor Thornton, who played a crucial, complex and somewhat controversial role in the Rolls-Royce origin story.

Born in 1880, little is known of her early life. She first appears in the early 20th century as assistant to Claude Johnson, then in his pre-Rolls-Royce incarnation as General Secretary of the Automobile Club of Great Britain & Ireland (later the Royal Automobile Club, or RAC). During this time, she rented rooms in an artists’ colony in Chelsea, where she acted as an out-of-hours life model for her fellow residents, one of whom was Charles Sykes. She became his favourite muse and posed for him on many occasions over the years that followed.

Their stories became even more closely entwined when Johnson introduced Thornton to his motoring comrade, and Sykes’ boss, Lord Montagu, who was instantly captivated by her vivacity, confidence and beauty. Bonds of friendship notwithstanding, Montagu promptly poached her as his own assistant, and almost immediately, they embarked on a long, heartfelt love affair.

It was while Sykes and Thornton were working together for Montagu at The Car Illustrated magazine that Sykes produced ‘The Whisper’. Whether the mascot was a token of appreciation from Sykes to his friend and employer, or made at Thornton’s instigation as a gift for her lover, is where the mystery lingers. Whatever the truth, Montagu displayed it on every Rolls-Royce motor car he owned until his death in 1929. It was, perhaps, the only way he could acknowledge his sincere and enduring love for Eleanor, who died in 1915, and which, owing to its potential for scandal, had always remained a closely guarded secret.

THE MARK OF EXCELLENCE

The design was registered as the company’s intellectual property in 1911 and became both a defining feature of the Rolls-Royce brand and one of the most famous and recognisable emblems in the world. In 1920, the Spirit of Ecstasy was entered into L’Auto’s ‘Concours des Bouchons de Radiateurs’ at the Paris Salon – a contest to identify the finest motor car mascot of its day. Charles Sykes was awarded Premier Prix, the gold medal. This recognition helped solidify the sculpture’s reputation in the early years of automotive culture and elevated both the artist and the emerging icon internationally.

Even then, however, she was not immediately or universally accepted. In the 1970s, some countries attempted to ban mascots on safety grounds. In Switzerland, for example, customers weren’t allowed to display her at all, and on receiving their motor cars found her placed in the glove compartment. Rolls-Royce’s typically elegant and ingenious solution was to mount the mascot on a spring-loaded base, allowing her to sink into the radiator out of harm’s way at the merest touch. This retraction mechanism has evolved into a smooth, graceful movement known as ‘the rise’ and is a feature on every Rolls-Royce motor car hand-built at Goodwood.

As the marque’s most important and recognisable emblem, the Spirit of Ecstasy is offered to patrons in carefully selected finishes: solid silver, 24-carat gold-plated and black carbon fibre.

SPIRIT OF INNOVATION

As they were in the beginning, the Spirit of Ecstasy figurine is made by ‘lost wax casting’, a practice that dates back over 5,000 years. Amazingly, Charles Sykes himself, assisted by his daughter Josephine, personally cast, inscribed and finished the Spirit of Ecstasy mascots right up until 1939.

In preparation for the launch of Phantom VII in 2003, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars rejuvenated the Spirit of Ecstasy by introducing the modern investment casting process.

The first step was to digitally ‘map’ the original Spirit of Ecstasy, manipulating and enhancing individual details to create a perfect three-dimensional computerised image. To ensure even the finest details were precisely replicated, the injection mould was formed by skilled craftsmen using cutters measuring just 0.2 mm in size. This cast tool was used to produce a highly accurate wax model of the figurine, which was then coated in ceramic. After this coating had dried, the wax was melted away, leaving a perfect mould from which the new cast would be taken.

Each figurine is made by filling the mould with molten stainless steel, at a temperature of 1,600°C. Once the steel has cooled, the mould is opened to reveal the Spirit of Ecstasy in its finished form. The final transformation takes place in the Finishing Department, using a process called peening. The casting is blasted by millions of stainless-steel balls, just 0.04 mm in diameter, which help to polish the surface without being abrasive. After machining, a final mirror polish and stringent quality assurance checks, the completed figurine takes her rightful place above the iconic Rolls-Royce grille.

LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE

In 2020, as part of a wider update of the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars brand identity, a new abstract graphic element informed by the Spirit of Ecstasy was developed. Known as ‘The Expression’, this two-dimensional interpretation encapsulates the qualities of the Spirit of Ecstasy in a contemporary visual form for use across the marque’s corporate identity and reflects the company’s vision as a modern House of Luxury.

Rolls-Royce reimagined its iconic Spirit of Ecstasy figurine in 2022, to grace the bonnet of its first all-electric motor car, Spectre, 111 years to the day since the Spirit of Ecstasy was first registered as intellectual property of Rolls-Royce on 6 February 1911.

The figurine was remodelled to feature a lower, more dynamic stance that brought her much closer to the drawings made by her original creator, Charles Sykes, in the early years of the 20th century.

This version of the Spirit of Ecstasy stands 8.27cm tall, compared to the previous 9.5cm. Her robes, which flow behind her in the slipstream – often but erroneously characterised as ‘wings’ – are subtly reshaped to make them more aerodynamic and realistic. Rather than standing with her feet together and tilting at the waist, she is braced for the wind, one leg forward, body tucked low, her eyes focused eagerly ahead. These changes have both practical and stylistic benefits, contributing to Spectre’s remarkable performance as the most aerodynamic Rolls-Royce ever created, with a drag coefficient of just 0.25 cd.

CELEBRATING IN STYLE

In the modern era, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has celebrated landmarks in both its own history and that of the Spirit of Ecstasy through Private Collections, events and unique editions of the figurine itself. Notable expressions include:

Phantom Centenary Private Collection (2025): Marking the 100th anniversary of its pinnacle product, Phantom, the Private Collection is the most intricate and technologically ambitious ever undertaken by the designers, engineers, production specialists and craftspeople of the marque’s Bespoke Collective. Each motor car is crowned with a unique reimagining of the Spirit of Ecstasy, based on the first figurine ever fitted to a Phantom. Cast in solid 18-carat gold for strength, then plated in 24-carat gold for a flawless, tarnish-resistant finish, the piece was tested by the London Assay Office and awarded a full UK hallmark together with a specially developed ‘Phantom Centenary’ mark. The base of the figurine is finished with hand-poured white vitreous enamel delicately inscribed with the collection’s name.
Phantom Scintilla Private Collection (2024): Inspired by the Spirit of Ecstasy’s grace, dynamism and ethereal beauty, and limited to just 10 models, the interior of each motor car is filled with design elements, textures and a continuous graphic inspired by the Spirit of Ecstasy’s expressive, dynamic form. Claude Johnson’s original brief for a Rolls-Royce mascot is displayed on an embossed plate concealed in the glove compartment. These words, written in 1910, also capture the essence of Phantom Scintilla: ‘Speed with silence, the absence of vibration, the mysterious harnessing of great energy, and a beautiful living organism of superb grace’. For Scintilla, the Spirit of Ecstasy figurine is also rendered in a ceramic finish – alluding to the figurine’s origins and the aforementioned Classical Grecian sculpture, The Winged Victory of Samothrace.
The Spirit of Ecstasy Centenary Private Collection (2011): Celebrating the mascot’s 100th anniversary and limited to just 100 Bespoke Phantom models, the Private Collection featured exclusive body colours, leather combinations, wood veneers and interior details. Each motor car features a specially commissioned Spirit of Ecstasy in solid silver, with six hallmarks (including two designed specifically for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars) on a black-gold-plated illuminated base.

A CONTINUING LEGACY

Today, the Spirit of Ecstasy remains the marque’s defining symbol, advancing with each new chapter while preserving the quiet authority that has distinguished her since 1911. As tastes, technologies and cultures continue to evolve, she endures as a constant expression of the marque’s values – a steady presence that guides the future while remaining true to the heritage that shaped her.

ROLLS-ROYCE CELEBRATES TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF BLACK BADGE: THE TRANSFORMATIVE ALTER EGO

Mon, 2 Mar 2026 14:06:00 +0100

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars marks 10 years of Black Badge following its debut in 2016
Black Badge set a bold template for modern super-luxury that echoes across the sector
1928 20 H.P. with black grille and Spirit of Ecstasy archived as early aesthetic precedent for Black Badge
The spirit and attitude of Black Badge trace back to John Lennon’s all-black 1964 Phantom V
The current Black Badge portfolio includes Black Badge Spectre, Black Badge Ghost and Black Badge Cullinan
Black Badge has inspired Bespoke commissions across gaming, sneakers and street art

“From the outset, Black Badge was created to welcome a new generation of clients into Rolls-Royce: individuals who express their success unapologetically and with conviction. By serving them with the care and precision that defines the wider Rolls-Royce experience, we have made the marque relevant to many clients who may never have previously considered it. This has supported the measured and sustained growth of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars over the ten years since Black Badge was introduced. Proof of its success is also evident beyond our own performance: Black Badge has established an aesthetic and experiential template that echoes throughout the luxury sector. I am excited to drive the further evolution of Black Badge in the years ahead.”
Chris Brownridge, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

From the very beginning, Rolls-Royce has been defined not only by elegance, craftsmanship and superlative engineering, but by individualism, rebellion and a willingness to defy convention. This spirit was embodied by the marque’s founders themselves. Although their backgrounds could scarcely have been more different, both Sir Henry Royce and The Hon. Charles Stewart Rolls rejected the limitations of their circumstances in pursuit of greatness.

Henry Royce overcame poverty, illness and a lack of formal education to become one of the world’s great engineers, creating what the media describes as ‘the best car in the world’, and ultimately being knighted for his achievements. Charles Rolls, born an aristocrat and educated at Cambridge University, could have lived a life of privilege. Instead, he chose the danger and discipline of early motor racing and aviation, becoming a pioneer in both. Today, both men would be described as disruptors: visionaries who shaped the world by daring to do things differently.

That same spirit of self-expression and creative defiance has echoed through Rolls-Royce’s history ever since. It found its most contemporary and powerful expression in Black Badge, the marque’s alter ego.

EARLY PRECEDENT: 1928 ROLLS-ROYCE 20 H.P. BREWSTER BROUGHAM

During the ongoing digitisation of the Rolls-Royce archives, marque historians formally documented a motor car whose daring specification anticipated the Black Badge aesthetic by almost a century.

In 1928, a Rolls-Royce 20 H.P. Brewster Brougham was delivered with a striking and highly unusual addition: its Spirit of Ecstasy and radiator grille were finished in black rather than the traditional bright metal. This treatment would have been exceptional at a time when polished chromium symbolised modernity and prestige. Yet this client chose a darker, more assertive expression, anticipating by almost a century the codes that would later define Black Badge.

The motor car was commissioned by J. E. Aldred, a founding financier of Rolls-Royce of America, Inc. Configured for his use in New York during the late 1920s, it reflected the tastes of a new, cosmopolitan generation who expressed their success through bold, progressive design. That sensibility extended beyond the motor car: Aldred later commissioned the landmark Aldred Building in Montreal, a striking Art Deco tower defined by geometric forms and rich, dramatic interiors. His decision to specify a black Spirit of Ecstasy and radiator grille was entirely consistent with this confident, urban aesthetic, which continues to shape Black Badge commissions today.

THE FIRST TRUE EXPRESSION: 1964 ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM V

While earlier motor cars anticipated elements of this darker aesthetic, the spirit of Black Badge can be traced to a single, remarkable motor car. In 1964, The Beatles released A Hard Day’s Night, galvanising their status as the most famous band on Earth. That December, John Lennon ordered a new Rolls-Royce Phantom V from R. S. Mead of Maidenhead. He specified that it should be black everywhere, inside and out, including all the brightwork normally finished in chromium or stainless steel. Built by coachbuilders Mulliner Park Ward, his Phantom V was delivered in deep black gloss, including its bumpers and wheel discs. Only the Pantheon grille and Spirit of Ecstasy remained in chrome.

The motor car also featured darkened, reflective Triplex Deeplight glass in the rear doors, quarterlights, backlite and division. Lennon explained why in a 1965 interview with Rolling Stone: “It’s for when you’re coming home late. If it’s daylight when you’re coming home, it’s still dark inside the car. You just shut all the windows, and you’re still in the club.”

Inside, the rear suite was trimmed in black Bedford cord cloth with black nylon rugs, while the front featured black leather. It carried electric aerials for a radio and a Perdio Portarma television, along with seven pieces of black fitted luggage. Reports of a record player, fridge, telephone and even a pull-out bed persist, though these may have been later additions.

This motor car, uncompromising in its subversive intent and unapologetically unique, is now regarded as the spiritual progenitor of Black Badge.

A NEW GENERATION

It would take more than half a century and a technological revolution for this aesthetic to re-emerge as the defining expression of rebellion in luxury. In the early 2010s, a new generation of entrepreneurs began approaching Rolls-Royce. They had built their success at a young age, frequently leveraging new technologies and platforms to completely reshape industries. They projected their influence unapologetically, demanding exquisitely crafted products and uncompromising experiences, but with a dynamic edge and a defiant attitude that reflected their lives, their ambitions and their daring. Their taste defined new codes of luxury: darker in aesthetic, more assertive in character and bolder in design.

As the world’s pre-eminent super-luxury brand, they were naturally drawn to Rolls-Royce, and celebrated the marque’s effortlessly powerful V12 powertrain, commanding design and peerless material palette. Yet, they requested a more disruptive treatment that reflected the personal worlds they were creating: dramatic, expressive and modern.

THE FORMIDABLE ALTER EGO

Crafting an officially sanctioned response to this group was the subject of careful internal debate. It would require the marque to create a dedicated space within the brand for a more daring expression of Rolls-Royce, one that could coexist with its contemporary, classically inspired and globally celebrated identity. The result was Black Badge.

Black Badge motor cars introduced vivid new colours and technical materials, matched by a more powerful, agile and sonorous dynamic character, tailored to self-drivers who wanted to wield the power of a Rolls-Royce themselves, rather than be chauffeured. To signal their commitment to this disruptive group, designers cloaked the marque’s most precious assets – the Spirit of Ecstasy figurine, Pantheon grille and double-R ‘Badge of Honour’ – in black.

Black Badge motor cars were also given a symbol of their own: the mathematical symbol for infinity, marking the birth of a distinct universe within Rolls-Royce. It evokes the seemingly endless surge of power delivered by Black Badge-tuned V12 engines and honours Sir Malcolm Campbell, who piloted the Rolls-Royce-powered Blue Bird K3 hydroplane to a record-breaking 130 mph in the 1930s, carrying the same emblem, and expressing the same audacious spirit.

ENGINEERED DARKNESS

Rolls-Royce designers wished to present this bold new expression of the brand to the world in a signature treatment: one of the motor car industry’s darkest blacks. To create it, 45 kg (100 lbs) of paint was atomised and applied to an electrostatically charged body-in-white before being oven-dried. The motor car then received two layers of clear coat before being hand-polished by four craftspeople to produce the marque’s signature high-gloss piano finish.

At between three and five hours in duration, this operation was entirely unknown in series production, creating a unique and peerless intensity. This depth of darkness also provided the perfect canvas for a bright, high-contrast, hand-painted Coachline.

To match the dramatic coachwork, the marque’s Bespoke Collective of designers, engineers and craftspeople collaborated to develop a process that allows Rolls-Royce hallmarks such as the highly-polished Spirit of Ecstasy and Pantheon grille to be presented in black. Instead of painting these icons, a specific chrome electrolyte was 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 was precision-polished by hand to achieve a mirror-black chrome finish before it was fitted to the motor car.

Specially designed Black Badge wheels enhanced the stance and presence of the motor car, signalling a more intense dynamic character. This was enabled through a Bespoke engine tuning that increased the power and torque output from the marque’s signature powertrain. Unique transmission and throttle calibrations to better exploit this increased potency were introduced, the chassis was lowered, reinforced and subtly stiffened, and a distinctive exhaust system that announced Black Badge’s arrival was fitted.

All V12 Rolls-Royce motor cars are equipped with a discreet ‘Low’ button on the gear selector stalk, allowing the driver to hold lower gears when required. In Black Badge motor cars, this existing control was recalibrated to access an additional reserve of power, reflecting the subtle and considered manner in which Rolls-Royce engineers approached this more urgent treatment.

Inside, new materials were developed that reflected Black Badge motor cars’ enhanced dynamism, drawing on technical palettes from the world of aerospace. Rolls-Royce artisans explored surfaces including carbon fibre through an entirely new lens, celebrating its intricate weave as a source of beauty rather than function. It was interlaced with fine threads of aluminium just 0.014 mm in diameter, then finished with six coats of lacquer, cured for 72 hours and hand-polished to a deep lustre.

Mirror-finished metal surfaces were also darkened in line with the Black Badge aesthetic. Interior brightwork, including the marque’s distinctive ‘eyeball’ air vents and Bespoke Audio speaker frets, was treated using a technique called Physical Vapour Deposition, one of the few metal-colouring processes that ensures parts will not discolour or tarnish over time, or with repeated use.

When clients experienced the motor cars for the first time, their response was emphatic: Rolls-Royce had perfectly captured the spirit these individuals wished to project by applying its uncompromising approach to craft to a bold new aesthetic philosophy.

THE BLACK BADGE CANON

The Black Badge legend was established in 2016 with the debut of Black Badge Wraith and Black Badge Ghost at the Geneva Motor Show. The dynamic intent of Black Badge was confirmed almost immediately. At the Goodwood Festival of Speed that same year, a Black Badge Wraith was driven up the rain-soaked hill by racing driver Justin Law and recorded one of the fastest timed runs ever achieved by a Rolls-Royce motor car, placing it among the five quickest road cars of the weekend. In doing so, it outpaced several purpose-built mid-engined sports cars, demonstrating that Black Badge delivered not only visual intensity but genuine dynamic substance.

Black Badge Ghost and Black Badge Wraith were followed by Black Badge Dawn in 2017 and Black Badge Cullinan in 2019. While Black Badge motor cars were often presented in a signature dark treatment, many clients drawn to the marque’s alter ego chose to express it in vividly individual ways. They commissioned notably vibrant exterior hues, either selecting from Rolls-Royce’s prêt-à-porter palette of more than 44,000 colours or creating entirely new Bespoke finishes of their own. Inspirations included a vivid lime green recalling the Australian green tree frog, a luminous red inspired by the blossoms of the ‘Ōhi‘a lehua, and a deep, iridescent purple drawn from the exotic butterfly Rhetus periander.

As the Black Badge universe grew, so too did the experiences that surrounded it. Black Badge ownership came to encompass gatherings and moments that echoed the bold, disruptive spirit of the motor cars themselves, from private night-time driving experiences on closed airport runways and immersive takeovers of underground music venues to highly choreographed handovers staged in dramatic industrial settings.

This culminated in the launch of Black Badge Spectre, with a highly exclusive fleet of clandestine motor cars. Following the launch of Spectre, clients made clear that they were eagerly anticipating its Black Badge counterpart. In response, Rolls-Royce granted a select group early access to these specially commissioned motor cars, ahead of the official reveal in 2025, on the strict condition that their ownership would remain secret – an unprecedented gesture that reflected both the confidence of the marque and the discreet, rebellious spirit of these clients. Their unequivocally positive response to Black Badge Spectre, and the motor car’s daring treatment that had been developed in their image, provided strong validation of the most powerful Rolls-Royce in history.

A DECADE OF INFLUENCE

In the decade since it was created, the disruptive clients for whom Black Badge was conceived have embraced Bespoke with the same conviction that first drew them to Rolls-Royce. They have worked directly with the marque’s designers, engineers and artisans to translate their own unique codes of collecting and connoisseurship into Black Badge motor cars, creating commissions that draw on influences far beyond the traditional luxury canon. These range from vintage video-game culture and collectable sneakers to graffiti art, land-speed records, influential nightclubs, and even the digital economy.

Notable examples of these landmark private collections and private commissions include Black Badge Adamas (2018); Black Badge ‘Neon Nights’ paint trilogy (2020); Black Badge Landspeed (2021); Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow (2023); Black Badge Cullinan ‘Blue Shadow’ (2023); Black Badge Ghost Ékleipsis (2023); and Black Badge Ghost Gamer (2025). This spirit has also extended into the marque’s collectables, with the Cameo desktop sculpture and Rolls-Royce luggage now available in the same subversive treatment.

As Black Badge enters its second decade, the template it has set echoes across the super-luxury sector. Demand continues to grow for ever more expressive interpretations of Black Badge around the world. Rolls-Royce will respond with an expanding portfolio that further intensifies the Black Badge experience for those who continue to shape luxury on their own terms.

A CELEBRATION OF TIMELESS HERITAGE AND A FUTURE CLASSIC: ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS DEBUTS AT OBEROI CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0100

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars reflects on its inaugural participation at the Oberoi Concours d’Elegance
The marque celebrated its historic and enduring bond with India, and reinforced the marque’s commitment to the Indian market
Black Badge Spectre showcased as a compelling bridge between the marque’s storied past and its future, reinforcing its place as a Goodwood-era collector canon

“India occupies a unique and highly meaningful place in the story of Rolls-Royce, past, present and future. We see a new generation of clients who bear a deep-seated appreciation for Bespoke craftsmanship and the depth of our heritage in equal measure. Oberoi Concours d’Elegance is an event that mirrors our own values of excellence and rarity, and it is a profound pleasure to engage with the Indian classic car community and meet so many enthusiasts and owners who continue to preserve the legacy of our motor cars. Their passion ensures that the spirit of Rolls-Royce remains as vibrant today as it was a century ago.”
Irene Nikkein, Regional Director Asia-Pacific, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars reflects with satisfaction on its inaugural participation at the Oberoi Concours d’Elegance, recently held at The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur. This debut marked a significant moment in the marque’s history in India, a region that has been intrinsically linked with the spirit of Rolls-Royce for over a century.

Held for the second time, Oberoi Concours d’Elegance brought together some of the world’s rarest and historically important automobiles and motorcycles, many owned by Indian royalty and private collectors and preserved over generations. The event’s close affinity with Rolls‑Royce was reflected in a dedicated ‘Pre-War Classics – Rolls Royce’ class, a period which not only celebrated the marque’s historic presence in India but also underscored the country’s unique role in shaping Rolls-Royce’s legacy.

Set against the ethereal backdrop of Lake Pichola, the Rolls-Royce lounge on the sprawling garden lawns of The Oberoi Udaivilas served as a meeting point for brand enthusiasts and some of the world’s most discerning collectors, celebrating the pinnacle of automotive excellence in one of the region’s most breathtaking settings.

In a compelling bridge between the marque’s storied past and its next chapter of timeless luxury, Rolls-Royce displayed Black Badge Spectre at the event. Spectre fulfils a prophecy made by Charles Rolls in 1900, who predicted that the electric car would be “perfectly noiseless and clean”. As the world’s first ultra-luxury electric super coupé, Spectre is increasingly recognised by clients and collectors alike as a motor car of lasting significance.

Spectre’s status as a future classic is also underpinned by exceptional engineering. Conceived with the same commitment to longevity and resilience as every Rolls-Royce, it delivers what many have regarded as the perfect execution of an electric powertrain.

Rolls-Royce’s presence at the Oberoi Concours d’Elegance reflected the growing importance of India within the marque’s global strategy, both as a historic heartland and as a dynamic, forward-looking luxury market. The country emerged as the highest growth market in the Asia-Pacific in 2025, achieving double-digit growth for four years consecutively. As Rolls‑Royce continues to evolve – marrying timeless craftsmanship with technological progress – the company remains dedicated to meaningful engagement with markets and communities that value permanence, provenance and Bespoke expression.

NEW ROLLS-ROYCE EXTENSION BUILDING REACHES LANDMARK MOMENT

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:14:00 +0100

Rolls-Royce celebrates landmark moment as new extension building declared weathertight
Occasion marked by CEO and Board of Directors signing final wooden exterior louvre panel
Initial fit-out by Technologies already underway within the building
Some areas and equipment will be operational this year; project remains on schedule for completion in 2029
40,000 m² facility will provide increased capacity for Bespoke and Coachbuild operations

“This moment marks the point at which our new extension building becomes fully weathertight, meaning our specialist Technologies can begin the complex, exacting process of fitting-out, in readiness for full operation in 2029. It’s a really pivotal point in the project – a project that upholds the standards and vision of our founder, Sir Henry Royce, and his famous injunction to strive for perfection in everything we do. The Directors and I have also been inspired by his practice of personally inspecting and signing off each new component, giving them his own ‘seal of approval’. Having previously signed off the final element of the structural steelwork, we wanted to do the same for the last of the wooden louvres that now clad its exterior. It’s enormously exciting to see the work progressing with such pace and precision. To have that sense of personal connection with such a significant project through these signing ceremonies is very special for all of us.”
Chris Brownridge, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has completed a significant phase in the construction of its extension at Goodwood, with the new building now formally declared fully weathertight.

To mark the occasion, Chief Executive Chris Brownridge and the Board of Directors hand-signed the final one of 1,745 wooden louvres fitted to the side of the 40,000 m² building. The Directors had previously signed the final steel beam to be installed in the building’s internal structure, before it was lifted into place at the structure’s highest point in a similar ceremony last year.

The louvres, each measuring 100 cm x 58 cm, are made from red cedar – the same material used to clad the original building it now adjoins. Red cedar has been selected for its longevity and the way it gently weathers over time to a soft silver-grey colour, blending sympathetically into the surroundings. The building’s front elevation is also clad in red cedar panelling.

With the new building now fully weather-tight, work can commence on the fit-out by Rolls-Royce’s specialist Technologies. One of the most significant projects is the new Surface Finish Centre, or paint shop; other departments will be busy with installing new equipment and creating dedicated areas for Bespoke and Coachbuild commissions.

At £300m+, the extension represents the largest single investment in the Home of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars since it opened in 2003. It will further strengthen Rolls‑Royce Motor Cars’ contribution to the UK economy, which currently stands at over £500m annually.

ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM ARABESQUE: WORLD’S FIRST LASER-ENGRAVED BONNET HONOURS MIDDLE EAST’S ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 10:59:00 +0100

First-ever laser-engraved Rolls-Royce bonnet: a technique five years in the making
One-of-one commission by Private Office Dubai honours Middle East’s cultural legacy
Inspired by mashrabiya latticework, a feature of traditional Arabian architecture
Gallery marquetry artwork mirrors geometric mashrabiya patterns
Mashrabiya design recurs as hand-painted, embroidered and illuminated motifs

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars continuously seeks to extend the vocabulary of contemporary craft, developing new techniques and materials to interpret time-honoured forms that resonate across generations and cultures. Phantom Arabesque speaks to that ambition, exploring Middle Eastern architectural heritage through a newly patented laser-engraving technique, developed at the Home of Rolls-Royce.

Curated by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Private Office Dubai, one of five invitation-only commissioning hubs in key global luxury destinations around the world, this one-of-one Phantom Extended celebrates the forms and geometry of traditional mashrabiya latticework – a defining feature of traditional houses, palaces and courtyards throughout the Middle East. The mashrabiya pattern is reinterpreted in various ways: as the first laser-engraved bonnet ever created for a Rolls-Royce, as an intricate Blackwood and Bolivar marquetry Gallery artwork, and as a suite of Bespoke motifs subtly placed throughout the motor car.

ARCHITECTURAL INSPIRATION

In an architectural setting, mashrabiya is built using intricately carved wooden screens that create privacy, allowing those inside to look out without being seen. The latticework also encourages airflow, providing natural cooling for the building’s interior. Decorative, functional and perfectly attuned to the region’s climate, these geometric forms are a hallmark of regional craftsmanship and architectural identity.

“Mashrabiya is one of the Middle East’s best-known and most enduring design languages. For Phantom Arabesque, we were inspired not only by its beauty but also by the privacy, light and airflow it creates. Our aim was to interpret these qualities in ways that feel both culturally rooted and unmistakably Rolls-Royce.”
Michelle Lusby, Bespoke Lead Designer, Private Office Dubai

LASER ENGRAVING: A NEW CRAFT FORM BY ROLLS-ROYCE

Phantom Arabesque is the first Rolls-Royce in history to be graced with a fully laser-engraved bonnet. This newly patented technique is the result of a five-year development programme led by the marque’s Exterior Surface Centre. It draws inspiration from the Italian sgraffito technique – the artistic practice of revealing contrasting layers of colour by precisely removing upper surfaces. Five years of experimentation, testing and calibration were required to perfect a process capable of delivering the depth, clarity and consistency demanded by Rolls-Royce artisans.

To achieve the effect, the bonnet is first painted in a darker colour, then sealed beneath multiple layers of clear coat before a lighter top layer is applied. The geometric mashrabiya pattern is then engraved to a depth of just 145–190 microns into the uppermost surface, revealing the darker tone beneath. The result is a richly textured, three-dimensional surface that catches the light and invites exploration: a pattern intended to be discovered by both the eye and the hand.

Each of the engraved areas is meticulously hand-sanded to ensure an even, sculptural finish. By integrating the pattern within the paint itself rather than applying it on top, this method achieves an exceptional level of refinement and durability, while variations in laser velocity and intensity create subtle visual shifts as light moves across the surface. The project brought together the full expertise of the Exterior Surface Centre, with every team contributing to the development of this new craft form.

"Laser engraving allows us to create a surface that is both technically precise and visually alive. Developing this patented process required years of experimentation by the entire team. Phantom Arabesque is the first expression of a technique that opens entirely new creative possibilities for future clients.”
Tobias Sicheneder, General Manager, Exterior Surface Centre

Phantom Arabesque is presented in a Bespoke two-tone finish, with the main body in Diamond Black and the upper surfaces in contrasting Silver. The same colour is used for the single hand-painted Short Coachline, which is elevated with a mashrabiya motif. The exterior is further enhanced with an illuminated Pantheon grille, set within a Dark Chrome surround and complemented by an uplit Spirit of Ecstasy figurine, as well as 22-inch part-polished alloy wheels.

INTERIOR: A STUDY IN COOL RESTRAINT

Phantom Arabesque’s interior centrepiece is presented within the Gallery, which runs the full width of the front fascia. An intricate Bespoke marquetry artwork crafted from Blackwood and Black Bolivar wood echoes the mashrabiya design cues and is subtly elevated with an offset clock presented in a complementary dark colourway.

The interior suite is finished in serene Selby Grey and Black leathers with Black seat piping and carpets, elevated by contrasting Black mashrabiya motifs embroidered on the front and rear headrests. Mesmerising Starlight Doors are trimmed with Selby Grey piping and Black contrast stitching. Illuminated treadplates bearing a cross-section of the bonnet engraving motif complete this landmark commission.

Rolls-Royce Phantom Arabesque was delivered to the commissioning client from the Middle East, taking its prominent place within their collection.

ROLLS-ROYCE SPECTRE: CRAFTED TO BECOME A FUTURE CLASSIC

Thu, 5 Feb 2026 14:00:00 +0100

Spectre consistently commissioned as a collector’s item by clients around the world
Confirms Spectre’s place in the marque’s growing Goodwood-era collector canon
Spectre engineered as a Rolls-Royce motor car to be preserved, admired and passed on
Recent long-term multi-season testing results confirm exceptional battery longevity
Recent prototype Spectre indicated 99% battery capacity after more than 100,000 kilometres
Protected by 15-year, unlimited mileage battery warranty and secured future cell supply
Spectre received a significant share of the most valuable Bespoke commissions in 2025
Several Goodwood-era Rolls-Royces now join revered classics as appreciating collectables

“Spectre has been created with the same legacy that defines every Rolls-Royce. As the first of its kind, it marks a distinct moment in our history. Our clients understand this intuitively and commission Spectre as a Rolls-Royce to be admired and passed down for generations. This was reflected in its reception: Spectre was our most successful coupé launch to date.”
Chris Brownridge, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Rolls-Royce Spectre is increasingly recognised by clients and collectors as a motor car of lasting significance. Commissioned with the same permanence that defines every Rolls-Royce, Spectre and its Black Badge alter ego have rapidly established their place within the marque’s emerging Goodwood-era collector canon.

Spectre’s status as a future classic was evident from the outset. In its first full year of availability, it outperformed both Wraith and Dawn in their debut years – clear evidence that clients are embracing Spectre as an authentic and desirable expression of the marque’s legacy. Many collectors with established Goodwood-era portfolios now regard Spectre as an essential addition, confirmed by its global popularity: it was the second most demanded Rolls-Royce motor car worldwide in 2025.

2025 also marked the debut of a number of highly Bespoke Spectres, signalling that many are choosing to commission Spectre as a long-term emotional asset, rather than a short-term acquisition. These include Spectre Bailey, a joyful and deeply personal tribute to a client’s beloved dog; and Spectre Soulmate, commissioned to honour the shared journey of a couple whose lives have long intersected with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Each commission demonstrates the emotional depth and creative range through which clients around the world are embracing Spectre.

Spectre’s design supports this shift in perception. Its monolithic form, elegant proportions and clean surfacing reflect a modern, yet timeless, interpretation of classic Rolls-Royce design principles. The dramatic split headlamps, reminiscent of Spectre’s spiritual predecessor, Phantom Coupé, and expressive Pantheon grille establish a powerful identity, while the sweeping fastback silhouette recalls the grace of historic Rolls-Royce coupés. Inside, features such as Starlight Doors and the Illuminated Fascia invite new forms of Bespoke expression, realised with the control and restraint expected of the marque.

Spectre fulfils a prophecy made more than 120 years ago – and proves the prescience of this vision. In 1900, The Hon. Charles Stewart Rolls made a bold prediction: “The electric car is perfectly noiseless and clean. There is no smell or vibration. They should become very useful when fixed charging stations can be arranged.” With this conviction in mind, Spectre was always destined to become a defining motor car for Rolls-Royce collectors.

Spectre’s status as a future classic is also underpinned by exceptional engineering. Conceived with the same commitment to longevity and resilience as every Rolls-Royce, it delivers what many have regarded as the perfect execution of an electric powertrain. The marque’s confidence in and commitment to long-term performance is expressed with an unprecedented 15-year, unlimited mileage battery warranty, offered as standard to new and existing Spectres.

Following Spectre’s initial 2,500,000-kilometre testing programme – the most extensive engineering validation programme in Rolls-Royce history – prototype motor cars continue to be operated by the marque’s specialist engineering teams. One recently retired test Spectre indicated 99% battery capacity was remaining after 100,000 kilometres of real-world driving and charging across multiple climates and geographies. Regardless of the battery’s proven endurance, Rolls-Royce has confirmed supply of replacement batteries that extends well beyond the middle of this century, providing future support for every Spectre, as the marque’s clients would rightly expect.

Several early Goodwood-era Rolls-Royces – including Phantom Coupé – are now joining the ranks of revered classics. Spectre follows in this tradition, reflecting a generational shift among collectors towards highly Bespoke electric Rolls-Royces: an evolution the marque has noted with interest as it develops its future product road map.

A photographic series accompanies this release. Spectre is pictured beside a 1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud coupé in one of London’s most desirable districts, reflecting its place at home in the most prestigious locations around the world, and in the company of other collector motor cars of lasting value.

ROLLS-ROYCE COUPÉS: A BOLD LEGACY OF POWER AND PRESENCE

Thu, 5 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0100

Rolls-Royce reflects on its bold heritage of powerful and beautiful coupé motor cars
Chronicles Rolls-Royce coachbuilt two-door bodies from the earliest chassis
Details Goodwood-era revival of the coupé with 100EX, 101EX and Phantom variants
Highlights Wraith’s transformational influence on the Rolls-Royce brand
Details Dawn’s impact as a modern expression of the classic drophead coupé
Celebrates Spectre as the marque’s first ultra-luxury electric super coupé and continuation of a rich legacy

INTRODUCTION

This Press Kit explores the significance of the coupé in Rolls-Royce history – a body style associated with power, presence and proportion. From the earliest coachbuilt two-door motor cars commissioned on rolling chassis, through the return of fixed-head and drophead coupés in the Goodwood era, to Spectre – the world’s first ultra-luxury electric super coupé – it traces how this form has evolved alongside advances in technology and craftsmanship.

THE COUPÉ ORIGIN STORY

The term ‘coupé’ comes from the French word coupé, meaning ‘cut’. Originally applied to horse-drawn carriages in the 18th century, it was adopted in the early days of motoring to describe a two-door motor car with the driver and up to two passengers in an enclosure with a single bench seat.

Those pioneering days saw a rapid proliferation of automobile body styles, with an expansive variety of terminology in use. To bring order, in 1916, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) formally classified coupés into two primary categories. It defined a coupé as a fully enclosed motor car operated from the inside with seats for two or three and sometimes a rear-facing fourth seat. If the motor car had a folding top, it was properly called a Coupelet – a name now lost to time.

COUPÉS AND COACHBUILDERS

Until the mid-20th century, clients would purchase their motor car as a rolling chassis, then commission a coachbuilder of their choice to create a body to their exact specifications. The coachbuilder assembled a skeletal wooden frame, usually in ash, onto which aluminium or steel body panels were then pinned or welded.

This traditional construction method allowed for near-limitless design possibilities, with each body being as much a work of art as a feat of engineering. The process was entirely bespoke, with clients working hand-in-glove with designers and artisans to create designs tailored to their personal requirements.

During the 1920s and 1930s, British luxury marques introduced the terms ‘fixed-head coupé’ (FHC) and ‘drophead coupé’ (DHC). A fixed-head coupé featured a solid, non-removable roof; a drophead coupé had a mechanical canvas roof that opened and closed.

In Britain, firms such as Park Ward, H. J. Mulliner, Hooper, James Young, Vanden Plas and Freestone & Webb became legendary for their work on both types, all of which had two doors. This period saw stylists working alongside engineers, and the coupé acquired the graceful, athletic form we still associate with the concept today. That legacy continues to influence automotive design, with fixed-head and drophead coupé coachwork remaining highly prized by collectors and enthusiasts alike.

Some of the most valuable and celebrated Rolls-Royce motor cars ever created take the form of coupés; from the streamlined 1934-bodied ‘round-door’ Jonckheere Phantom I and the elegant 1939 Vanvooren Phantom III, to the theatrical 1957 Freestone & Webb ‘Honeymoon Express’ Silver Cloud and the timeless 2017 Sweptail, these motor cars affirm the coupé body style as the space in which Rolls-Royce has explored some of its boldest ideas.

COACHBUILT ROLLS-ROYCE COUPÉS

Rolls-Royce chassis – particularly the shorter wheelbase models – had been fitted with two- and four-seater coachwork with two doors (or, in the case of early Silver Ghosts, no doors) from the beginning. The style evolved through the 1920s from short, upright passenger compartments, often with external ‘dicky’ seats at the rear, to more stylish flowing coachwork that would come to define today’s coupés.

In the 1940s and 1950s, the drophead coupé was a popular alternative to Rolls-Royce’s new Standard Steel-bodied motor cars. While these factory-built bodies brought greater consistency, this shift in construction increasingly made true custom coachbuilding technically complex and economically unviable. By the early 1960s, most of the traditional coachbuilders had gone, with Rolls-Royce one of a small number of brands still producing rolling chassis on which a coachbuilder could create bespoke bodywork.

Against this backdrop, coachbuilders H.J. Mulliner and Park Ward merged and were subsumed into Rolls-Royce as a wholly owned division. Alongside James Young, the new entity offered drophead and fixed-head coupé designs built on the marque’s Silver Cloud chassis. Following the introduction of the SY (Silver Shadow) range of monocoque motor cars, Rolls-Royce continued to produce fixed-head and drophead coupés, in the guise of the Corniche two-door saloon and Corniche convertible.

The Corniche two-door saloon was discontinued in 1981. The convertible remained in production until 1987, despite the launch of the new Corniche II in 1986, which was itself replaced by Corniche III in 1989. The model’s last iteration, Corniche IV, was introduced in 1992, with the final run of 25 motor cars designated Corniche S. These were graced with numerous mechanical enhancements, including a Garrett T4 turbocharger that boosted engine power by 50%, making them the fastest, best-handling Corniches ever made. They were easily identifiable by their alloy wheels and red ‘RR’ badges.

With this final first chapter complete, the end of Corniche convertible production in 1995 also marked the conclusion of a line of Rolls-Royce coupés dating back to the marque’s inception. Yet, the legacy these motor cars left behind was indelible, as was the constellation of clients who chose them. Sammy Davis Jr., Elizabeth Taylor and Tony Curtis were among proud Rolls-Royce coupé owners, cementing the marque’s association with glamour, power and presence.

ROLLS-ROYCE COUPÉS IN THE GOODWOOD ERA

Production may have ended, but client demand for fixed-head and drophead Rolls-Royce coupés never ceased. Reviving these body styles was made possible by the innovative technology and construction techniques brought in with the first Rolls-Royce motor car produced at Goodwood, Phantom VII.

Phantom VII was constructed on an aluminium spaceframe with a modular, scalable design. This allowed designers to adapt the original four-door saloon into two-door fixed-head and drophead variants without compromise.

Creating a new two-door, four-seater drophead coupé derived from an existing model was very much in keeping with Rolls-Royce tradition and precedent. However, earlier motor cars’ rigidity had often been compromised, resulting in inferior handling as well as rattles and shakes – issues unacceptable for Rolls-Royce’s renaissance. The design team knew that Phantom’s aluminium spaceframe would provide the necessary torsional strength, so work began on an experimental model, which, following long-established Rolls-Royce practice, was codenamed 100EX – EX standing for ‘Experimental’.

100EX AND PHANTOM DROPHEAD COUPÉ

Chief designer Ian Cameron’s vision was for a full four-seater convertible with two coach doors, less formal than Phantom and more performance-oriented. His inspiration was Royce’s 1920s experimental motor car 16EX, which Royce himself described as “a motor car with fizz”. Exceptionally lightweight and aerodynamic for its time, Royce built it to demonstrate that greater horsepower and reduced bodyweight could increase performance.

Rolls-Royce unveiled 100EX at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2004. Arriving just 15 months after the start of production of Phantom VII, it was a remarkable technical achievement, and a fitting way to help commemorate the marque’s centenary year.

In true coupé style, 100EX’s spaceframe was 165mm (6.5in) shorter and 71mm (3in) lower than the more formal Phantom’s. Instead of Phantom’s 6.75-litre V12 engine, it was fitted with an indulgent 9-litre V16, 64-valve naturally aspirated unit. Most obviously, it was an open-top, four-seater, two-door drophead.

The exterior design, intended to evoke a classic motor yacht at speed, featured a dynamic rise in the waistline over the rear wheels, and graceful lines sweeping up towards the front. Completing the nautical theme, the tonneau cover, boot lining and rear passenger cabin were finished in teak decking.

The rear tapered into a boat-tail style that would inspire a suite of Coachbuild masterpieces almost two decades later. The split ‘Countryman’ boot featured a separate lower tailgate which, when opened, provided a completely flat surface with inlaid fibre matting, ideal for picnics or as an elevated viewing platform.

The tailored roof was made from an innovative fabric incorporating fine metallic threads, and lined with a cashmere and wool blend. The folding mechanism was carefully designed so the roof could be concealed in an extremely small storage area, minimising intrusion into the luggage and passenger spaces.

Everything the designers and engineers learned with 100EX found its final, stunning expression in the Phantom Drophead Coupé. Launched in 2007, this is now one of the rarest and most desirable models of the Goodwood era. In production, it adopted Rolls-Royce’s hallmark 6.75-litre V12 engine.

101EX AND PHANTOM COUPÉ

Two years later, a new experimental car, 101EX, made its debut, also at the Geneva Motor Show. This was a full four-seater coupé with twin coach doors, a lower roofline and shallower glass area than Phantom VII. The Pantheon grille was discreetly reclined and extended back across a brushed aluminium bonnet and windscreen surround.

Built on the same aluminium spaceframe, 101EX was 240mm shorter than Phantom VII: this, combined with bodywork constructed from carbon fibre composite and the proven 6.75-litre V12 engine, gave it a more performance- and driver-focused character.

The interior featured the first example of what would become a permanent feature of the Rolls-Royce design canon: the Starlight Headliner. Comprising hundreds of fibre-optic ‘stars’, it proved an instant sensation and is now a fixture in virtually every Rolls-Royce motor car, with its own almost unlimited potential for Bespoke individualisation.

Like its predecessor, 101EX would find lasting fame as a series production car – the legendary Phantom Coupé, launched in 2008, and rarer even than its Drophead sibling.

Both Phantom Coupé and Phantom Drophead Coupé were foundational to Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ development as a true luxury brand. They introduced the world to the full possibilities of Bespoke, informed by the marque’s growing understanding of the wider luxury market and consumers, and the idea of a Rolls-Royce as canvas for deep, Bespoke individualisation.

WRAITH

In 2013, Rolls-Royce introduced Wraith – an imposing fastback coupé in the Gran Turismo mould. More performance-focused than its predecessors, Phantom and Ghost, Wraith fundamentally altered perceptions of Rolls-Royce and brought new, younger clients to the brand for the first time.

Wraith’s dramatic silhouette signalled its dynamic capabilities, which were further amplified in 2016 with the introduction of its Black Badge alter ego, offering some of the highest levels of performance ever achieved by a Rolls-Royce motor car. In 2023, Rolls-Royce marked the end of production with Wraith Black Badge Black Arrow, a Bespoke Collection comprising just 12 examples.

DAWN

In September 2015, Rolls-Royce unveiled Dawn online, introducing an entirely new kind of super-luxury convertible. More than simply a beautiful motor car, it was designed to evoke the romance and glamour of the great dropheads of the past, while offering a social, approachable and contemporary expression of open-top touring to a new generation of clients.

Convertibles are typically designed in a 2+2 configuration with full-size seating for the driver and front passenger, and two smaller rear seats for occasional passengers. The lack of rear-seat space, and particularly legroom, reduces the car’s comfort and practicality, so Dawn was presented as a full four-seater with comfortable, individual seating for all occupants, in line with the SAE’s Coupelet typology.

The roof, made from fabric, cashmere and high-performance acoustic composites, was operated by an intricate mechanism dubbed the ‘Silent Ballet’ for its precision, elegance and noiseless operation. With the roof closed, Dawn equalled Wraith for noise-isolating performance.

As with Wraith, Dawn was given a Black Badge expression in 2017, with the 6.6-litre, 563bhp twin-turbo V12 engine tuned to deliver an extra 30bhp and boost torque to 840Nm. Like Wraith, Dawn finally ceased production in 2023.

SWEPTAIL

In 2013, Rolls-Royce was commissioned by a client to create a fully coachbuilt two-seater coupé with a panoramic glass roof, drawing inspiration from the great bespoke motor cars of the 1920s and 1930s. Conceived as a modern interpretation of the classic Rolls-Royce coupé, Sweptail was designed around purity of line, proportion and audacious presence.

The first Coachbuild Rolls-Royce of the Goodwood era, Sweptail is defined by its raked rear profile, with the roofline tapering in a single, continuous gesture to a distinctive ‘bullet-tip’ housing the centre brake light. The coachbuilt coupé bodywork wraps under the motor car with no visible boundary to the surfaces, like the hull of a racing yacht. The underside reveals a progressive upward arc at the rear departure angle, producing the swept tail that gives the motor car its name.

Revealed in 2017 after four years of development, Sweptail was immediately recognised as a landmark in contemporary coachbuilding. With its two-seat configuration, fastback silhouette and restrained, handcrafted interior, it is now regarded as a true modern masterpiece and the world’s greatest intercontinental touring coupé.

SPECTRE

In 2023, Rolls-Royce introduced Spectre, bringing the marque’s defining qualities of effortlessness, presence and refinement into an electric future. With Spectre, an entirely new class of motor car was created: the ultra-luxury electric super coupé. A generously proportioned, visually striking two-door fastback, Spectre is the spiritual successor to the Phantom Coupé. Its interior provides a perfect canvas for Bespoke personalisation, complemented by a unique illuminated fascia and the first Starlight Doors ever specified in a production Rolls-Royce. Spectre’s Black Badge alter ego was introduced in 2025 and inherited Wraith’s crown as the most powerful Rolls-Royce in history.

Crucially, Spectre is a Rolls-Royce first and an electric car second: no concessions or compromises in terms of interior space, comfort, performance or ride quality have been made. Indeed, all have been refined and augmented by the car’s underpinning architecture and engineering.

ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS DUBAI CITY WALK OPENS NEW LUXURY SHOWROOM

Thu, 5 Feb 2026 00:01:00 +0100

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dubai City Walk celebrates the opening of its new luxury showroom
The new showroom brings Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ new global visual identity to life
Dubai becomes the first city in the Middle East to host two Rolls-Royce Motor Cars showrooms
Located in City Walk, the showroom sits at the heart of one of Dubai’s most prestigious open-air lifestyle and high-end retail destinations

“The opening of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dubai City Walk reflects our long-term commitment to markets that value individuality, craftsmanship, and personal expression at the very highest level. This showroom is a confident embodiment of our new visual identity and our evolution as a true House of Luxury, creating an environment where Bespoke is not simply offered, but thoughtfully experienced. Dubai continues to lead by example globally, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dubai City Walk represents an important step in how we bring our vision of modern luxury to life.”
James Crichton, Regional Director of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Middle East & Africa

“We are incredibly proud to unveil the new Dubai City Walk showroom, a space that reflects the exceptional craft and personal attention that define Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Dubai has long been central to our success in the Middle East, and the opening of this second showroom marks a natural evolution in how we serve our clients. Designed around commissioning and personalisation, City Walk creates the ideal setting for deeply immersive Bespoke experiences, while reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global centre for luxury and craftsmanship.”
Mamdouh Khairallah, Director, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dubai

Passionate about providing its clients with personalised experiences, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dubai has officially opened the doors to its new Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dubai City Walk showroom.

Honoured by the presence of the marque’s Chief Executive, Chris Brownridge, this opening marks a significant milestone for the marque in the Middle East, as Dubai becomes the first city in the region to host two Rolls-Royce Motor Cars showrooms. This milestone underscores the region’s enduring importance to the marque and reflects Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ continued commitment to delivering highly Bespoke client experiences across the Middle East, while reinforcing its position as a global leader in Bespoke commissions by value.

Located in the heart of City Walk, the showroom brings to life Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ highly contemporary visual identity, creating an immersive yet inviting environment designed to resonate with a younger, self-made and distinctly individual clientele. Thoughtfully conceived to complement the existing Sheikh Zayed Road location, the City Walk showroom offers an intimate and highly curated experience centred on personalisation and craftsmanship. While both showrooms continue to serve Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ discerning clientele, City Walk has been purposefully designed as a destination where Bespoke commissioning takes centre stage, providing the ideal setting for clients to explore, engage with, and embark on a deeply personal creative journey.

From the moment clients arrive, they are welcomed into a contemporary environment that delivers an immersive experience. A natural flow of space, enhanced by abundant sunlight and carefully framed architectural openness, leads guests through a sequence of environments designed for both social interaction and quiet reflection, including a speakeasy-style bar that encourages relaxed conversation and connection. Carefully considered materials, tactile finishes, and innovative digital technologies create a setting that encourages discovery, dialogue, and creativity – inviting guests to experience the timeless allure and innovation that defines Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

At the heart of the showroom resides its immersive creative sanctuary, the Bespoke Commissioning Atelier. Located on the upper level to ensure enhanced privacy, the atelier offers an elevated environment where clients can engage deeply with the full breadth of Rolls-Royce Bespoke possibilities – from leathers and wood veneers to embroidery threads, materials, and finishes. Enhancing the experience is a carefully curated Cabinet of Curiosities, showcasing objects, materials, and inspirations that further spark creative dialogue, while the atelier’s expansive layout allows for extended collaboration. Designed to foster collaboration, this private space empowers clients to bring their imaginations to life, crafting a motor car that is entirely personal and deeply meaningful.

Further reinforcing the marque’s position as a true House of Luxury, the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dubai City Walk showroom stands as a clear statement of intent: a space designed not only to showcase extraordinary motor cars, but to inspire imagination, celebrate individuality, and deliver an exceptional Bespoke client experience.

20 YEARS OF TALENT: ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS OPENS APPLICATION WINDOW FOR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMME

Tue, 3 Feb 2026 15:54:00 +0100

Rolls-Royce invites applications for its 2026 Apprenticeship programme
Rolls-Royce’s Apprenticeship programme was launched 20 years ago in 2006
Many former apprentices now hold senior positions at the Home of Rolls-Royce
Application window for all roles will remain open until 28 February 2026
Wide variety of practical training opportunities and nationally recognised qualifications available
To find out more, visit www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com/careers or email
futuretalent@rolls-roycemotorcars.com

“The Apprentice programme is something we are immensely proud of at Rolls-Royce, and it remains one of the most respected future talent programmes in the country. Our Apprentice programme was first launched 20 years ago, and many former apprentices continue to work at the Home of Rolls-Royce today, many of whom are now in senior managerial positions. Our apprentices gain hands-on experience across a broad range of business areas, including project management, manufacturing and engineering. They are vital to the continued development of our business, alongside the other Future Talent programmes at the Home of Rolls-Royce, including our Internship and Graduate schemes. With qualifications available from Level 2 right up to Level 6, we offer Apprenticeships suited to a wide range of ambitions, and we look forward to receiving applications and meeting prospective candidates over the coming weeks.”
Matthias Treubel, Director of Human Resources, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is now inviting applications for its 2026 Apprenticeship Programme. The application window will remain open until 28 February for all roles; applications can be made online, with open roles available to view on the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars careers portal.

The Apprenticeship programme is a key facet of the Rolls-Royce Future Talent scheme, which also includes Internships and Graduate Placements, and is one of the most respected in the UK. It offers successful candidates outstanding development opportunities in departments and functions across the company, as well as nationally recognised qualifications through local further and higher education partners.

The Rolls-Royce Apprentice scheme was first launched in 2006; since then, more than 200 people have completed the programme, the majority of whom remain employed at the Home of Rolls-Royce today. Those who complete the programme have a clear progression plan, with many former Apprentices now holding senior management positions within the company.

Rolls-Royce is seeking applications from young people with a wide range of prior experience, interests and educational backgrounds. Most Apprenticeships will begin in August 2026, with opportunities available in specialisms and at levels including:

Level 2 – two years, equivalent to GCSE

Interior Trim Centre
Vehicle Production
Industrial Sewing
Interior Surface Centre, Wood

Level 3 – three to four years, equivalent to A-Level

Exterior Surface Centre
Vehicle Production
Vehicle Paint Engineering & Maintenance
Metrology

Level 6 – four years, equivalent to undergraduate degree level

Vehicle Quality Management
Production Maintenance
Site Services
Sales Operations & Planning

Rolls-Royce has a carefully considered selection process designed to provide equal opportunity to prospective candidates, ensuring the right candidate is placed in an appropriate role. The process begins with setting up a candidate profile and completing the online application form, followed by an online assessment testing verbal and numerical skills. Successful candidates will then be invited to a face-to-face assessment centre in April 2026, with all applicants receiving detailed feedback on their performance.

To be able to craft the best motor cars in the world, Rolls-Royce needs the very best people, who possess the skills, dedication and potential to shape its products, services, client experience and commercial success for years to come. This continued investment in the future is also reflected in the landmark £300m+ extension project currently being undertaken at the Home of Rolls-Royce, the largest investment in the marque’s Goodwood headquarters since it first opened in 2003. This is the next step in the company’s commitment to creating value for clients by handcrafting the most complex, personal and valuable luxury goods, while providing an unparalleled client experience.

ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS APPOINTS NEW REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR UNITED KINGDOM, EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 13:51:00 +0100

John Beckley takes up position as Regional Director for the United Kingdom, Europe and Central Asia
Beckley assumed his new role from 1 January 2026 and is based at the Home of Rolls-Royce
He brings nearly three decades of experience across BMW Group and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
Beckley succeeds Boris Weletzky, who moves to a new position inside the BMW Group

“I am delighted to welcome John Beckley to his new role as Regional Director for the United Kingdom, Europe, and Central Asia – a significant and sizable geographical region which is extremely important to our business.

"John brings his extensive strategic and operational experience, having held several senior positions during his 20-year tenure within Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. His recent experiences, particularly within Sales and Bespoke, will ensure the continued momentum in these key markets underpinning the increasing requests for Bespoke Rolls-Royce. I wish John every success in his new role.

“John succeeds Boris Weletzky, whom I would like to thank for his contribution to Rolls-Royce’s success in the region and wish him well in his new senior role within the BMW Group.”
Julian Jenkins, Director of Sales & Brand, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced the appointment of John Beckley as Regional Director for the United Kingdom, Europe and Central Asia, effective 1 January 2026.

John brings deep strategic and operational experience across sales, Bespoke and brand leadership, built over almost 30 years within BMW Group and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. His appointment reflects the importance of a region that encompasses the marque’s home market and a diverse group of established and emerging luxury markets.

John began his career with the BMW Group in 1996 as an apprentice technician at a BMW dealership in the United Kingdom, progressing through the technical ranks, which saw him become one of the lead Field Product Engineers for BMW UK, later joining Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in 2008 as an Aftersales Manager. Since then, he has successfully transitioned to the sales side of our business and has held a series of senior roles across the business, including Regional Head of Sales, Global Bespoke General Manager and most recently Global Sales Steering and Performance roles. He also played a central role in the highly successful launch of Cullinan, extending the Rolls-Royce portfolio to clients seeking a different expression of Rolls-Royce.

He succeeds Boris Weletzky, who moves within the BMW Group to take up a senior role in the Motorrad division in Munich. Prior to Rolls-Royce, Boris held various leadership positions within the BMW Group. During his four-year stewardship, the United Kingdom, Europe and Central Asia region experienced consistent growth and long-term value creation.

SPECTACULAR, SINGULAR AND DISTINCTLY SUCCESSFUL: ROLLS-ROYCE PRESENTS BESPOKE TRENDS, INNOVATIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2025

Fri, 9 Jan 2026 09:59:00 +0100

Rolls-Royce clients’ passions and interests reflected in Bespoke trends of 2025
Themes extend from personal legacy and cultural symbolism to contemporary collectables
Reflects the success of Rolls-Royce Private Offices around the world: commissions from these creative hubs more than doubled year-on-year in 2025
New materials and innovations in 2025: Three-dimensional ink layering, marquetry and embroidery, 24-carat gold leafing, polished concrete and hand-painted Starlight Headliner
Most complex Bespoke Rolls-Royce Private Collection ever: Phantom Centenary
Rolls-Royce Cullinan most requested model in 2025, followed by Rolls-Royce Spectre
Significant year-on-year uplift in luxury lifestyle accessory commissions
£300m+ site extension to accommodate increasing Bespoke and Coachbuild demand

“In 2025, Rolls-Royce Bespoke reached new creative and technical heights, extending far beyond traditional boundaries. This was a year defined by thematic richness, global collaboration and artistic evolution. The astonishing creative execution of these themes is enabled through the extraordinary talents found at the Home of Rolls-Royce, our Bespoke Collective and the expanding reach of our Private Office spaces around the world. Our clients’ increasing interest and engagement in more ambitious commissions are realised in our joint pursuit of perfection. Every motor car is a singular expression of its owner’s vision, and together they reflect the spirit of innovation, craft, and cultural fluency that defines Rolls-Royce today.”
Chris Brownridge, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

2025 marked a defining year for Bespoke at Rolls-Royce, not only in terms of artistic output but in the evolution of craft, material expression, and the commissioning experience itself. It was also the first year of operation for the marque’s full suite of global Private Offices, located in Dubai, Seoul, Shanghai and New York, alongside the original Private Office at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood. These unique, creative and social spaces enable clients to collaborate more deeply and imaginatively than ever before, resulting in more than double the number of Private Office commissions year-on-year. Many of these personal visions led to the introduction of entirely new techniques, materials and approaches during 2025.

Several disciplines entered new dimensions, conceptually and literally, as embroidery, marquetry and printing were reimagined in sculptural form. These included self-supporting thread structures for 3D embroideries, specially developed 3D ink layering techniques and complex 3D marquetry. New materials such as 24-carat gold leaf, polished concrete and a patented fragrance concept for the interior suite of a Rolls-Royce further expanded the marque’s repertoire. Innovations such as a fully hand-painted Starlight Headliner demonstrated how traditional techniques continue to evolve within Rolls-Royce.

THE MOST COMPLEX PRIVATE COLLECTION EVER

The many Bespoke innovations in 2025 reflect a defining mindset: the vision comes first, and Rolls-Royce will shape the technology and material landscapes to meet it.

A vivid representation of this philosophy is Phantom Centenary Private Collection, the result of three years of development and more than 40,000 collective hours of painstaking work. Created to honour 100 years of the Phantom nameplate, this landmark collection was strictly limited to 25 examples and represents the most technologically complex and creatively ambitious Private Collection motor car in Rolls-Royce history.

The motor car is finished in a Bespoke two-tone exterior paint. Recalling the elegance and glamour of Hollywood’s black and white era, the lower body is presented in Arctic White, with the upper body in Black. The motor car’s exquisite lustre comes from the specially developed Super Champagne Crystal finish: Rolls-Royce paint specialists infused the clear coat with champagne-coloured particles and doubled the quantity to create spellbinding depth, giving the exterior an extraordinary metallic shimmer. This timeless treatment is crowned with a solid gold Spirit of Ecstasy.

Inside, this Private Collection tells Phantom’s remarkable story through a series of exceptional Bespoke features. They include the Anthology Gallery, which uses 50 3D, hand-polished aluminium fins engraved with quotes from 100 years of press acclaim; rear seats upholstered in high-resolution printed fabric, developed with a couture atelier and embroidered with 160,000 stitches to depict the people, places and moments that shaped Phantom’s legend; a Starlight Headliner that captures highlights from Phantom’s history using more than 440,000 stitches; and the most intricate woodwork ever crafted for a Rolls-Royce, incorporating 3D marquetry, 3D ink layering and 24-carat gold leafing. An unforgettable motor car, 100 years in the making.

DISTINCTIVE CREATIVE THEMES

The Bespoke motor cars of 2025 reveal a series of distinct creative themes. Some draw on legacy and love, shaped by personal stories, family journeys and intergenerational connections. Others explore the natural world, or reinterpret art, architecture and cultural symbolism through a contemporary lens. Together, they represent the most compelling creative directions of the year and reflect an ongoing expansion of what it means to create a Rolls-Royce.

Below, Rolls-Royce presents the defining themes and innovations of Bespoke in the past 12 months, illustrated through a selection of the 5,664 motor cars created for clients around the world in 2025.

FAMILY, MEMORY AND LEGACY

From childhood letters and generational gifts to celestial tributes and love stories, many of 2025’s commissions reflect personal legacies and intimate milestones.

Spectre Soulmate

This deeply personal commission was created to honour a couple’s extraordinary shared journey. Born in the same hospital, they came together later in life and built significant success while raising a child. The motor car is finished with a hand-painted coachline selected by their daughter, adding generational significance to the design.

Bespoke details include a Starlight Headliner replicating the constellations over Kuala Lumpur on the day their story began – a date that is also subtly engraved into the air vents. This motor car also marks the realisation of an ambition held for 45 years – at the age of 10, the client exchanged letters with the marque’s then-Chief Executive, stating that one day they hoped to become a Rolls-Royce owner.

Spectre Bailey

Commissioned by long-standing Rolls-Royce clients in the United States, Spectre Bailey is a one-of-one tribute to a cherished family dog. Outside, the motor car is finished in a unique two-tone finish based on the Labrador-Golden Retriever mix’s soft colouring. The exterior is subtly embellished with a hand-painted paw print coachline motif.

Inside, an exquisite, true-to-life marquetry portrait of Bailey is placed in the Waterfall section between the rear seats. Comprising 180 pieces from nine natural veneer types, it captures the character and warmth of this beloved pet in stunning detail. The interior palette also mirrors Bailey’s soft fur, perfectly suiting a passenger of such distinguished pedigree.

Cullinan Cosmos

Commissioned by a family with a shared fascination for space and distant galaxies, Cullinan Cosmos celebrates the drama of the stars with a constellation of Bespoke details. Its centrepiece is Rolls-Royce’s first-ever fully hand-painted Starlight Headliner, created over 160 hours by an in-house artist using 20 layers of paint.

A Bespoke Star Cluster motif appears on the door panel and passenger fascia, and as an exterior coachline motif. The commission is resolved with an Illuminated Spirit of Ecstasy, which glows like a distant star by night.

Ghost Extended Foundation

Commissioned by the owner of a leading construction company, this Ghost Extended was created with the intention of making it available to their firm’s employees: a gesture of appreciation to elevate the team’s personal milestones.

One distinctive feature is the rotary controller, which has been crafted from polished concrete using material sourced from one of the company’s most significant architectural projects. Developed in-house by the Bespoke Collective, the component required the creation of a bespoke, 3D-printed carrier to support the added material thickness. To achieve the necessary strength and finish, the concrete was blended with a specially developed composite, then carefully shaped, cured and turned using a custom-built chuck. Finally, the surface was hand-polished to a brilliant shine using fine abrasives typically reserved for jewellery making.

NATURE, PLACE AND THE ELEMENTS

Clients continued to look to the natural world to express resilience, renewal and serenity. These commissions often combined traditional craft with new material exploration.

Phantom Extended Cherry Blossom

Inspired by the Japanese tradition of Hanami, Phantom Cherry Blossom is a tribute to Sakura blooms and the fleeting beauty of springtime. Commissioned by a Japanese client, this Phantom Extended features more than 250,000 stitches within the interior and a Starlight Headliner embroidered with cascading cherry branches.

The rear passenger suite is a stage for the marque’s first use of sculptural 3D embroidery, with cherry petals formed from layered, self-supporting thread structures. A cherry blossom motif also adorns the coachline and umbrellas, placing the motor car and its passengers under a permanent flurry of falling petals.

Black Badge Cullinan Daisy

Commissioned by a client with a lifelong passion for hiking, Black Badge Cullinan Daisy is inspired by wildflowers seen on a favourite trail in the High Tatras mountains. With a hand-painted Daisy motif on the coachline, the commission reflects themes of perseverance and resilience drawn from the natural world.

Inside, the Daisy motif appears throughout: as an engraving on the veneers, an embroidery on the headrests, and concealed as a delicate design on the underside of the umbrellas, which stow within the doors. A Bespoke Starlight Headliner charts constellations in the client’s native northern latitudes – a celestial map for well-walked paths.

ART, CULTURE AND CONTEMPORARY COLLECTIBLES

From vintage video games and early couture to ancient mural painting, clients drew inspiration from artistic movements, historical materials, cultural symbols, and emerging asset classes.

Black Badge Ghost Gamer

Inspired by the 8-bit universe of vintage video games, Black Badge Ghost Gamer is coded with immersive Bespoke details and joystick-era Easter eggs. Commissioned by a technology entrepreneur from Asia-Pacific, the motor car is completed with a ‘Cheeky Alien’ coachline motif made of individually hand-painted ‘pixels’.

The interior features seat embroideries labelling each occupant from ‘Player 1’ to ‘Player 4’, and headrests emblazoned with ‘Cheeky Alien’ motifs, also made up from individually stitched pixels. Between the rear seats, the lid of the Champagne cooler incorporates a hand-painted lunar scene and inlaid metal UFOs, inspired by arcade game cabinet art. A Bespoke Illuminated Fascia depicts a gunship surging through the constellations, while a ‘Pixel Blaster’ Starlight Headliner features 80 bitmapped battlecruisers – complete with animated ‘laser fire’. Hidden inlays and engravings transform this commission into a stunningly realised game-like experience.

Phantom Dentelle

Commissioned through Private Office Dubai, Phantom Dentelle is a one‑of‑one tribute to the art of couture lace. Inspired by a rare ‘Leavers loom’ fabric, the design uses embroidery to translate delicate, 3D lace textures into the motor car’s Gallery and rear Waterfall section.

The interior features more than 230,000 stitches across eight embroidery techniques, combining Rose Gold, Oatmeal and Sunrise threads to evoke pearls and floral filigree. A Bespoke two‑tone exterior is finished with a hand-painted coachline motif and a Rose Gold Spirit of Ecstasy, echoing the design’s soft elegance.

Phantom Dragon

Commissioned by a Chinese client to mark the lunar Year of the Dragon, this one-of-one Phantom Extended is a contemporary tribute to one of China’s fabled legends. Inspired by the tale of two dragons and a divine pearl, the design symbolises kindness, harmony and enlightenment – themes reflected throughout the motor car’s interior.

At its centre is a spectacular marquetry Gallery, crafted from 297 pieces of four different wood species. It depicts two dragons swirling through clouds, guarding a central pearl, represented by a Bespoke clock. This motif is mirrored on the Bespoke Starlight Headliner, which depicts two dragons through 768 red and 576 white fibre-optic ‘stars’, individually hand-fitted, providing a celestial stage for an extraordinary legend.

Chinese Mural Art Tribute

Commissioned through Private Office Shanghai, this trio of unique motor cars draws on the mural paintings of Dunhuang – an ancient landmark located along the Silk Road. A Silken Spirit motif, inspired by imperial silk and the Spirit of Ecstasy, links all three commissions and appears across exterior coachlines, embroideries, wood inlays and illuminated features.

The Phantom Extended features a hand-painted leather Gallery, embroidered Starlight Headliner and stainless-steel inlays. The Black Badge Cullinan introduces a new Danqian Pink exterior hue, while the Black Badge Spectre presents a Bespoke colour named Qingshan Blue, dramatised with a Turchese Illuminated Grille – each a modern tribute to ancient artistry.

EXPANDING THE LANGUAGE OF BESPOKE

In 2025, the growth of Bespoke at Rolls-Royce extended beyond motor cars, as clients increasingly looked to the marque to express their tastes and preferences in their private spaces. Rolls-Royce responded with a growing range of exclusive lifestyle items that bring Bespoke into clients’ homes and professional worlds.

Requests for table-top, boutique pieces increased by 13% year-on-year, reflecting a broader shift in how clients engage with the marque’s creative capabilities. Among the most popular items was the charming Rolls-Royce Cameo desktop sculpture, which premiered in a bold new Black Badge treatment in 2025 and saw demand rise by more than 50%.

Also launched in 2025, the Rolls-Royce Chess Set reimagines one of the world’s most revered strategy games as a sculptural, hand-crafted centrepiece for the home. Featuring leather-lined drawers, magnetised ceramic-coated aluminium pieces, and a board crafted from hand-finished veneers and polished aluminium, the set is both playable and highly collectable. Clients can individualise their sets with a choice of leather colours, echoing the commissioning process of a Bespoke motor car. Building on this success, the marque will expand its board game collection in 2026.

BUILDING FOR A BESPOKE FUTURE

As clients explore ever more ambitious expressions of Bespoke, supported by the global Private Office network, Rolls-Royce is building for an even more ambitious future. The year saw rapid progress on the marque’s site extension at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood. Above-ground construction began in February 2025, and the building was declared weathertight in November.

This £300m+ investment will provide additional space and state-of-the-art facilities for Bespoke and the marque’s Coachbuild division, enabling more and increasingly complex commissions to be undertaken. In 2026, the first technologies will move into the new building, with completion of the project expected before the end of the decade.