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RollsRoyce

BLACK BADGE CULLINAN ‘BLUE SHADOW’: A BESPOKE JOURNEY TO THE EDGE OF SPACE

  • Rolls-Royce Motor Cars unveils stunning Black Badge Cullinan ‘Blue Shadow’ Private Collection
  • Inspired by the Kármán Line – the mysterious invisible boundary 62 miles above the Earth’s surface, where outer space begins
  • Limited to 62 examples worldwide, available exclusively through Rolls-Royce Private Office
  • ‘Edge of Space’ fascia artwork finished in lacquer incorporating blue and clear glass
  • ‘Lunar’ Starlight Headliner features 250,000 stitches and 1,183 fibre-optic ‘stars’
  • Leather seating with 75,000 individual perforations creates unique impression of ‘Earth from space’
  • A matching Bespoke car cover, luggage set and 1:8 scale model replica of Blue Shadow available to commission

“With Black Badge Cullinan Blue Shadow, we venture to the fabled Kármán Line, where the constraints of Earth give way to the infinite freedom of outer space: a zone of incomparable beauty, mystery and boundless possibility. In creating Blue Shadow, the Bespoke Collective of designers, engineers and craftspeople captured this spirit by embarking on their own voyage of discovery, once again pushing the boundaries of craftsmanship. Blue Shadow is a testament to our relentless pursuit of perfection and a celebration of the spirit of exploration, designed for the unique individuals who expand horizons and represent the very best of human endeavour.”
Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Rolls-Royce is delighted to present the stunning Black Badge Cullinan ‘Blue Shadow’ Private Collection, exploring the beauty and mystery of space. For this unique creation, leading Rolls-Royce designers drew inspiration from the Kármán Line, the invisible boundary 62 miles above the Earth’s surface, where our planet’s atmosphere ends and outer space begins.

In this mystical, ethereal region, the blue of the sky we see on Earth fades into the blackness of space, creating an intense dark-blue zone where darkness becomes visible. It is a beautiful, silent, mysterious world reserved for a select and adventurous few, perfectly encapsulating the essence of Blue Shadow.

This new Bespoke interpretation of Black Badge Cullinan is available exclusively through the marque’s Private Offices and is strictly limited to just 62 examples globally, one for every mile from Earth to the Kármán Line.

EXTERIOR: THE SHADES OF BLUE
The extraordinary, shimmering new Bespoke ‘Stardust Blue’ exterior paint captures the deep blue colour of the upper layers of the Earth’s atmosphere. The finish of the thermal tiles used to shield homebound Space Shuttles from the intense heat of atmospheric re-entry are recalled in the satin-tinted grille surround and aero bumper insert sets.

Drawing further from the materials used in spacecrafts, the Spirit of Ecstasy is created using 3D printing techniques in titanium and finished with a thin layer of blue-tinted lacquer which adds pearlescence while revealing the titanium’s grained texture. The Black Badge infinity logo and ‘Blue Shadow’ Private Collection name are engraved on the Spirit of Ecstasy base and infilled with Charles Blue. Completing the exterior aesthetic, Blue Shadow’s wheels are subtly darkened using a translucent lacquer.

INTERIOR: ELEVATED PERSPECTIVE
At the Kármán line, the visible edge of Earth’s atmosphere appears as an ethereal blue halo. This transition from blue sky to the inky darkness of space is captured on Blue Shadow’s unique painted fascia and door panels. These were created using six layers of paint, combining five different shades of blue with a deep black hue to produce a mesmerizing three-dimensional effect. The final touch is a clear-coat layer incorporating blue and clear glass particles to add further depth and lustre – the ratio was precisely identified down to a fraction of a percent: it is exactly 0.05%.  The fascia is completed with a Bespoke clock, unique to the Private Collection, which features light blue anodized details and ‘Blue Shadow’ engraving.

‘EDGE OF SPACE’ HEADLINER
With ‘Blue Shadow’, Rolls-Royce have taken the marque’s fabled Starlight Headliner to an even more stellar level: an intricate Moon embroidery, surrounded by an array of ‘stars’, teleports the passengers to the edge of space.  Representing the Moon’s surface with its multitude of craters in three dimensions, the embroidery incorporates five different colours of thread, each applied with a different technique to produce a distinctive texture. In total, the embroidery is created from 250,000 separate stitches – a process that takes two entire days to complete.

Filling the cabin with a gentle glow and a sense of wonder, the Starlight Headliner contains a total of 1,183 ‘stars’ – 799 white and 384 blue – each individually placed in the leather canvas through perforated holes, precisely chalked and punched by hand. To add to the Headliner’s mystique and ambiance, the twinkling effect of the fibre-optic ‘stars’ is further enhanced for an even more enchanting glow.

NEW ART CANVAS: PERFORATED LEATHER
In a first for Rolls-Royce, the front and rear seats feature a unique perforated artwork, inspired by the view of Earth from space. Formed from a multitude of tiny perforations in the leather, the pattern conjures up the impression of organic, ever-shifting clouds swirling over the continents and oceans.

These perforations are made in two different sizes: the smaller (just 0.8 mm in diameter) form the land, while the slightly larger (1.2 mm) define the sea; the blank spaces of leather in between represent the clouds. Each seat has over 75,000 perforations, all individually placed. The pattern took two weeks to design and underwent five trials before it attained the exceptional level of quality required by the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective. The result is perfect alignment of the design, ensuring a cohesive, uniform appearance across all four seats.

The seats’ perforation pattern is extended to the picnic table backs. Once lowered, the picnic tables themselves are finished in Piano Black veneer and incorporate a glass sparkle finish, evoking the view into the darkness of space. Each table also includes the Collection theme text, inlaid in polished aluminium beneath the top lacquer layer – ‘The Blue Shadow occurs at the outer extremes of our world, affording an extraordinary perspective, and the ability to touch the stars’.

BESPOKE ACCESSORIES
The Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective created a series of unique accessories to complement Black Badge Cullinan Blue Shadow. The exclusive indoor car cover echoes the pattern seen on the seats. To accompany the driver and passengers on their adventures, there is a unique luggage set that continues the Private Collection’s colourway. Clients can also commission an exact 1:8 scale replica of their full-size Black Badge Cullinan Blue Shadow, featuring fully functioning exterior and interior lights, opening and closing coach doors and an interior recreating all the Collection details, including the Bespoke Illuminated Collection Treadplates.

Black Badge Cullinan ‘Blue Shadow’ is available exclusively via the Private Office. All 62 examples have been allocated to clients worldwide.

Black Badge Cullinan: NEDCcorr (combined) CO2 emission: 343 g/km; Fuel consumption: 18.7 mpg / 15.1 l/100km  WLTP (combined) CO2 emission: 377-370 g/km; Fuel consumption: 17.0-17.3 mpg / 16.6-16.3 l/100km.

RollsRoyce

ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS ANNOUNCES NEW REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR GREATER CHINA

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced that Anthony Zhao has been appointed Regional Director for Greater China, transitioning into the role on 1 June 2023.

As one of the world’s leading luxury markets, China is of crucial strategic significance for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Known for its young and eclectic luxury clientele, China is expected to become the marque’s largest market in the next few years.

Anthony Zhao has extensive knowledge and experience in China, particularly in the South of the country, which is renowned as a global hub for luxury. Anthony has a deep understanding of the region and the ultra-high-net-worth Chinese luxury consumers, whose unique tastes and appetite for highly bespoke products attract them to Rolls-Royce’s model range. With a strong client focus, he brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having achieved significant success in a range of senior management positions within the industry, including over the last seven years as Head of Sales, South Region, BMW Brilliance Automotive.

Henrik Wilhelmsmeyer, Director of Sales and Brand for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars said, “I am delighted to welcome Anthony Zhao to the Rolls-Royce team as Regional Director for Greater China. He has an outstanding track record, and his broad experience in the vitally important Chinese market means he is ideally suited to this position. I worked closely with Anthony during my own time working in China and he greatly impressed me with his capabilities. Greater China plays a crucial strategic role in Rolls-Royce’s global success, and I look forward to working with Anthony to build on our strong position in the region.”

Leon Li, previously Regional Director of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Greater China, has left the company in order to pursue other business interests.

RollsRoyce

ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS CELEBRATES WORLD BEE DAY BY INSPIRING YOUNG MINDS AT ITS APIARY IN DUBAI

  • Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Middle East & Africa and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dubai, AGMC join apiculturists, naturalists and conservationists around the world in observing World Bee Day
  • Over 60 schoolchildren have visited the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Apiary in Dubai this year, learning about the critical role bees play in our lives

“As pollinators for numerous flowering plants, bees are absolutely critical to biodiversity and human food production. World Bee Day is a reminder that conserving and protecting these fascinating and incredibly important species is of the utmost importance. We’re delighted to mark World Bee Day this year at our wonderful Dubai Apiary, which has welcomed over 60 of the city’s brightest young minds to immerse themselves in the magical world of bees and aid us in our mission to raise awareness of the threats facing these amazing creatures.”
 César Habib, Regional Director , Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Middle East & Africa

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Middle East & Africa, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dubai, AGMC, marked World Bee Day on Saturday 20 May 2023 with a unique educational event. A group of 19 students of different ages from local schools visited the magnificent Rolls-Royce Apiary, nestled within the lush grounds of Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, where they took part in a variety of bee-related activities.

After an introduction and Q&A session, the students toured the apiary, observing the different stages of the bees’ lifecycle, and learning about the role of the ‘Emirati Queen’ bee as the centre of hive society, and the importance of pollination. They also discovered how the apiary’s six hives were designed and built specifically to withstand Dubai’s climate. Equipped with their new knowledge, the students were then enlisted as junior beekeepers and put to work extracting honey, then learning how to identify ‘real’ honey from counterfeit product during a special tasting. The students also made seed bombs, an ingenious and effective method of sowing wildflowers and other plants which serve as a fundamental source of sustenance for bees.

The Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Apiary in Dubai was established on World Bee Day in 2021. It’s modelled on the highly successful apiary at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, England, where six palatial hives have sustained a colony of over 250,000 European honey bees since 2017. Over 60 local schoolchildren have visited the Dubai Apiary to date in 2023.

As important pollinators for the majority of the world’s wild flowering plant species and more than 75% of global food crops, bees play a fundamental role in biodiversity, healthy ecosystems and food security. However, their populations have declined globally over recent decades due to changes in farming practices and land-use, habitat loss, pesticides and rising temperatures linked to climate change. To raise awareness of the importance of bees and the threats they face, the UN designated 20 May as World Bee Day, encouraging the world to protect these pollinators and their habitats.

THE ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS DUBAI APIARY

Like the original at the Home of Rolls-Royce, the Dubai Apiary comprises of six hives named ‘Phantom’, ‘Ghost’, ‘Wraith’, ‘Dawn’, ‘Cullinan’, and ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’. Made from cedar, and painted white to withstand the city’s high temperatures and humidity levels, the Apiary is home to some 60,000 bees, and six ‘Emirati Queens’, generously provided by the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) and carefully tended by experts from The Beekeepers Foundation, UAE.

Since its launch, which coincided with the World Bee Day on 20 May 2021, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Middle East & Africa and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dubai (AGMC) have been actively involved in helping to educate the public about the importance of these remarkable creatures in our ecosystem.

“The Rolls-Royce Apiary is a project that is very close to my heart and incredibly important to all of us at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Middle East & Africa, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, AGMC. Under the supervision of the Beekeepers Foundation in Dubai, the Apiary serves as a refuge to help bees and other pollinator species to thrive, and to see the Apiary not only educate but inspire bright and curious minds is something that we are very proud of. I would like to thank all the volunteers, Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club for their exceptional dedication and support with our Apiary initiative.”
 Rami Joudi, Regional PR & Communications Manager, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Middle East & Africa

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ROLLS-ROYCE CELEBRATES LONDON CRAFT WEEK: FROM GOODWOOD TO THE FRENCH RIVIERA

  • Rolls-Royce Motor Cars showcases glorious Bespoke craft at this year’s London Craft Week
  • Inspiration for London Craft Week taken from the French Riviera
  • Remarkable pieces of craftsmanship will be on display at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London, for the duration of the event, from 8 to 14 May 2023

“As a brand that has always been synonymous with luxury, refined elegance, and exacting levels of craftsmanship, London Craft Week is an important event in our annual calendar. I am delighted to unveil our portfolio of stunning Bespoke craftsmanship, which will be on display at our flagship residence in Mayfair for the duration of the event. These beautiful examples of craftsmanship are indicative of the marque’s Bespoke capabilities. The inspiration behind these magnificent works of craftsmanship, created in honour of the event, comes from the French Riviera, a destination many miles away from the Home of Rolls-Royce but a location synonymous with luxury, beauty, and elegance, just like a Rolls-Royce.”
Boris Weletzky, Regional Director – UK, Europe, and Central Asia

To celebrate the ninth year of London Craft Week, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will debut a remarkable exhibition of craftsmanship at the marque’s flagship residence in Mayfair. For this year’s event, the marque has selected the theme of Location, with a spotlight on the iconic, breathtaking, and lavish strip of coastline that is the French Riviera.

Having previously sought inspiration for London Craft Week directly from the Home of Rolls-Royce, on the Goodwood Estate, in West Sussex, this year, Rolls-Royce designers have sought inspiration from a place further afield, but still highly relevant and synonymous with Rolls-Royce: The French Riviera.

Part of the marque’s ongoing success rests on a deep understanding of the unique world in which the illustrious community of Rolls-Royce clientele live. Internationally renowned for its glamourous events, super luxurious lifestyle, stunning scenery, unrivalled views and sparkling hues of the Mediterranean, the French Riviera has long been a popular destination for Rolls-Royce clients, making it a befitting choice as the theme of this year’s event.

The French Riviera has also been associated with Rolls-Royce since the early part of 20th Century, when the Côte d’Azur established itself as the favoured haunt of actors, artists, musicians, and other wealthy leading lights of the Belle Epoque. There is also a highly potent connection between the marque and the area: in 1912, Sir Henry Royce built his villa, La Mimosa, in the village of Le Canadel, where he subsequently spent every winter until his death in 1933.

SHORELINE INSPIRED FASCIA

For this year’s event, artisans from the marque’s Interior Surface Centre have drawn inspiration from the beautiful beaches of The Riviera, to meticulously craft a special shoreline inspired Fascia. To replicate the idyllic golden sands, the lightest in the marque’s portfolio of veneers, Ash Burr, was selected. A special ‘candy’ paint – a light translucent paint that gradually builds up to appear darker in colour – was created specifically for the exhibition by the marque’s in-house colour experts and was chosen to mimic the deep hues of the Mediterranean waters. To showcase the movement, myriad of colours, and depths of the sea, one talented individual sketched the outline of the waves, and then carefully spray-painted layers upon layers of paint at different angles and lengths. A delicate brush was then used to gently draw on the finer details of the waves. Once the hand painting was finished, this magnificent piece of artwork was lacquered multiple times before being meticulously hand polished to achieve a perfectly smooth finish.

RIVIERA INSPIRED HEADLINER

Drawing inspiration from the local Riviera architecture, the talented Collective of artisans at the Home of Rolls-Royce have created a true work of art as the headliner. One highly creative artisan hand painted a beautiful image of a coastal town in the French Riviera onto Turchese leather, before this one-of-a-kind headliner was embroidered with stitching in four different colours – Lemon, Iceland Moss, Sheida Pink and Fame Green – to replicate the vivacious hues typical for the region. To finish this masterpiece, 3D flowers, made entirely from thread, were hand sculpted and individually embroidered onto the main canvas piece. Delicate beads were then added to the centre of the flower before being sewn onto the headliner. This magnificent headliner, with all its delicate and intricate details, took the marque’s team of talented artisans over 100 hours to create.

COACHLINE MOTIF

Continuing the Riviera theme, Rolls-Royce’s highly skilled artisans working in the Exterior Surface Centre have created four Coachline motifs: a sailing boat, gently bobbing up and down on the water; waves; a parasol; and a Riviera-style town. These beautiful Coachline motifs are presented on an Arctic White panel, with an additional clearcoat, infused with a combination of shimmering champagne and blue glass crystals.

BESPOKE UMBRELLA

To complete the exhibition, the world’s leading luxury marque has created a one-off Bespoke umbrella for the occasion. Presented in two-tone Turchese and Arctic White, this Bespoke umbrella is a truly befitting addition to this year’s exhibition.

These unique pieces are indicative of the marque’s fluency in Bespoke and will be displayed in the window of Rolls-Royce’s flagship showroom, Berkeley Street, Mayfair, from 8 to 14 May 2023.

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£4BN FOR ‘UK PLC’: ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS – THE GREAT BRITISH SUCCESS STORY

  • Rolls-Royce Motor Cars unveils results of landmark Economic Impact Analysis
  • Total contribution to the UK economy since 2003 stands at more than £4 billion
  • Annual contribution to economy now exceeds half a billion pounds Sterling
  • Rolls-Royce is one of the largest employers in West Sussex, supporting 2,500+ full-time equivalent jobs
  • A further 7,500 jobs are supported in the wider supply chain
  • Major intangible and spill-over economic and community benefits
  • Includes training and education, knowledge and skills transfer within supplier companies and support for local charities and social enterprise
  • Independent study undertaken by London School of Economics (LSE)


“Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is a Great British success story. As we mark 20 years of production at our Home in Goodwood, we do so in the knowledge that not only have we produced some of the world’s most significant super-luxury products, we have also made a major economic contribution to the English county we are based in and, crucially, ‘UK PLC’. Today, I am delighted to unveil the exceptional results of the first ever independent survey of our company’s economic impact locally in Chichester, in the surrounding area and nationally. Conducted for us by the London School of Economics, the study confirms that Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is a major economic contributor and one of the largest employers in West Sussex. As the nation enters a new era with the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, we are proud to represent the very best of British excellence and endeavour. Through our rare crafts and craftsmanship, international customer base and products admired and cherished worldwide, we are sustaining thousands of skilled jobs and playing a key role in promoting the UK’s reputation as a hub of creativity and innovation.”
 Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

“Rolls-Royce Motor Cars represents some of the very best of British design and manufacturing, and the Goodwood success story has been a proud part of Chichester and West Sussex’s heritage and local economy.

We’ve seen a whole generation of quality jobs and cutting-edge skills created over the past 20 years, and I can’t wait to see what the next 20 will hold as Rolls-Royce continues to expand and grow.”
The Rt Hon Gillian Keegan, Member of Parliament, Chichester

As Rolls-Royce Motor Cars marks two decades of production at Goodwood, a landmark survey reveals the company’s full and extraordinary impact on both the local and national economies.

The independent study, the first commissioned by Rolls-Royce in its history, was led by Dr Alexander Grous of the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) and includes figures up to and including 2022. Furthermore, this study is clear proof that, by putting exceptional products into the hands of the world’s most influential people, Great Britain secures its place as a centre of design, craft and engineering excellence on the world stage and, by extension, the nation benefits.

OVERALL ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION
The LSE report shows that since production began at Goodwood in 2003, Rolls-Royce has contributed more than £4 billion to the UK economy, serving as a flagship of the nation’s luxury and automotive sectors and, crucially, ‘UK PLC’. This contribution is long-term and sustainable. Rolls-Royce invests around £10 million every year in its facilities and operations to support its production, reflected in a series of ‘record years’ peaking to date in 2022 at over 6,000 motor cars sold worldwide. Rolls-Royce is also able to confirm its standing as one of the largest employers in West Sussex, England.

SUPPORTING JOBS LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY
More than 2,500 people are employed at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, including 150 jobs created in 2022 alone. The company also supports more than 7,500 additional full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs within its wider national supply chain. Importantly, Rolls-Royce did not make a single redundancy during the Covid-19 pandemic – one of very few UK manufacturers to maintain its workforce entirely intact.

As one of the largest employers in West Sussex, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has a substantial positive impact on the local economy. Around 20% of its total annual contribution is generated directly within West Sussex and bordering counties, including salaries and wages of staff employed at the Home of Rolls-Royce. In addition, the company also operates its Technology and Logistics Centre (TLC) eight miles away in Bognor Regis, which supports a further 1,000 direct and indirect jobs.

INDIRECT AND INTANGIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS
Rolls-Royce contributes to the local and national knowledge economies through its leading-edge R&D in fields including hardware, software, electrification, digitalisation and vehicle connectivity. These activities are growing rapidly in both scale and importance, with Rolls-Royce committed to all-electric propulsion by the end of 2030.

The LSE study notes that Rolls-Royce encourages significant innovation, development and improvements within its wider supply chain. Many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have adopted new technologies, processes and practices to meet Rolls-Royce’s exacting requirements, raising standards and boosting competitiveness across a wide swathe of the UK’s manufacturing base.

Rolls-Royce also produces important intangible benefits for the local economy and population. For example, every year it supports more than 100 apprenticeship, graduate and intern positions, in partnership with local further and higher education institutions, leading to well-paid and highly skilled employment opportunities. The company enjoys close ties with surrounding communities: recent projects include developing a dedicated new car park for The March CE Primary School which adjoins the Goodwood site, and supporting local mentoring and work-based initiatives. In addition, employees nominate their House Charity each year, raising significant sums for local good causes.

A CONTINUING SUCCESS STORY
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has formally announced proposals to expand the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood. It has acquired land to the east of the current site and planning permission will be sought later this year.

The project’s primary objective is to upgrade the manufacturing plant; some facilities and equipment are now 20 years old and require replacement and upgrading. The company is also looking to increase capacity for its Bespoke and Coachbuild operations, as well as preparing for its new generation of electric vehicles. The first customer deliveries of the all-electric super-coupé, Rolls-Royce Spectre, are due in the fourth quarter of 2023: all new Rolls-Royce models will be electric by the end of 2030.

The expansion does not, however, signal any shift in the marque’s fundamental approach or values: Rolls-Royce is not, never has been and never will be a volume-driven business. The new facility will reflect the fact that the marque is no longer simply an automotive manufacturer, but a true luxury house creating the world’s best, most recognised and highly prized Bespoke products.

RollsRoyce

THE GHOST OF MANCHESTER PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

  • Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Manchester unveils one-of-one Manchester Ghost
  • Extensively Bespoke Manchester Ghost celebrates the historical resonance of the city for the marque, the remarkable accomplishments achieved by the people of Manchester and the city today
  • The first Rolls-Royce to be inspired by the city of Manchester

 

“I am proud to unveil the Manchester Ghost, a truly special one-of-one embodiment of artistry and skill, curated in collaboration with our Dealer Partners from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Manchester. As Charles Rolls and Henry Royce first met in Manchester, the city has, and always will have, a potent historical resonance for the marque. Our accomplished artisans, designers and engineers at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, West Sussex have created a truly remarkable motor car, capturing the city’s history, and the city today, as well as celebrating some of its most remarkable accomplishments. The Manchester Ghost brings together the Home of Rolls-Royce where each motor car is hand built and the city where the original idea for Rolls-Royce was born.”
Boris Weletzky, Regional Director of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, United Kingdom, Europe, CIS

A unique and extensively Bespoke one-of-one Ghost has been designed for Manchester, to celebrate the city’s historical link with the marque. The northern metropolis has long been an important place for Rolls-Royce: on 4th May 1904, Charles Rolls and Henry Royce first met in the Midland Hotel, in central Manchester, and it was from this meeting that the marque’s two founding fathers agreed together to create ‘the best motor car in the world’. This is the first time, however, that the city of Manchester has been chosen as the inspiration for a Rolls-Royce commission.

The combined talent of the Bespoke Collective at the Home of Rolls-Royce saw designers, craftspeople and artisans collaborate over a period of two years to create this motor car. Designer Ieuan Hatherall explains:

“Manchester has always been a part of Rolls-Royce’s history. I wanted to create a highly contemporary yet elegant iteration of Ghost, honouring the significance of the city for the marque and celebrating the accomplishments of the people of Manchester whilst also incorporating the melange of Manchester’s modern and traditional architecture.”

MANCHESTER BEE

The Manchester Bee, one of the best-known symbols of the city and emblem for the city for more than 150 years, has been a source of great inspiration for this motor car. The Manchester Bee symbolises Mancunians’ strong work ethic and the city being a hive of activity. On the exterior of this unique motor car, a Bespoke motif, inspired by the Manchester Bee and presented in Turchese, is displayed on the C pillar. Inside, the Manchester Bee theme continues, with this iconic symbol embroidered on the front and rear seat inserts.

The traditional Silver exterior of the Manchester Ghost is punctuated with a coachline in Turchese, creating a contemporary accent to the car. The pinstripe wheel centre caps, also presented in Turchese, echo the design, while the brake callipers in the same hue elegantly complete the exterior.

ILLUMINATED FASCIA

For the Manchester Ghost, a truly special Illuminated Fascia, with 10,000 laser etched dots, depicts an ethereal view of Manchester from above. The largest etched dot on the Illuminated Fascia represents the location of the Midland Hotel, the very place where the marque’s two founding fathers first met at the start of the twentieth century. The Illuminated Fascia references the title of the poem ‘This is the Place’ by Tony Walsh, a sentimental tribute to the city of Manchester.

REAR SEAT EMBROIDERY

Landmark locations in Manchester are embroidered in tone-on-tone thread to the rear seat centre and demonstrate the unrivalled capabilities of the Bespoke department.

GRAPHENE HEADLINER

In 2004, two professors at the University of Manchester first isolated Graphene, an incredibly lightweight, strong and flexible material. The discovery of this material, with its unique properties, helped to reaffirm Manchester as a city renowned for revolutionary inventions, academic expertise, and research. This Bespoke commission celebrates this pioneering spirit, with the fabled Rolls-Royce headliner depicting a Graphene lattice inspired pattern.

ILLUMINATED TREADPLATES

The illuminated treadplates also celebrate Manchester’s reputation as a pioneer in the field of technology. Inside the cabin doors, the abbreviated name for the city, ‘MCR’ is inscribed in Binary. This is a tribute to ‘The Manchester Baby’, the world’s first stored programmed electronic digital computer which was successfully run at the University of Manchester on 21st June 1948 – a landmark moment in the history of computing.

“As a born and bred Mancunian, this commission is truly special and will always be highly memorable for me. From the moment we set out to design a motor car to celebrate the city of Manchester, we wanted to create something that would celebrate the city’s history and the place today. It has been great to work with the team at Home of Rolls-Royce to turn our vision into a reality.”
Jon Crossley, Brand Director, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Manchester

NEDCcorr (combined) CO2 emission: 343 g/km; Fuel consumption: 18.8 mpg / 15.0 l/100km. WLTP (combined) CO2 emission: 359-347 g/km; Fuel consumption: 17.9-18.6 mpg / 15.8-15.2 l/100km.

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ROLLS-ROYCE BLACK BADGE WRAITH BLACK ARROW: A MAGNIFICENT END TO A TRANSFORMATIVE ERA

  • Rolls-Royce Motor Cars presents Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow Collection
  • The final examples of Wraith, the most powerful Rolls-Royce in history
  • Collection of 12 cars celebrates Wraith, which transformed perceptions of Rolls-Royce
  • The last V12 coupé the marque will ever build ahead of its all-electric future
  • Introduces Gradient Paint, one of the most complex surface finishes Rolls-Royce has ever produced
  • Design concept inspired by Thunderbolt,which set world land speed records in the 1930s
  • Incorporates illuminated Thunderbolt Speedform between front seats
  • Record-breaking Bespoke Starlight Headliner, featuring 2,117 fibre-optic ‘stars’
  • Each interior door panel made of 320 marquetry pieces to create dramatic, tactile surface
  • Debuts new ‘Club Leather’ interior surface treatment


“Wraith is one of the most significant and influential cars we have ever made at Goodwood. Its extraordinary power, performance and presence opened the Rolls-Royce brand to an entirely new group of clients. It created its own following within contemporary culture and then expanded that further in its alternative Black Badge guise. As the last examples of this landmark motor car get ready to leave Goodwood, we commemorate Wraith’s status as the last series V12 coupé we will ever make. Both Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow and its inspiration, the V12-powered land speed record-holding Thunderbolt of the thirties, represent the culmination of many long years of achievement, and the end of their respective eras. This magnificent final V12 coupé Collection captures both the significance and spirit of Wraith through the marque’s hallmark and peerless Bespoke capabilities. A fitting finale for this transformative motor car.”
 Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars today unveils Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow to mark the end of production of one of the most transformative motor cars in the marque’s history. This Bespoke masterpiece, limited to just 12 examples worldwide, is also the last V12 coupé Rolls-Royce will ever make, as it embarks on its bold new electric era.

WRAITH: A CULTURAL ICON

Launched in 2013, Wraith is one of the most important and influential models ever designed and built at Goodwood. More performance-focused than its predecessors Phantom and Ghost, Wraith fundamentally altered perceptions of Rolls-Royce and brought new, younger customer groups to the brand for the first time. Its wider cultural significance is underlined by countless references to the Wraith in music, cinema, art and fashion.

THE V12 CONNECTION

Wraith’s dramatic ‘fastback’ silhouette signalled the motor car’s dynamic intent, which was further amplified in 2016, with the introduction of Black Badge Wraith: a potent, subversive and even more powerful expression of this transformative motor car, offering some of the highest levels of performance ever achieved by a V12-powered Rolls-Royce.

Yet when considering how best to mark the end of the Wraith era, Goodwood’s designers and engineers took inspiration for the Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow Collection from an equally significant V12 in Rolls-Royce’s long and storied legacy. In 1938, Captain George Eyston – whose bold, brave endeavours encapsulate the Black Badge spirit – set a world land speed record of 357.497 mph (575.335 km/h) with Thunderbolt, a seven-tonne, eight-wheeled leviathan equipped with two Rolls-Royce V12 ‘R’ Series aero engines. The outbreak of the Second World War in the following year ended Eyston’s endeavours; all subsequent records have been set with different engine types and configurations, enshrining Thunderbolt in perpetuity as the fastest V12-powered motor car ever built.

Thunderbolt’s record attempts took place on the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. Against the glare of the brilliant white surface, and under a blazing desert sun, the reflections from the car’s polished aluminium body made it almost impossible to tell precisely when it passed the timing equipment. Eyston’s simple but ingenious solution was to paint a large black arrow on the car’s sides, incorporating a yellow central circle motif that could be seen clearly even at high speed. This is what gives today’s Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow Collection both its name and unique historical context.

GRADIENT PAINT

Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow’s exclusive Bespoke finish features a full colour graduation between two tones – Celebration Silver and Black Diamond. A glass-infused ‘Crystal’ paint over layer has been applied to the Black Diamond paint to enhance the transition between the two colours, achieving a striking motion blur effect from front to rear. This exclusive Bespoke technique also gives the coachwork a subtle texture inspired by the crusted surface of the Bonneville Salt Flats, set beneath a high gloss lacquer, which is polished for more than 12 hours to achieve a glass-like finish.

The realisation of this extraordinary finish required the marque to undertake 18 months of surface testing and development before the marque’s Bespoke Collective of engineers, craftspeople and designers achieved a result befitting to Rolls-Royce standards. The total investment in time developing the material chemistry, application technique and surface finishing makes Gradient Paint one of the most technically complex paints that Rolls-Royce has ever created.

CONTRAST PALETTE

Contrast to the Gradient Paint is provided by Bright Yellow bumper inserts and Bespoke wheel pinstripes, subtly recalling the yellow circle within Thunderbolt’s black arrow. In another Rolls-Royce first, Black Arrow’s V-struts, located behind the radiator grille and in front of the engine, are also finished in Bright Yellow, subtly drawing the eye to the V12 engine behind the Black Badge dark chrome grille surround. This use of Bright Yellow extends to the base of the motor car’s layered carbon fibre Spirit of Ecstasy, which incorporates a Bright Yellow ring detail and an engraving of the Collection name.

V12 LEGACY FASCIA

To commemorate Rolls-Royce’s last-ever V12 coupé, the marque’s Bespoke Collective of designers, craftspeople and engineers collaborated to create a unique artwork for Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow’s fascia. The intricate, tactile design skilfully depicts the contemporary V12 engine in Wraith. In keeping with the Black Badge family’s noir ambience, the highly complex design – itself the product of two months of development – is engraved in a single sheet of black-coated aluminium to reveal the gleaming metal beneath, providing a bold visual link to Thunderbolt’s polished aluminium body.

BESPOKE VENEER

Black Arrow’s coach doors are lined with open-pore Black Wood, in a complex design comprising over 320 multi-directional and lasered marquetry pieces that mimics the cracked, irregular surface of the Bonneville Salt Flats. This extraordinary feature also extends onto the rear ‘Waterfall’ panel, which separates the two rear seats.

CONSOLE SPEEDFORM

Thunderbolt underwent a series of design iterations during its lifetime. Its final shape, in which it captured the records commemorated in Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow, is preserved forever in the illuminated, polished aluminium Speedform encapsulated behind glass on the front console.

NEW ‘CLUB’ LEATHER

Inside, Black Arrow’s interior is provisioned with a new material type developed specifically for the Collection. The armrests, seat gussets, transmission tunnel, door detail, door panniers and lower dashboard panel are all finished in ‘Club Leather’ – its intentional greater sheen and even deeper black colouration provide a subtle contrast to the matte Rolls-Royce natural-grain black leather. The leather’s natural markings are intentionally emphasised to give the interior more visible ‘life lines’, and a closer resemblance to what was described at the time as “the club-armchair type of driving seat which George [Eyston] prefers above all others”. In keeping with the Black Badge series’ use of daring pulses of colour, Bright Yellow is employed for the front seat leather. Atop the seat, the outer headrest features an arrow embroidery motif, providing rich, tactile detail and referencing the arrow symbol painted on Thunderbolt’s aluminium body to enable the electric timing equipment to ‘see’ and capture the car at full speed.

TRACK GUIDE

When the steering wheel is set in a straight-ahead position, a dark marking at the twelve o’clock position aligns with a similar pattern in the seats. This references the black lines Eyston’s team painted on the white Salt Flats to help him maintain direction – his sole point of reference at speeds of over 350 mph. In recognition of the significance of this marking, this track guide flows in a deliberately asymmetric line from the steering wheel to the driver’s and rear passengers’ seats.

RECORD CONSTELLATION

Given Thunderbolt’s record-breaking status, it is only fitting that Black Arrow incorporates a record of its own. Casting a dramatic night’s-sky ambience over the interior suite, Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow’s Bespoke Starlight Headliner incorporates 2,117 fibre-optic ‘stars’ – the greatest number ever seen in a Rolls-Royce motor car. All individually arranged by hand, the ‘stars’ depict the Milky Way as seen from vast open spaces, and the constellations precisely as they would have appeared over the Salt Flats in Utah on 16 September 1938, the date of Eyston’s final, immutable record.

BLACK ARROW CLOCK

Inspired by the analogue instruments of the 1930s, the fascia clock bezel references the raw, technical aesthetic of Thunderbolt’s interior, enhanced by black hand-tips that mimic the originalcar’s side-arrows; the surround is inscribed with the legend ‘Bonneville’ and Thunderbolt’s everlasting record speed for a V12-engined car of 357.497 mph. A further ‘arrow’ detail appears on the motor car’s Bespoke treadplates.

ENGINE BADGE

An exclusive Bespoke plaque is mounted on the engine cover to signify this as the last V12 ever to be fitted to a Rolls-Royce coupé. Machined from a single piece of polished metal, the plaque is inscribed with the V12 monogram in Bright Yellow, and the legend ‘Final Coupé Collection’ in Black.

All 12 motor cars in the Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow Collection have been allocated to clients around the world.

VolvoCars

Volvo Cars global sales up 31 per cent in May

Volvo Cars reports global sales of 60,398 cars in May, up 31 per cent compared with the same month last year. The company’s fully electric cars were the main contributor to the growth, rising 196 per cent during the period. Furthermore, figures from May 2022 were negatively affected by lower production due to last year’s supply chain constraints.

For the first five months of the year, Volvo Cars sales reached 275,312 cars, up 14 per cent compared with the same period during 2022. 

Sales of Volvo Cars’ Recharge models of fully electric and plug-in hybrid cars increased by 55 per cent in May, accounting for 40 per cent of all Volvo cars sold globally during the month. The share of fully electric cars stood at 18 per cent. 

Sales in Europe for May reached 26,272 cars, an increase of 40 per cent compared with last year. The share of Recharge models reached 63 per cent of overall sales in the region and the share of fully electric cars ended up at 29 per cent.

US sales grew by 14 per cent in May to 10,723 cars. The share of Recharge models reached 28 per cent of overall sales and sales of fully electric cars increased by 66 per cent compared with last year.

In China, sales reached 14,121 cars, an increase of 49 per cent compared with the same month last year. Sales of Volvo Cars’ Recharge models grew by 116 per cent, accounting for 8 per cent of the total sales in China.

In May, the Volvo XC60 was the top-selling model with sales of 18,052 cars (2022: 15,117 units), followed by the XC40 with total sales at 17,596 cars (2022: 12,097 units) and the XC90 at 9,058 cars (2022: 8,790 units).

 

May

May

Jan-May

Jan-May

 

2023

2022

Change

2023

2022

Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

26,272

18,752

40%

119,747

103,731

15%

Recharge

16,481

8,813

87%

74,552

53,120

40%

 – Fully electric

7,655

1,847

314%

34,130

12,171

180%

 – Plug-in hybrid

8,826

6,966

27%

40,422

40,949

-1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

China

14,121

9,488

49%

63,121

53,765

17%

Recharge

1,181

547

116%

6,271

4,367

44%

 – Fully electric

263

143

84%

1,531

768

99%

 – Plug-in hybrid

918

404

127%

4,740

3,599

32%
             

US

10,723

9,372

14%

46,817

42,151

11%

Recharge

3,039

3,348

-9%

13,696

13,787

-1%

 – Fully electric

1,342

807

66%

5,480

3,258

68%

 – Plug-in hybrid

1,697

2,541

-33%

8,216

10,529

-22%
             

Other

9,282

8,340

11%

45,627

41,750

9%

Recharge

3,266

2,737

19%

17,479

12,042

45%

 – Fully electric

1,566

855

83%

8,584

3,885

121%

 – Plug-in hybrid

1,700

1,882

-10%

8,895

8,157

9%
             

Total

60,398

45,952

31%

275,312

241,397

14%

Recharge

23,967

15,445

55%

111,998

83,316

34%

 – Fully electric

10,826

3,652

196%

49,725

20,082

148%

 – Plug-in hybrid

13,141

11,793

11%

62,273

63,234

-2%
VolvoCars

The all-electric Volvo EX30 small SUV is designed to have the lowest carbon footprint of any Volvo car to date

The new Volvo EX30 is a distillation of all the great things about Volvo Cars: a small, fully electric SUV for the modern era, designed to be safe and have a smaller CO2 footprint than any Volvo car ever before.

By tackling emissions across the entire production and lifecycle of the Volvo EX30, we managed to reduce its total carbon footprint over 200,000 kms of driving to below 30 tonnes*. This is a 25 per cent reduction compared with our fully electric C40 and XC40 models – a good step towards our aim to cut our overall CO2 emissions per car by 40 per cent between 2018 and 2025.

As a fully electric car, the Volvo EX30 has zero tailpipe emissions, which not only contributes to a lower CO2 footprint. The impact on air quality can be significant: for example, new research by the University of Southern California* found that even a small increase in electric cars in an area has a direct positive effect on the amount of emergency room visits due to asthma.

But in order to reduce the overall carbon footprint of a car, electrification is not enough. A car is not just driven, it is also designed, developed, built and transported – and all those steps offer opportunities to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Our new EX30 is a big step in the right direction for our sustainability ambitions,” said Anders Kärrberg, our Global Head of Sustainability. “By 2025, we aim to reduce our overall CO2 emissions per car by 40 per cent from 2018 levels through a 50 per cent reduction in overall tailpipe emissions, and a 25 per cent reduction in emissions from our operations, raw material sourcing and supply chain – all on the way towards our ambition of being a climate-neutral company by 2040.”

Recycled materials all around

So how did we cut the CO2 footprint of the Volvo EX30 to 75 per cent of our current electric models? First of all, designing a smaller car means that you need less material to produce it. Given that aluminium and steel are two of the biggest contributors to production-related CO2 emissions, this is where we and you as a customer can make a big difference.

On top of that, while we use less steel and aluminium when building our new small SUV, more of it is also recycled content. Around a quarter of all aluminium used in building the car is recycled, as is approximately 17 per cent of all steel used in producing a Volvo EX30, further reducing the environmental impact from those materials.

That approach continues inside, because the most sustainable component is the one that does not exist. By using optimisation as a guiding sustainable design principle, our designers have managed to combine multiple functions inside the Volvo EX30 within one component. This reduces the number of parts needed inside without compromising on functionality.

The material used for the Volvo EX30 is another contributor to a more sustainable way of creating new cars. About 17 per cent of all plastics in the car, from interior components to exterior bumpers, are recycled – the highest percentage in any Volvo car to date.

Another step towards climate-neutrality

Another crucial area for emission reduction is the manufacturing and supply chain, for example through the supply of clean energy. The Volvo EX30 will be built in a factory powered by high levels of climate-neutral energy, including 100 per cent climate-neutral electricity.

As for the supply chain, we’ve worked with our Tier 1 suppliers for this car and 95 per cent of them have committed to 100 per cent renewable energy in their production by 2025 – and many are already there. This reflects our ambition to not just reduce emissions in our own operations, but also to encourage partners in our wider supply chain to do so.

The production process for the Volvo EX30 has also been streamlined in multiple ways. This means the car represents one of our highest rates of material utilisation in stamped body parts during manufacturing.

And as we continue to tackle the challenge of material traceability, especially when producing the battery packs for the Volvo EX30, we have blockchain technology in place to help trace critical raw materials, which now include lithium, manganese, cobalt, graphite and nickel.

Smarter and more sustainable materials

Inside, we use a wide array of recycled and renewable materials for seats, dashboard and doors, including materials such as denim, flax and a wool-blend that also contains around 70 per cent recycled polyester. The denim in particular is a good example of how to use materials in smarter and more sustainable ways.

To create the denim interior deco, we use fibres that would otherwise be waste products of the denim recycling process. When jeans are recycled, the shredded fibres are twisted into a yarn, and long fibres link with one another. The short fibres, however, usually fall away as waste – and we have rescued these short fibres by using them in our denim interior deco.

Downsize without compromise

All this adds up to a car that has a so-called cradle-to-gate CO2 impact of an estimated 18 tonnes. Cradle-to-gate describes the CO2 impact from the extraction of raw materials to the finished car arriving at the dealer, so before it’s driven.

At its end of life, the EX30 is designed to be recovered to 95 per cent, by recycling the materials and recovering energy from what can’t be recovered.

In short, the Volvo EX30 gives you as a customer more scope to downsize and reduce your personal CO2 impact, without having to compromise on safety, driving comfort or convenience. That’s a good thing for you as a driver, and less damaging to the environment.

The new Volvo EX30 will be revealed on 7 June and will be available to order or pre-order in selected markets on the same date.

The small print

  • The carbon footprint calculation of below 30 tonnes over 200,000 kms of driving is based on usage of charging electricity from the EU27 electricity mix.
  • The lowest carbon footprint of any Volvo car to date statement relates to globally available products over 200,000 kms of driving.
  • For more insights on the California study on the link between electric cars and air quality, please see: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969723003765
  • Range and energy efficiency according to the realistic WLTP driving cycle under controlled conditions for a new car. Real-world range may vary. Figures are based on preliminary target.
  • Car specifications and the exact customer offer may vary from one country to another. Please visit volvocars.com for further information.
  • Carbon footprint and cradle-to-gate CO2 values based on assessment. A verified Life Cycle Analysis document will be published later this year.
VolvoCars

Media advisory – not for publication: Volvo Cars at SMMT Test Day 2023

At Volvo Cars, we are busy working towards our ambition of being a fully electric car maker by 2030. There’s the new EX30 small SUV and EX90 large SUV on the horizon, but we have also recently updated our existing pure electric models – the C40 and XC40 Recharge. With a longer range and improved efficiency, these upgraded models are both now capable of more than 300 miles on a single charge.

The international media launch of these (pre-production) cars was in late April, but we have secured two left-hand-drive models from Sweden to bring to SMMT Test Day. This is the first time that anyone will have driven these cars in the UK, so please visit the Volvo stand to sample them.

We will also have the V60 and XC90 plug-in hybrid models to test, complete with our latest Android-powered infotainment system, along with the rugged V90 Cross Country in a rather fetching Bright Dusk colour.

These are the cars that will be available to drive on the hill route at Millbrook:

•    C40 Recharge RWD (updated, single-motor, rear-wheel-drive version)

•    XC40 Recharge Twin AWD (updated, dual-motor, all-wheel-drive version)

•    V60 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T6 AWD

•    V90 Cross Country B5 AWD

•    XC90 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T8 AWD

And as if that wasn’t enough, there will be a special appearance from one of our iconic heritage models – an immaculate, low-mileage 240 GLT from 1989 will be on static display.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Volvo if we didn’t add a little Swedish flavour to Test Day, so we invite you to join us for Fika throughout the day. A variety of sweet treats, tea, coffee and soft drinks will be available if you fancy a break and a chat with the team. We all look forward to catching up with you.

See you on Thursday!

The Volvo Car UK PR team

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Descriptions and facts in this press material relate to Volvo Car UK’s car range. Described features might be optional. All information is correct at time of going to press and may be altered without prior notification.