• Rolls-Royce presents three Chinese Mural Art Bespoke commissions
• Unique details take cues from Dunhuang cave paintings dating back over 1,000 years
• Trio comprises Phantom Extended, Black Badge Cullinan, and Black Badge Spectre
• Phantom Extended features hand-painted Gallery artwork, inspired by the mural art
• Available through Rolls-Royce Private Office Shanghai

 
"The mural art of the Dunhuang Mogao Caves is one of the most powerful symbols of our cultural heritage here in China. These artworks, created across dynasties, reflect the abstract ideals that have shaped our country’s civilisation. Inspired by their colours, forms and symbolism, we reimagined these themes through hand-painted elements and carefully curated Bespoke features – a meaningful tribute that reflects Rolls-Royce’s creative dialogue with China in a youthful and contemporary manner.”
Shuai Feng, Bespoke Designer, Private Office Shanghai

Rolls-Royce presents three Bespoke motor cars inspired by the ancient mural paintings of Dunhuang, China. This extraordinary expression of cross-cultural artistry was commissioned through Private Office Shanghai, an invitation-only space in which the marque welcomes clients seeking to commission highly complex and deeply personal motor cars. The trio includes Phantom Extended, Black Badge Cullinan, and Black Badge Spectre.

All three motor cars feature new Bespoke exterior colours reserved exclusively for Private Office Shanghai clients, each inspired by local landscapes, art and cultural themes. These commissions also share a recurring design motif named Silken Spirit: conceived by Private Office Shanghai Bespoke Designer, Shuai Feng, the artwork is inspired by the Spirit of Ecstasy and the flowing forms of imperial silk. The most detailed expression of the collection appears in the hand-painted Gallery artwork in Phantom Extended.


HONOURING A MARVEL

Over a thousand years ago, artists and craftspeople carved and painted the walls of a network of sacred caves in the mountains near Dunhuang, on the edge of the Gobi Desert. These sanctuaries house one of the world’s greatest collections of mural art, shaped by their unique position at the cultural crossroads of the ancient Silk Road. Today, they are honoured in a modern tribute from the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective.


PHANTOM EXTENDED

Phantom Extended is presented in a two-tone finish. The main body is finished in Ningye Purple, a colour inspired by the deep violet skies above the remote stretches of the Great Wall of China, and named after a poetic description of the hue from an 800 AD Tang Dynasty verse. The upper body is rendered in contrasting English White. A Silken Spirit motif is hand-painted on the C-pillar in Ningye Purple and completes the Grace White coachline.

The motif continues into the cabin, where it is depicted in a Bespoke Starlight Headliner with 1,344 hand-placed fibre-optic ‘stars’ and 192 ‘shooting stars’. The centrepiece of the interior is a hand-painted Bespoke Gallery artwork. The composition presents a landscape painting on black leather, completed with the Silken Spirit motif embroidered in white and black thread, evoking the movement of flying apsaras – celestial beings in Buddhist culture, which are prominently portrayed in the mural art.

“To bring this sense of depth and rhythm to the Gallery, I adapted a Chinese technique known as reduction block printing, where the artwork is gradually pressed onto a canvas using the same block of wood, re-crafted between paint layers. Once each layer is applied, the block is carefully re-carved to add depth and detail with the subsequent colour. Reinterpreting this method by hand, I used a fine sable brush in place of carved wood, painting every single colour individually and consecutively, allowing the image to emerge across the surface. Tiny areas of unpainted leather are deliberately left exposed, creating the illusion of carved block printing.”
Chloe Dowsett, Bespoke Artist, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

The seating is finished in Black and Cashmere Grey leathers – a colourway that is reversed for the front seats, creating two unique ambiences within the motor car. The front and rear doors also feature expansive Canadel wood panelling in Piano Black and Cashmere Grey respectively. The rear door panels incorporate the Silken Spirit motif inlaid in stainless steel, and the symbol also appears on the rear waterfall section between the two rear seats.


BLACK BADGE CULLINAN

Black Badge Cullinan Series II is presented in Danqian Pink, a hue which extends to the centres of the 23-inch Black Badge forged wheels. Silken Spirit motifs on the twin Coachline and C-pillar are presented in Black.

The front seats are finished in Blushing Pink leather with Placed Perforation, which extends onto the front doors. The pattern is designed to evoke the shifting cloud formations above the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood and comprises 107,000 0.8- and 1.2-millimetre perforations.

In the rear, Navy leather with Blushing Pink piping and stitching is used to create a deeper, more immersive environment. The Silken Spirit graphic is inlaid in stainless steel on the Technical Fibre front fascia and the waterfall between the rear seats.

A Bespoke Starlight Headliner harmonises the front and rear colour themes. The Silken Spirit motif is rendered as an abstract illuminated graphic, which glows with a soft Blushing Pink light, complete with white shooting ‘stars’.


BLACK BADGE SPECTRE

This bold expression of Black Badge Spectre is presented in a dramatic Aero two-tone. The body is finished in Qingshan Blue – inspired by the mountain blues and verdant tones depicted in the Dunhuang murals – and the upper portion, together with Silken Spirit motifs on the C-pillar and Coachline, is presented in contrasting Diamond Black. The exterior is further dramatised by an Illuminated Grille, presented in Turchese.

The front seats are completed in Turchese and Black leathers, and the rear seats are presented in Black with contrast white stitching and piping. This unique ‘split’ extends to the leather centre console and lambswool carpets, which are Turchese and Black respectively.

The Silken Spirit motif appears on Turchese Illuminated Treadplates. Further illuminations include Starlight Doors and a Bespoke Starlight Headliner with 1,344 ‘stars’ and 192 ‘shooting stars’, each individually hand-placed.


LASTING LEGACY

The Chinese Mural Arts Bespoke Commissions represent a cultural dialogue between past and present, East and West, tradition and innovation. Through this trio, Rolls-Royce honours the relevance of ancient artistic legacies and the resonance of heritage as a source of inspiration for contemporary expressions of luxury. In doing so, they demonstrate the power of Bespoke in translating nuanced stories through design and craftsmanship, inviting future commissions that explore other cultural narratives with equal depth, care and imagination.

• Rolls-Royce Motor Cars presents Black Badge Cullinan Daisy
• One-of-one Black Badge Cullinan Series II inspired by a client's favourite hiking trail
• Features wood sandblasting technique, which creates striking three-dimensional effect
• Daisy motif extends to Coachline, Bespoke umbrellas and Illuminated Treadplates
• Bespoke Starlight Headliner depicts Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Gemini and Taurus
• Completed with a Recreation Module for storing hiking equipment
  
  

“My love for the outdoors has been a driving force behind both my personal passions  and professional success. The inspiration for this commission came from a field of daisies on my favourite trail in the High Tatras mountains – a place I return to when I need to clear my thoughts.  I’m continuously amazed not only by the beauty but the resilience of this flower that seems to thrive in the face of nature's challenges. I envisioned Black Badge Cullinan Daisy as a symbol of perseverance – balancing strength with serenity".
Commissioning Client, Black Badge Cullinan Daisy

“This commission challenged us to explore how natural motifs can be translated through craft and materiality. From the delicately etched Blackwood to the daisy detail hidden inside the umbrellas, we told the client’s remarkable story through unexpected textures and an entirely new palette. Black Badge Cullinan Daisy is quietly confident, rich in symbolism, yet modern in execution. It also represents a different kind of Bespoke language where emotion is captured through restrained and thoughtful contrasts.”
Martina Starke, General Manager, Bespoke Design, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars presents its latest Bespoke commission, Black Badge Cullinan Daisy – a striking one-of-one Black Badge Cullinan Series II reflecting the commissioning client’s love of hiking and the outdoors. Drawing inspiration from a field of daisies on the client’s favourite trail in the High Tatras mountains, Black Badge Cullinan Daisy represents resilience and perseverance – much like a daisy that thrives in a variety of conditions. Commissioned by an individual who built their success in the outdoor and adventure equipment sector, Black Badge Cullinan Daisy symbolises their path to success.


EXTERIOR: BALANCING POTENCY AND RESILIENCE
The daisy flower appears as a Coachline motif, meticulously hand-painted to complement the single Coachline applied over the Powder Blue Exterior. The subtle colour palette provides a striking contrast to the darkened Black Badge Pantheon Grille, Spirit of Ecstasy and exterior brightwork.


INTERIOR SUITE: ELEGANCE AND COMPLEXITY
Inside, the daisy motif adorns the front fascia and the waterfall section between the rear seats. The design is meticulously applied to the Blackwood surface using a sandblasting technique. To create the design, the wood is subjected to a precision blasting process in which a stream of fine mineral particles is directed at the veneer, which delicately etches away microscopic layers of the surface. The interplay of light and shadow across the sculpted surface creates a three-dimensional effect, adding visual interest to the finished piece.

The Blackwood veneers are complemented by a subtle three-colour interior palette. The main leather hue is Fleet Blue, which extends to the Rotary Controls and B and C pillars. It is complemented by Selby Grey and Black leathers, with Fleet Blue seat piping and Selby Grey contrast stitching and headrest monograms. The interior is completed with Bespoke Illuminated Treadplates with a daisy design.


BESPOKE UMBRELLAS: FLOWERS IN THE RAIN
The daisy motif also graces the inside of the Bespoke umbrellas concealed in Cullinan’s rear Coach Doors. The playful pattern can only be seen on the interior of the umbrellas, recalling the ambience of a daisy field in full bloom on a rainy day.


BESPOKE STARLIGHT HEADLINER: A WINDOW INTO THE HEAVENS
Black Badge Cullinan Daisy is fitted with a Bespoke Starlight Headliner, capturing four of the great constellations that dominate the night sky in northern latitudes: Ursa Major, also known as the Great Bear, the Plough, and the Big Dipper; Ursa Minor, which includes Polaris, or the North Star; Gemini, clearly distinguished by the bright stars, Castor and Pollux; and Taurus, ‘the Bull’, identified by the red giant Aldebaran and the Pleiades star cluster.


RECREATION MODULE: ADVENTURES AWAIT 

Black Badge Cullinan Daisy is completed with a Recreation Module – an automatically-deployable storage compartment mounted on the luggage compartment floor, designed to house the client’s favourite hiking equipment.

Imagery and B-Roll from the Cullinan Series II and Black Badge Cullinan Series II Global Media Drive, hosted in Ibiza in June 2024.

Please see below for further background information:

Cullinan Series II Launch Release

Black Badge Cullinan Series II Launch Release

• Black Badge Cullinan Series II, an evolved, more visceral expression of Rolls-Royce
• Caters to a select subset of Rolls-Royce clients with specific tastes and priorities
• Unique Black Badge exterior coachwork and interior details developed for Series II
• More overt and expressive application of contemporary materials and technologies
• Integrates advanced digital interface, SPIRIT, and private members app, Whispers
• New interior Clock Cabinet vitrine incorporates Black Badge Spirit of Ecstasy figurine
• New Duality Twill seating incorporates 2.2 million stitches and up to 11 miles of thread
• New Placed Perforation seat pattern inspired by clouds over the Home of Rolls-Royce and comprises up to 107,000 individual perforations 
• First time a 23-inch wheel is available for a Black Badge Rolls-Royce
• Proven performance of 600PS and 900Nm torque preserved
• Available from launch, alongside Cullinan Series II

“Black Badge strongly appeals to a distinct group of clients who seek a more visceral interpretation of the Rolls-Royce experience. In its engineering, technology, materials, and design, Black Badge Cullinan Series II satisfies these clients’ keen appetite for innovation and new modes of self-expression. Cullinan's darker alter ego has always asserted its own unique place in our product portfolio; I'm certain that this new incarnation will build on its predecessor's success.”
Chris Brownridge, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

“Black Badge Cullinan Series II reflects the changes we’ve seen in our client profile since we first launched this transformative motor car five years ago. Today, self-expression, individuality and boldness are demanded more than ever before – all attributes that form the core of the Black Badge attitude. Our creative response has matched the daring of those who commission these motor cars. The dark, primal elements that are so essential to the Black Badge character are expressed here in extremis, and are further amplified by dramatic and assertive coachwork reserved for this disruptive expression of the brand.”
Anders Warming, Director of Design, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Rolls-Royce’s disruptive alter ego, Black Badge, reached its apotheosis in Cullinan where its assertive and uncompromising attitude appeals to clients who seek the boldest forms of self-expression. Today, the marque presents a clear evolution of this subversive motor car with Black Badge Cullinan Series II.


BLACK BADGE CULLINAN SERIES II: EXTERIOR

Black Badge Cullinan Series II asserts its presence with an impactful front-end treatment. The principal differentiator is the lower air intake design. These geometrical pieces incorporate widened veins, signalling the motor car’s more urgent dynamic character. Above this is the marque’s iconic Pantheon grille, which has been illuminated for the first time across Cullinan and Black Badge Cullinan Series II. For Black Badge, the grille is finished in the series’ hallmark Black, though a silver ‘horizon line’ creates a sense of breadth and solidity while framing the motor car’s vertical daytime running lights. For clients wishing to fully cloak their motor car in darkness, this is also available in an all-black finish.

All exterior body detail elements and brightwork, including the Spirit of Ecstasy figurine, are also finished in Black. For the first time in the history of Black Badge, this now extends from the window surrounds and door spears to the door handles. Each piece is hand-prepared by the marque’s artisans: first, a light abrasive is used across the handle to provide a ‘key’ for a hardwearing primer, onto which four coats of Black paint are then applied. After curing, these pieces are individually polished to ensure that they match the rich, high-gloss coachwork of Black Badge Cullinan Series II.

Other darkened elements, including the rear tailgate and bumper accents as well as the motor car’s exhausts, are treated with a specific chrome electrolyte to achieve the mirror-black effect. This is introduced to the traditional chrome plating process and co-deposited on the stainless-steel substrate, darkening the finish. Its final thickness is just one micrometre – around one-hundredth of the width of a human hair. Each of these components is precision-polished by hand to achieve a mirror-black chrome finish before it is fitted to the motor car.

Black Badge Cullinan Series II clients are now able to extend exterior colours to all lower body surfaces, as well as the subtly enhanced lower sill, valances, and lower front bumper – a treatment reserved for Black Badge Cullinan Series II. This visually lowers the motor car, creating a more dynamic statement that further amplifies its monolithic form.

The exterior treatment is completed with 23-inch wheels – the first time wheels of this size have been offered by the marque for a Black Badge motor car. From a distance, the design appears to consist of five spokes finished in gloss-black and silver. In fact, there are 10 interwoven spokes: the visual effect is created by a carefully-orchestrated interplay between polished, painted and recessed, negative surfaces. The design also allows a clear view of the Black Badge disc brake callipers, shown in a signature Red, which can also be finished in Black, Turchese, Mandarin, or Forge Yellow.


BLACK BADGE CULLINAN SERIES II: A SUBVERSIVE INTERIOR TREATMENT

Advanced, technical materials have become a hallmark of Black Badge Rolls-Royce motor cars. For Black Badge Cullinan Series II, this theme continues. Clients expressed their appreciation of the original Black Badge Cullinan’s Technical Carbon finish – on this basis, this exquisite material has been retained for Series II. The naked-weave carbon-fibre finish has been developed to create a precise repeating pattern of geometrical shapes that create a three-dimensional effect. Each leaf of Technical Carbon is finished with six coats of lacquer before being left to cure for 72 hours then all 23 pieces are hand-polished to a mirror finish. This process takes 21 days in total.

If Individual Rear Seats are commissioned, clients can include the Black Badge family motif, known as the infinity symbol, onto the rear Technical Carbon ‘Waterfall’ section that separates the rear reclining seats and conceals the Cullinan Series II Champagne cooler. This delicate aluminium piece is placed between the third and fourth layer of six layers of subtly tinted lacquer, creating the illusion that the symbol is floating above the Technical Carbon. In Lounge Seat configuration, the infinity symbol is embroidered.

The seats themselves are available to commission in the marque’s stunning new Duality Twill textile, a new rayon fabric made from bamboo and inspired by the extensive bamboo grove in Le Jardin des Méditerranées on the Côte d'Azur, which neighbours Sir Henry Royce’s former winter home, Villa Mimosa. The twill textile is embroidered with an artistic ‘Duality’ graphic. Based on an abstract interpretation of the two interlinked letter R initials of the marque’s founders, the design reflects a clear nautical influence, reminiscent of the interweaving rope lines found on sailing yachts – another subtle allusion to the French Riviera.

A complete Duality Twill interior of the intricately embroidered textile incorporates up to 2.2 million stitches and 11 miles of thread. This exquisite material can be further dramatised with bold Bespoke colourways, further enhancing this remarkable new finish for Black Badge clients.

Placed Perforation seating can also be incorporated into this bold expression of Cullinan. Up to 107,000 0.8- and 1.2-millimetre perforations are made onto the seat leather, creating an abstract pattern, inspired by the constantly changing shapes and shadows of the clouds over the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood in the twilight hours.

The dark ambience of Black Badge continues with the interior metals. Air vent surrounds on the dashboard and in the rear cabin are darkened using physical vapour deposition, a method of colouring metal that does not discolour or tarnish over time or through repeated use.

The subversive design principles of Black Badge motor cars have also been applied to Cullinan Series II’s unique Clock Cabinet. This inset vitrine displays both an analogue timepiece and an up-lit Spirit of Ecstasy figurine. The Spirit of Ecstasy is constructed from solid stainless steel and rendered in Black, recalling the figure that sits on the prow of Black Badge Cullinan Series II. The Clock Cabinet is flanked by Cullinan’s new Illuminated Fascia, which displays an ethereal glowing infinity symbol within the new vertical Cityscape pattern.

Black Badge Cullinan Series II is also the stage for an exclusive digital Bespoke treatment, with instrument dials now available in five neo-futuristic colourways: Vivid Grellow, Neon Nights, Cyan Fire, Ultraviolet and the kaleidoscopic-style Synth Wave.


BLACK BADGE CULLINAN SERIES II: PROVEN ENGINEERING

In Black Badge Cullinan’s first guise, clients requested that the Black Badge experience extended beyond the aesthetic treatment of the motor car. In the five years since its launch, the changes made by Rolls-Royce engineers for the 2019 motor car, which included higher capacity air springs to alleviate body roll and the addition of even greater power reserves, have become integral to this bold motor car’s appeal. Accordingly, these qualities are preserved for Black Badge Cullinan Series II, including the twin-turbocharged 6.75-litre V12 engine, which generates a total output of 600PS, and 900Nm of torque.

To exploit the additional power, the transmission and throttle remain calibrated for more immediate acceleration. The ZF eight-speed gearbox and both front- and rear-steered axles work together to adjust the levels of feedback to the driver, depending on throttle and steering inputs without compromising the motor car’s effortless ‘magic carpet ride’ experience.

Depressing the ‘Low’ button on the gear selection stalk continues to unlock further Black Badge technologies. When activated, drivers experience a change in tone and volume from the Bespoke Black Badge exhaust system, signalling that all of the 900Nm torque reserves are available from 1700rpm – just 700rpm above tick-over. Low Mode also increases the speed of gear shifts by 50% when the throttle is depressed to 90%. To fully exploit Black Badge Cullinan Series II, the brake pedal travel has been decreased to create a more immediate response to driver inputs.


A BOLD BESPOKE TREATMENT

Like its predecessor, Black Badge Cullinan Series II defines a distinct attitude and aesthetic code within the super-luxury sector. The clients who patronise this expression of the brand do so on their own terms – with Black Badge Cullinan Series II, Rolls-Royce signals its ongoing commitment to these individuals’ requirements, and their bold appreciation of luxury.

Please find the Cullinan Series II press release here.

• 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.

• Rolls-Royce celebrates the first 20 years of production at its Goodwood manufacturing centre
• A story of continuous progress and evolution, told through 20 individual models
• Each created and handmade at the Home of Rolls-Royce since 2003
• Includes EX experimental cars, which revived a naming convention last seen in the 1950s
• Describes an arc of technical innovation and responses to changing client requirements
• Leads to the new all-electric era ushered in by the Rolls-Royce Spectre

“Rolls-Royce has always stood for innovation and progress, constantly pushing technical and creative boundaries in the relentless pursuit of perfection demanded by its co-founder, ##Sir Henry Royce##. Our remarkable record of creating 20 different models in our first 20 years at the Home of Rolls-Royce is a direct result of that restless, adventurous spirit. Each of these models is a magnificent achievement in itself; together, they demonstrate our unique understanding of – and ability to respond to – our clients’ changing needs, tastes and desires over time.”
Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

When Rolls-Royce Motor Cars began full-scale manufacturing at Goodwood, it produced just a single model: the original, seventh-generation Phantom. The first completed motor car was handed over to its new owner in a special ceremony at one minute past midnight on 1 January 2003.

Since that historic moment, no fewer than 20 different models and variants have been created and handmade at #Goodwood – equivalent to one for every year. Today's Rolls-Royce model family reflects two decades of continuous innovation and progress in design, technology, materials and methods, as the marque seeks to satisfy its clients' ever-changing needs, tastes and desires.

Phantom, and its siblings Phantom Drophead Coupé and Phantom Coupé, were followed by the more approachable Ghost, which went on to become the best-selling model the marque has ever produced since its foundation in 1904. The product family grew further with Wraith (2013) and Dawn (2016), respectively the most powerful and seductive models in the marque’s portfolio; they were joined in 2018 by Cullinan, the 'Rolls-Royce of SUVs', which is now ranked among the world's most desirable and in-demand luxury products.

With the exception of Phantom, all models in the current product family are available as Black Badge variants. Created for a new breed of client who desired a more subversive, rebellious expression of the Rolls-Royce brand, this permanent Bespoke series now accounts for more than a third of the marque’s total output.

Since 2003, the Home of Rolls-Royce’s design and engineering teams have produced a number of experimental motor cars. In keeping with tradition, these were given the ‘EX’ designation, used until the 1950s by Rolls-Royce engineers to maintain secrecy during testing and development, and the distinctive red-on-silver 'RR' badge. Never intended for series production, they were fundamental to the process of creating some of the most technically significant and commercially successful products in the marque's history.

Two Coachbuild masterpieces that represent the ultimate expression of Rolls-Royce's Bespoke capabilities also grace the list. Individually commissioned and entirely hand-built, they echo the coachbuilding traditions of the marque's early years, while employing the very latest in contemporary design, engineering, manufacturing and craft techniques to create true works of art.

The first 20 years at #Goodwood have culminated in the launch of Spectre. The first all-electric Rolls-Royce in history, this landmark motor car also marks the beginning of a new technological era, in which every new Rolls-Royce model will be fully electric from 2030 onwards. With series production yet to begin, Spectre is not strictly among the 20 cars produced between 2003 and 2023, so does not appear in the list that follows. However, it is both the next evolutionary step in the model family's development, and the technical and philosophical foundation for all that will follow in future.

This remarkable period in the marque’s history has seen the creation of a countless deeply personal, complex and beautiful expressions of the marque’s motor cars. While it is nearly impossible to edit a selection of the best of the last twenty years, here are some truly exemplary examples:

20 CARS FOR 20 YEARS

1. Phantom, 2003
The original 'Goodwood Phantom' was the seventh generation to wear what is now the longest-established nameplate in automotive history. With its marriage of technology, comfort, performance and the signature 'Magic Carpet Ride', it set a new standard for every model that has followed.

2. 100EX, 2004
Produced to mark the centenary of the first meeting between Charles Rolls and Henry Royce, this was the first Experimental Car produced by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars under BMW Group ownership. Powered by an extraordinary 9-litre V16 engine, it was never intended for production, but was the direct forebear for what would become the celebrated Phantom Drophead Coupé.

3. Phantom Extended, 2005
Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2005, Phantom Extended was 250 mm (9.8 in) longer than the 'standard' Phantom. This created additional legroom in the rear cabin, making this model especially popular with clients who prefer to be chauffeur-driven.

4. 101EX, 2006
Like 100EX, this experimental prototype was built on a shortened version of Phantom's aluminium space frame, with the body panels constructed in carbon-fibre composite. It would find enduring life and global fame in its eventual production guise as Phantom Coupé, powered by the iconic 6.75-litre V12 engine.

5. Phantom Drophead Coupé, 2007
One of the most sought-after models ever produced at Goodwood, the Phantom Drophead Coupé stunned the world on its debut. With distinctive styling derived from 100EX (see above), its defining feature is the interior wood veneering that flows around the cabin into the teak tonneau cover, inspired by a racing yacht deck.

6. Phantom Coupé, 2008
With its pillarless construction, this was a true hardtop two-door coupé – the first Rolls-Royce of its type to be produced in more than two decades. Like its drophead sibling, Phantom Coupé incorporated many of the design features and construction techniques developed on the experimental 101EX.

7. 200EX, 2009
Presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2009, 200EX was the experimental car that responded to client feedback for a more approachable and driver-orientated Rolls-Royce.

8. Ghost, 2010
Designed for a new generation of ascendent Rolls-Royce clients, Ghost immediately won praise for its simple, contemporary design and effortless, dynamic performance. To date it is the most commercially successful model in Rolls-Royce history.

9. 102EX, 2011
Known as the Phantom Experimental Electric (EE), this one-off electric prototype version of Phantom began Rolls-Royce's exploration into suitable technology to power future generations of its motor cars. The world’s first super-luxury battery electric vehicle, it toured the world gauging reactions from clients, enthusiasts, the media and the wider public.

10. Ghost Extended, 2011
Responding to feedback from clients who prefer to be chauffeur-driven, Rolls-Royce introduced an Extended version of Ghost, offering additional space and comfort for rear-seat passengers while maintaining the motor car’s more focussed driving characteristics.

11. Wraith, 2013
The fastback Wraith was intended as the ultimate gran turismo; a car that embodied the bold, pioneering spirit, sense of adventure and love of speed that inspired the marque's co-founder, The Hon Charles Stewart Rolls.

12. Dawn, 2016
The definitive super-luxury four-seater convertible, Dawn was designed to enable four adults to travel sociably together in complete comfort. The roof is a design and engineering masterpiece: dubbed 'the Silent Ballet' the mechanism operates in complete silence in just 22 seconds, and at cruising speeds of up to 50km/h; with the roof closed, the interior is as silent as a Rolls-Royce Wraith.

13. Black Badge Wraith and Black Badge Ghost, 2016
The Black Badge family introduced the world to the marque’s enfants terribles, subverting perceptions of what a Rolls-Royce ‘should’ be. These variants are more powerful and specifically engineered to deliver an even more direct, engaging driving experience, while still offering near-limitless opportunities for Bespoke personalisation. In Black Badge guise, both Wraith and Ghost received additional torque, unique air-suspension set-up and drive shafts, Intuitive Throttle Response and crisper, more urgent 8-speed automatic transmission. The result was an even more agile and involving motoring experience, without compromising the intrinsic elements of the effortless Rolls-Royce ‘Magic Carpet Ride’.

14. 103EX, 2016
Perhaps the most radical experimental car ever produced at Goodwood, Rolls-Royce Vision Next 100, codenamed 103EX, presented the marque’s uncompromised view of the future of luxury mobility. Fully electric, with a completely autonomous drive and enhanced artificial intelligence, it made an unequivocal statement about Rolls-Royce's future direction, both in terms of electric power and effortless, highly personalised travel.

15. ‘Sweptail’, 2017
Rolls-Royce revived the art of coachbuilding with the magnificent ‘Sweptail’, described at the time as ‘automotive Haute Couture’. Inspired by coachbuilt Rolls-Royces and racing yachts of the 1920s and 30s, this unique two-seat coupé featured a panoramic glass roof and a pair of attaché cases concealed behind the coach doors.

16. Phantom 8, 2017
No nameplate occupies a more revered place in the pantheon of great cars and indeed, luxury goods as Phantom. The task to re-invent it for a bold, new era was therefore approached with exquisite care. The result was a Phantom that responded to the changing sensibilities of a new generation whilst maintaining the iconic presence that ensures its ongoing status as the “Best Car in the World”.

17. Cullinan, 2018
Cullinan is truly the ‘Rolls-Royce of SUVs’, designed and built to take younger, successful high-net-worth individuals to the ends of the Earth in ultimate comfort. With its ‘effortless, everywhere’ capabilities, endless Bespoke possibilities and unique lifestyle features – including the Recreation Module – it has become one of the most desirable luxury goods on the planet.

18. Black Badge Cullinan, 2019
Cullinan revelled in its new, darker persona, which included a more powerful 6.7-litre V12 engine, black 22-inch forged alloy wheels, Pantheon grille and Spirit of Ecstasy mascot, plus the first painted brake callipers ever fitted to a factory-delivered Rolls-Royce.

19. New Ghost, 2020
When it came to present a new Ghost, Rolls-Royce responded to the requirement from a new ascendent generation of successful women and men for a motor car, perfectly aligned with new codes of luxury. The result is an aesthetic that prioritises minimalist design and celebrates material substance. The motor car was also engineered to possess an engaging and dynamic character with no compromise to the serenity and comfort in the rear suite.

20. Boat Tail, 2021
The Boat Tail commissions took Rolls-Royce Coachbuild into new realms of complexity and audacity, in a demanding technical and creative project that lasted almost four years. A genuine objet d'art, this entirely handcrafted motor car demonstrated the marque's commitment to coachbuilding as a central part of its future direction and strategy.

• Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will serve a highly contemporary presence at the Festival of Speed
• Bespoke expressions of the full Black Badge product portfolio will be presented
• Collection presented on Festival’s Laundry Green

 

“Each year many clients, friends of the brand and media come together for the Festival of Speed. With its location, just a stone’s throw away from The Home of Rolls-Royce on the Goodwood Estate, the Festival of Speed is a very important event for the brand. This year, our full Black Badge portfolio will be displayed at the event on the Laundry Green. I am delighted to showcase such highly Bespoke cars in vivacious colours and luxurious hues, testament to the creativity of our artisans, designers and engineers.”
Boris Weletzky, Regional Director UK, Europe, Russia and Central Asia, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars


Visitors attending the Festival of Speed will experience the global public debut of the full Black Badge product portfolio.

Displayed on the Festival’s Laundry Green, adjacent to Goodwood House, will be a selection of highly Bespoke commissions – Black Badge Wraith, Black Badge Dawn, Black Badge Cullinan and the purest expression of a Rolls-Royce Black Badge to date, Black Badge Ghost. Each commission reveals an owner’s aesthetic sensibilities and the marque’s peerless craftsmanship.


BLACK BADGE

Launched in 2016, Black Badge is Rolls-Royce’s response to a new type of client. A permanent Bespoke treatment to its motor cars, these products are darker in aesthetic, more urgent in personality and dramatic in material. Designed with more torque, control and power, Rolls-Royce Black Badge is for those who reject conformity and live on their own terms. It is for the innovators, trailblazers, rule-breakers — and above all — those who dare. Since its introduction, more dynamic patrons of luxury have responded by pushing the boundaries of the marque’s bold alter-ego through their own Bespoke commissions.

Black Badge, the highly successful alter ego of Rolls-Royce, now represents 27% of commissions worldwide and is codified by the mathematical symbol that represents a potential infinity. This graphic, also known as a Leminscate, was applied to Sir Malcom Campbell’s record-breaking Rolls-Royce powered Blue Bird K3 hydroplane and the marque’s designers nominated this hallmark for Black Badge motor cars to reflect their own unrelenting pursuit of power and the infinite possibilities that darkness provides. Today it can be found within the Black Badge motor car’s interior.

For this year’s Festival of Speed, Rolls-Royce presents five new powerful creations, inspired by its clients’ desires.


BLACK BADGE GHOST

Launched in late 2021, Black Badge Ghost is the marque’s purest and most technologically advanced Black Badge motor car yet.

A Galileo Blue and Black exterior finish was selected to signify the dramatic intent of this Black Badge Ghost commission. Striking Red brake callipers and a single wheel centre pinstripe in Galileo Blue confidently resolve the aesthetic exterior. The blue theme is carried through to the interior, with the seat piping and Bespoke interior leather in Galileo Blue.

The second Black Badge Ghost model is on display in the VIP area, its vibrant Lime Green coachwork creating a striking contrast against its dark carbon fibre Spirit of Ecstasy.


BLACK BADGE CULLINAN

Named after the world’s largest rough Diamond, Cullinan is a super-luxury SUV, designed to make luxury travel effortless everywhere. Since its launch, Black Badge Cullinan has embarked on a remarkable Bespoke journey, and a unique Black Badge Cullinan has been created for the event. The commission reconciles the notions of utility, power and effortlessness that Black Badge Cullinan embodies. Presented in Dark Olive with a single Mandarin coachline and Mandarin brake callipers, the signature Black Badge design flourishes, including a milled carbon fibre Spirit of Ecstasy, and 22-inch Black Badge wheels embolden the exterior aesthetic.


BLACK BADGE DAWN

Black Badge Dawn is the most uncompromising expression of open-top luxury in the world. Presented in a striking two-tone, Jasmine with Black, this commission embodies the notions of adventure and freedom. This bold and powerful two-tone treatment is also applied to the steering wheel, and the flanks of its bold coachwork are underscored by 21-inch Black Badge wheels.


BLACK BADGE WRAITH

Black Badge Wraith presents an intoxicating manifestation of the world’s most powerful Rolls-Royce. The athletic prowess of the luxury Grand Tourer meets an irresistible dynamism, sculpted for those who dare to defy convention. Black Badge Wraith is presented in Tucana Purple, with the upper body in Black. A Mandarin coachline showcases the marque’s surface finish capabilities. Inside, a Mandarin and Black theme creates a dramatic and powerful aesthetic.

In addition to the four cars presented on the stand, a Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost will take to the hill climb up to four times a day in the exclusive ‘First Glance’ showcase. Further demonstrating Black Badge’s agility, a Rolls-Royce Black Badge Wraith will join the cars in the ‘Michelin Supercar Run’. Both motor cars can be viewed in their Paddocks between their scheduled high-speed outings.


Other Rolls-Royce motor cars attending the Festival of Speed include a Black Badge Dawn as a Courtesy Car and a Black Badge Cullinan as a Festival Course Safety Car.