He went on to say, “Today’s generation of young, self-empowered, self-confident rule-breakers are just as uncompromising and unapologetic in their choice of living and lifestyle as their predecessors. They follow the road less traveled, live the unconventional life, darkly obsessed by their own pursuits and accomplishments from which they derive a pure adrenaline rush.
Their life is their entertainment, and they live it on their own terms.
And when the day is done, and the battle is won, these supremely confident people engage with the night, they go where it leads, and take all it has to offer as their just reward.
As demanding in their lifestyle as they are in their life pursuits, these highly-driven people insist on great substance from any symbol of their lifestyle. More and more, such individuals wish to demonstrate their success through a symbiosis between their life’s work and their chosen brands.
Over the last years, many such individuals have gravitated towards the revitalised Rolls-Royce Motor Cars as the brand most appropriate to encapsulate their truly individual lifestyles, much as their celebrated predecessors did in days past.
Always pushing their own boundaries, they have asked Rolls-Royce Motor Cars to do the same. Excited by the infinite possibilities that its Bespoke approach offers, they have asked the marque “to produce a Rolls-Royce like no other, a Rolls-Royce that not only appeals to, and projects, our sensibilities, but is fundamentally different – like us.”
The result is Ghost Black Badge and Wraith Black Badge.
“Today, I am announcing that Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will create a permanent Bespoke series of motor cars for a group of young, driven, self-made people that will make a bold and edgy lifestyle statement about their lives,” commented Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
“In an unprecedented collaboration with these new customers, Rolls-Royce has confidently created ‘Black Badge’, the ultimate in pure luxury style and engineering substance. Technically and aesthetically ‘Black Badge’ is the alter ego of Rolls-Royce Wraith and Ghost; darker, more assertive, more confident and powerful, and more demanding. With Black Badge we have created the most powerful presence on the luxury landscape. It is a truly transformative moment for our great brand.”
Giles Taylor, Director of Design, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars commented, “In creating Black Badge, we were conscious of satisfying the different demands of these new customers. Not only did they demand an alternative image for themselves, they demanded authentic Rolls-Royce engineering substance to underpin it. As a result, the Black Badge Spirit manifests itself through a series of carefully considered design elements which together express a darker luxury sophistication. New material accents and tonalities are combined to accommodate the tastes of those fast-moving customers who adopt a strident approach to life’s finer challenges.”
The transformation of the Ghost and Wraith
Together with the Parthenon Grille, the famous Double R logo and the Spirit of Ecstasy are the very embodiment of the Rolls-Royce brand. However, these symbols of the marque have been willing to change their identity in appropriate circumstances before.
In Y 1933, in a move that signaled the Bespoke nature of the company from an early stage, Sir Henry Royce himself changed the Double R badge from the traditional Red-on-Silver to Black-on-Silver to ensure it would not clash with the paintwork color choice of high-profile customers including the then Prince of Wales.
The iconic Spirit of Ecstasy figure has, over the years, gone through a number of iterations both in design and materials used. She has been large and standing, kneeling and inclined forward to indicate higher performance; she has been made of Gold, Silver, Crystal and Stainless Steel, and has been jeweled, and uplit.
Now the Spirit of Ecstasy and the iconic Double R lead the way once more as Rolls-Royce enters the alternative reality of ‘Black Badge’.
On the surface of it, both Ghost Black Badge and Wraith Black Badge go through a very similar transformation.
The transformation begins with the ‘Flying Lady’ who changes neither in design, posture nor material, but in Black.
The transformation pervades the other iconic symbols of the Ghost Black Badge and Wraith Black Badge.
Black Badge brings the color black to new levels of intensity.
The multiple layers of paint and lacquer that go into creating Black Badge Black are repeatedly hand polished, the most exacting painting and polishing process ever used for a solid paint color. The result is the deepest, darkest and most intense Black ever seen on a car’s surface.
Rolls-Royce bespoke clients be able to specify whatever color they wish for the exterior and interior leather of their Ghost Black Badge or Wraith Black Badge.
The possibilities are virtually limitless inside the Black Badge cabin as it is suffused with a darker re-interpretation of luxury, inspired by Rolls-Royce’s advanced materials and aerospace heritage.
Set into the cars’ fascia is a newly created Black Badge clock whose hands are tipped in Orange.
Then there is the light from the Black Starlight headliner, and reflected around the cabin from the polished fascia, to create an atmospheric ambiance.
The Ghost Black Badge
Rolls-Royce engineers used the flexibility of the 6.6 litre V12 engine to make Ghost Black Badge a little more menacing. Subtle engine output modifications see power increase by 40hp (30kw) to 603hp (450kw) and torque by 60Nm (840Nm) compared to standard Ghost, and upgrades to the 8-speed automatic transmission give Ghost Black Badge an urgency on how it delivers its power.
Suspension and steering changes, including the addition of new drive shafts, have ensured that Ghost Black Badge continues to deliver the most luxurious ride.
The Wraith Black Badge
Wraith has always been the most driver-focused car in Rolls-Royce’s model range. However, understanding how driven this new breed of customer is and their wish to push the boundaries, Rolls-Royce’s engineering team worked to give this most fastback coupé a discernible edge.
By combining an extra wave of torque (+70Nm) with the already existing high power output, a completely redesigned air-suspension set up, new drive shafts and up-rated 8-Speed transmission, Rolls-Royce has produced a more driver-focused, agile sporty motor car, at the same time preserving the elements of the effortless Rolls-Royce ride.
Again, upgrades to the 8-speed automatic transmission injects a level of added urgency in how Wraith Black Badge delivers its power.
For more information go to: https://www.press.rolls-roycemotorcars.com/rolls-royce-motor-cars-pressclub/article/topic/6050/bespoke-cars/
Rolls Royce Motor Carsis a unit of BMW, (F:BMW)
Have a terrific weekend.
HeffX-LTN
Paul Ebeling
The post Rolls Royce Introduces The “Black Badge” Motor Cars appeared first on Live Trading News.