A Rolls-Royce Ghost inspired by the solar eclipse

The solar eclipse has been an awe-inspiring moment for humans since they began gazing at the skies. The celestial phenomenon when the Moon crosses in front and blocks the Sun was once fear-inducing but is today something that is observed with interest and fascination when it does occur.

This phenomenon will again occur on October 14 in parts of the Western Hemisphere, and to coincide with this annular solar eclipse, the designers at the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective have prepared a special model which will be available in only 25 examples (all of which have already been sold).

Known as the Black Badge Ghost Ekleipsis Private Collection, the purity of the Ghost, infused with the subversive Black Badge spirit, presents the perfect canvas and limitless possibility to express the beauty of this wonder of the universe.

Golden darkness
The mysterious, ethereal light cast by a total solar eclipse is captured in the Lyrical Copper exterior colour of the limousine. This is a Bespoke finish which incorporates powdered copper pigment, appearing darker until it catches the light when it produces a rich and dramatic iridescence.

Mandarin adorns the inserts below the Pantheon Grille and brake calipers, recalling the intense pulses of sunlight witnessed as the eclipse progresses. The same Mandarin hue is used for the hand-painted coachline, which includes a delicate abstract representation of the transition from sunlight to darkness as the Moon approaches to cover the Sun.

Animated Starlight Headliner
Overhead in the cabin, the fully Bespoke Starlight Headliner has a special animation that, like the eclipse that inspires it, will give those inside a true sense of awe and wonder. As the coach doors close and the engine is started, the ‘stars’ in the ceiling darken and a mesmerising sequence begins, replicating the totality of the solar eclipse, when the dark silhouette of the Moon completely obscures the bright light of the Sun.

A circle of 940 ‘stars’ is formed, representing the bright corona of light around the lunar silhouette. This is surrounded by a further 192 illuminating ‘stars’, recreating the otherworldly spectacle of stars visible in the sky during daylight, which occurs only during a total solar eclipse.

The animation remains visible for precisely 7 minutes and 31 seconds – the longest possible duration of a total solar eclipse. Once this time has elapsed, the full constellation of ‘stars’ in the night sky is restored.

This highly technical feature required a year of painstaking development, in which the Bespoke Collective produced 3 complete prototypes to perfect the design and sequencing of the ‘stars’.

Illuminated fascia
The illuminated fascia of the Black Badge Ghost Ekleipsis is adorned with 1,846 laser-etched ‘stars’ in a symbolic timeline of a total eclipse. A single Bespoke designer had sole responsibility for adjusting the individual size and position of each ‘star’ to create the mesmeric effect; a delicate and exacting process that took over 100 hours to complete.

The composition culminates in a Bespoke timepiece, which incorporates a brilliant-cut 0.5-carat diamond, recalling the ‘Diamond Ring’ effect, when a single, dazzling point of light can be seen on the Moon’s outline in the split seconds just before and immediately after it obscures the Sun.

The bezel geometry has been modified to accommodate the precious gem, as this is the first time in Rolls-Royce history that a gemstone has been integrated into the clock’s bezel. The assembly underwent rigorous adhesion tests, which included climatic cell cycling from -30°C to 90°C, to ensure the diamond is robustly secured. The timepiece is finished with an etching on its dark aluminium surround, revealing the bright metal underneath. This beautiful piece of contemporary craftsmanship is the result of over 14 design iterations.

Panoramic sunset
At totality of a solar eclipse, there is a moment when a golden twilight surrounds those viewing the eclipse, giving the illusion of a 360-degree sunset. Within the Rolls-Royce, the beauty of this rarely observed phenomenon is captured in bi-coloured seats with a unique perforated artwork, made of over 200,000 individual perforations.

Bespoke finishing touches include illuminated treadplates, umbrellas with Mandarin piping concealed in the coach doors, and a unique indoor car cover bearing the Private Collection’s wordmark.

“We are exceptionally proud to present these motor cars to 25 of our most significant clients around the world – it is these individuals who inspire greatness within our brand, and who drive us to create ever more bold and richly detailed expressions of modern luxury,” said Torsten Muller-Otvos, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

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