One of the fun things that some luxury brands do sometimes is make custom cars in accordance with a theme, and while it might seem like a waste of time on the part of companies, these special designs are usually the thing that makes them stand out amongst the rest. One of the most interesting examples is Rolls-Royce, known for its luxurious cars and their bespoke approach to car manufacturing. This year, to celebrate the Year of the Dragon on the Chinese zodiac calendar the company is creating a pair of bespoke Phantoms, one for China and the other for the U.S.
The idea of the new Phantom Dragon Rolls-Royce
These beautiful masterpieces are now known as the Phantom Dragon editions and are the first, of what is expected to be a long line of bespoke editions to celebrate the centennial year for the Phantom nameplate, and if the rest are as impressive as this pair, collectors will be itching to get their hands on one of these beautifully crafted automobiles.
These cars are, of course, inspired by traditional Chinese lore, specifically from an ancient legend of two dragons and a pearl. The story follows as the two dragons receive the pearl as a reward for protecting humanity, and it is one of the important stories that will be highlighted in the year of the dragon.
To really lean into the dragon theme, designers at Rolls-Royce have ensured that there are plenty of dragon motifs scattered throughout the interior of the car, creating a cohesive and beautiful design against the red leather that they have been painted on. This red color will have a very nice contrast with the wood panels on the dash, which will give it a more classic style that the Phantom is known for. There will be two additional dragons depicted as guarding the pearl, represented here by the dash-mounted clock, at the top of the dash features made from 297 individual pieces of wood. The attention to detail in this central piece creates a breathtaking scene that will make the delight of any future owner.
But the custom touches that Rolls-Royce is known for do not end there. An abstract representation of two dragons in red and white, formed by more than 1,200 fiber-optic lights will be set against the starlight headliner and the picnic tables in the rear also feature inlaid stainless steel circular Chinese zodiac calendars, with each zodiac sign represented by its Chinese character and the dragon character highlighted in gold.
While the price for these wonderful masterpieces has not been announced, this might be one of the cases where if you have to ask, you cannot afford it. After all, the Phantom Dragon edition for the U.S. was commissioned by the Rolls-Royce of Orange County and can be ordered exclusively through the dealership. As a defining feature it will boast dragon motifs throughout, including on all four headrests, in this case depicted in red accent stitching. These dragons will be a labor of love, as they will be made out of embroidery, being comprised of 5,449 stitches and requiring 20 hours to complete each.
Another place where dragons will be featured is in the hand-painted coachline on each side. The dragons face to the right, representing the east ad will be a subtle representation of the mythical creature.
The Phantom Dragon editions were created by the Rolls-Royce Bespoke personalization division. This division, located at the Rolls-Royce plant in Goodwood, U.K., is undergoing upgrades to accommodate the growing demand for customized vehicles. The improvements include the addition of more Private Offices, similar to those used by the clients who commissioned the Phantom Dragon Editions.
