In celebration of the rare and mesmerizing annular solar eclipse, Rolls Royce has unveiled its highly exclusive Black Badge Ghost Ékleipsis Private Collection. The October 12 release will feature 25 bespoke motor cars and coincide with the annular solar eclipse, visible in parts of the Western Hemisphere on October 14.
Every element of the Black Badge Ghost Ékleipsis Private Collection has been carefully crafted to evoke the wondrous awe of the upcoming eclipse. Inspired by the captivating interplay between light and darkness created as the moon obscures the sun, the collection is reflective of the drama, spectacle and mystery that surrounds this rare phenomenon.
“With Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Ékleipsis, we draw inspiration from a total solar eclipse: a seldom-seen and spellbinding phenomenon that reflects the rarity and beauty of Rolls-Royce Private Collections,” said Torsten Muller-Otvos, chief executive officer of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
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“In capturing the magic of this celestial alignment, our bespoke collective of designers, engineers and craftspeople have once again elevated contemporary craftsmanship, with a landmark series of exquisite details that project the marque’s culture of ambition and excellence.”
Representing the first time in Rolls-Royce history that a gemstone has been integrated into the clock’s bezel, these motor cars represent a special moment for the brand.
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The exterior of the cars, finished in lyrical copper, captures the mysterious light cast by an eclipse. Incorporated powdered copper pigment allows the color to appear darker until it catches the light to produce a dramatic, glowing iridescence.
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Colored mandarin inserts below the Pantheon grille and brake calipers recall the intense pulses of sunlight produced as the eclipse progresses. This mandarin hue also coats the hand-painted coachline, which includes a delicate abstract representation of the eclipse’s transition from sunlight to darkness, as the moon approaches to cover the sun.
As the doors close and the engine starts, ‘stars’ in the headliner of the coach darken, and begin an animated sequence, reminiscent of the eclipse’s spectacle of stars and lunar silhouette. The animation took over a year to perfect, and remains visible for precisely seven minutes and 31 seconds, the longest possible duration of a total solar eclipse.
The illuminated fascia of the car is adorned with 1,846 laser-etched ‘stars.’ The composition recalls the ‘diamond ring’ effect when a single, dazzling point of light can be seen on the moon’s outline in the split second before and after it obscures the sun.
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This composition culminates in a bespoke timepiece, which incorporates a brilliant-cut 0.5-carat diamond.
Once the eclipse reaches its totality, there is a moment where golden sunlight surrounds, giving the illusion of a 360-degree sunset. This moment of awe is reflected in the motor car’s interiors, through bold black leather-minted seats that feature over 200,000 perforations, revealing a brighter contrasting color underneath and creating a bi-colored sunset-like effect.
Bespoke finishing touches include illuminated tread plates, umbrellas with mandarin piping concealed in the coach doors, and a unique indoor motor car cover bearing the private collection’s wordmark.
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“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 details expressions of modern luxury,” said Muller-Otvos.
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