ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM DRAGON: A TIMELESS TALE OF KINDNESS AND GENEROSITY – AutoMart Canada

• Rolls-Royce unveils one-of-one Phantom Dragon, curated by the
  Private Office Shanghai
• Commission includes modern yet sensitive interpretations of
  Chinese dragon motifs
• Dragon-inspired marquetry in the Gallery comprises 297 individual pieces
• Unique Starlight Headliner abstractly captures two dragons
  engaging with a pearl
• Underscores the value of Rolls-Royce’s presence in East Asia and
  understanding of crucial market
• Marks the beginning of celebrations in the centenary year of Phantom

“
One of the Rolls-Royce brand’s signature strengths is creating
products that sensitively and respectfully integrate iconography
from specific cultures, interpreted through our own innovative
crafts and design language. Like every Bespoke motor car, this
magnificent Phantom Extended is a testament to the skills and
creativity of our Bespoke designers, engineers, and craftspeople.
This commission features a Bespoke Gallery
with a floating effect that makes the dragon appear as if it is
formed from clouds of smoke—a design achieved through the intricate
art of marquetry, one of the most demanding techniques applied in a
motor car interior.

Phantom Dragon highlights the importance of our presence in China
through the Private Office in Shanghai. Having a dedicated
Rolls-Royce team in this region gives us a unique understanding of,
and connection to, one of the world’s most significant luxury
markets. Blending local Chinese culture with international
aesthetics allows us to create truly unique and contemporary
products with real depth and substance, like this extraordinary
motor car.”

Martina Starke, Head of Bespoke Design, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars unveils the one-of-one Phantom
Extended created as a celebration of the Year of the Dragon.
Commissioned by a discerning client from China, Phantom Dragon offers
a contemporary rendition of the ancient Chinese legend of two dragons
with a pearl – a motif with complex symbolism and great cultural
significance, celebrated in art, architecture, and literature
throughout East Asia. The theme stands as an embodiment of the success
and personal philosophy of the commissioning client. This magnificent
example of the marque’s pinnacle product provides a fitting conclusion
to the lunar Year of the Dragon, as well as the beginning of the
Phantom nameplate’s centenary in 2025.

At the core of this Bespoke commission is Rolls-Royce’s
sensitive and deeply informed interpretation of traditional Chinese
iconography, skilfully blended with the marque’s own distinctive
creative handwriting. This melding of Chinese culture with
international aesthetics is a major driver of the country’s luxury
sector, particularly among younger consumers who are increasingly
drawn to the Rolls-Royce brand.

Curated by Rolls-Royce creatives based in China, Phantom Dragon
is a tribute to this enduring cultural symbol that also captures the
commissioning client’s personal sensibilities and tastes. This
commission also signals the wider value of the marque’s Private Office
in Shanghai, which not only brings Goodwood to China but also brings
Chinese culture and preferences to Goodwood.

“Our goal for this project was to express China’s most
revered symbols and the client’s personal iconography impactfully
yet respectfully, while also subtly incorporating Rolls-Royce’s
design handwriting. In this motor car, our artisans have
accomplished this using different mediums, capturing the rich legacy
of the region, the client, and the Rolls-Royce brand.”

Shuai Feng, Lead Bespoke Designer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars,
Private Office Shanghai

DANCE OF THE DRAGONS

In Phantom Dragon, Chinese iconography is creatively
and respectfully integrated into core elements of the motor car’s
interior.  The design theme is inspired by an ancient legend, dating
back over 3,000 years, that tells of two dragons, protectors of the
human realm, who were gifted a divine pearl by the gods for their good
deeds. Rather than greedily claiming the treasure for themselves, the
dragons deferred to one another – a scene that came to symbolise
kindness and generosity of spirit. Moved by the dragons’ loyalty, the
gods then bestowed upon them a second pearl, which the creatures
absorbed before ascending as deities themselves.

While the dragons symbolise power and good fortune, the pearl is
a symbol of purity and perfection. As these two elements are captured
together, the interplay of the dragons signifies the harmonious
balance of Yin and Yang – two complementary forces united in the
pursuit of enlightenment and a fulfilling life.

TRADITIONAL MOTIFS

The Gallery, which runs the full width of the fascia,
houses a Bespoke marquetry, made of 297 individual pieces and four
different wood species. An artisan at the Home of Rolls-Royce spent
three months creating this striking feature, which involves
intricately cutting out veneer shapes, then assembling and fixing them
by hand. The artwork represents the two dragons, enclosed within
swirling clouds, guarding the pearl embodied by the Bespoke clock
itself. The base layer is crafted from Smoked Eucalyptus; the outline
of the shapes, only 0.5 mm wide, is rendered in Sycamore veneer and
filled with Ash burr, carefully chosen for its natural grain that
mimics the texture of the clouds. Black Bolivar veneer ‘shadows’ give
the piece a sense of depth, making the dragons appear to be floating
above the surface.

Exceptional woodcraft is expressed across the commission,
including high gloss Smoked Eucalyptus elements, and Canadel door
panels fashioned from natural open pore Smoked Eucalyptus. This is
complemented by Ardent Red and black leathers on the front and rear
reclining Serenity seats respectively, and completed with the client’s
family name in ancient Chinese calligraphy, meticulously embroidered
onto the headrests in contrasting cotton thread.

The theme continues with the stunning Bespoke Starlight
Headliner depicting an abstract representation of two dragons,
rendered in red and white. This majestic celestial composition
comprises 768 red and 576 white fibre-optic lights, each individually
hand-fitted and surrounded by 24 shooting ‘stars’.

Creating a bold contrast to the drama of the interior suite, the
one-of-one Phantom Dragon is finished in Iced Diamond Black which
creates a signature shimmering satin appearance.

NEDC combined: CO2 emissions: 345 g/km; Fuel consumption: 18.7 mpg /
15.1 l/100km. WLTP combined: CO2 emissions: 353-365 g/km; Fuel
consumption: 17.4-18.1 mpg / 15.6-16.2 l/100km. Further
information: