Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is delighted to present the
latest showcase of the marque’s pinnacle Bespoke offering. The Phantom
Metropolitan Collection features exquisite hand-crafted design inspired by the modern
metropolis. Just 20 of these beautifully crafted motor cars will be available
to commission.
The Phantom Metropolitan Collection pays homage to
the world’s great metropolises through the meticulous application of marquetry
– the art of inlaying small pieces of wood veneer to form decorative motifs.
When open, Phantom’s signature picnic table presents occupants with an elevated
view of the city, created through the expert application of 500 individual wood
veneer pieces.
Indeed, the process of hand-cutting, colouring, shaping and
applying is so complex these unique objects d’art take an expert wood
craftsperson several days to complete. On closing the tables, a different
perspective of the cityscape is offered – reflecting the view one gets when
effortlessly travelling in the rear of a Phantom.
Meticulous care is taken when selecting the
individual wood veneers. Minute imperfections such as knots and flecks lead to
instant rejection. Adjustments to the colour of each piece are made through the
traditional hand-process of hot-sand shading before a final inspection under
magnification on a light box to ensure perfection.
The cityscape theme extends beyond Phantom’s many
wood surfaces. A specially developed Aetherius Grey leather colour was created
to echo the colour palette of the modern city whilst 6,800 two-tone stitches to
the central rear seat flutes depict an abstract image of a skyscraper. A
specially developed Bespoke clock extends the theme to the front of the car.
For the first time in the marque’s history, a rotating bezel expressing 24 of
the great cities of the world and their time zones – Paris included – adorns
the central console of a Rolls-Royce motor car.
An exterior hue, Darkest Tungsten, inspired by city
skylines finishes the exterior surfaces of the motor car on display in Paris.
However, as afforded to any Rolls-Royce customer, the full palette of 44,000
colours is available to those commissioning a Phantom Metropolitan Collection
motor car. Should that not be enough, the marque’s Bespoke craftspeople will
create a perfect match of any colour or object a customer may wish to
replicate. The exterior is completed with a hand-applied coachline that depicts
an abstract silhouette of modern skyscrapers.
These limited
Collections serve to inspire customers, with record levels of Bespoke demand
reported in September 2014. Nearly every Phantom across the globe, 90% of
Wraith and 80% of Ghost family motor cars were commissioned by customers with
some element of Bespoke design. Bespoke is Rolls-Royce.