The ultra-luxury car has received unique touches from a renowned artist.
Small it may be, but Singapore is a powerhouse of industry and business. An astonishing 5.5% of the country's population is classified as millionaires, meaning there's serious money sitting on the sovereign island-city state. But that's not the only thing Singapore is known for. The nation is home to one of the largest tropical orchid collections, with over 60,000 species on display.
Rolls-Royce's latest creation, the Phantom Orchid, represents the aforementioned facets in a 'one of one' vehicle destined for Singapore. Resplendent in Arctic White, the unique Phantom's paintwork was given a subtle violet tint, inspired by the country's national flower. To give it an exceptional finish, fine glass particles give the ultra-luxury car a pearlescent sheen. A single coachline flows down either side of the vehicle, each featuring a subtle orchid-inspired motif.
The Extended Wheelbase Phantom was selected as the 'blank canvas' for this commission, said Lead Designer of Rolls-Royce Bespoke, Michael Bryden. To create a fitting tribute, award-winning artist Helen Amy Murray was enlisted to create a hand-sculpted silk artwork. The result of her talent is displayed behind the Phantom's gallery, a feature the British luxury carmaker describes as, “a space that enables one to exhibit art, sculptures, or objects of self-expression in the sanctuary of [the] interior.”
Various kinds of orchids, including the Singapore Orchid, inspired Murray and her team, who spent over 200 hours refining the design. “I started by focusing on the actual orchids, which promptly led me to realize that color was key to capturing the essence of the species. I have created artworks featuring orchids in the past, but my idea for the Gallery was to create something in realistic full color, which pushed us to refine our digital printing skills,” explained the UK-based artist. Murray started by sketching the design by hand, before creating a digital version that could be printed onto the silk crepe satin.
The interior, finished in a classy blend of Grace White, Havana, and Smoke Grey (with Dark Olive stitching) contrasts beautifully with the bright colors of the orchid artwork. Rolls-Royce intended on creating a calm and serene nature, intrinsic characteristics of the car itself. Striving for perfection, the company's bespoke designer Yohan Benchetrit added equally elegant finishing touches. When opened, the picnic table inlays reveal a collection of orchids set into the piano black wood veneer. Similarly, the treadplates have been customized to feature orchids, too.
The Phantom Orchid is the latest in a long line of bespoke Rolls-Royce motor vehicles. Last year, the Goodwood-based manufacturer teamed up with luxury goods brand Hermes to create a unique Phantom for a Japanese businessman. Pictured below, the Phantom Oribe features paintwork which draws inspiration from the owner's collection of fine Japanese ceramics.
As for the price of the Phantom Orchid, the well-mannered folks at Rolls-Royce are far too polite to discuss the sordid topic of cost. But with a starting price of around $450,000 before any customization, we would be surprised if this special Phantom was worth anything less than a few million dollars.
Keyword: Rolls-Royce Reveals One-Off Phantom Inspired By Orchids