Rolls-Royce designers present new concepts in Bespoke programme

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ team of Bespoke designers, led by Richard Collar, head of Bespoke sales and marketing, paid a special visit to Qatar as they toured the region to meet with the brand’s clients to discuss the capabilities of the Bespoke programme.

The visit took place at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Doha, the sole dealer of Rolls-Royce motor cars in Qatar, where the team presented some of the unique concepts being prepared for the year ahead. 

Collar hailed the creativity of Rolls-Royce’s customers in the region and their boldness in pushing the Bespoke programme to new limits in personalised automotive artistry. “Tailor made motor cars are at the core of our business and our customers in this region love the fact that they can reflect their individuality and their passion through these one of a kind ultra luxury automobiles,” he said.

Today, 110 years after it was founded, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is still providing personalised ultra-luxury to its customers through the Bespoke Programme, which allows customers to individualise their cars to suit their unique taste and personality.

“The Middle East region boasts the richest bespoke specifications in the world and in 2013 every vehicle delivered contained bespoke elements, amongst them a number of themed bespoke artistic creations,” Collar said.

Over the course of last year, the Rolls-Royce Bespoke studio delivered several one-of-a-kind concepts to the region. Most recently, the Phantom Coupe Chicane, paid tribute to the historic Goodwood racing circuit, situated in the vicinity of the Home of Rolls-Royce, through a blend of colour and black accents in addition to non-traditional, yet elegantly finished Carbon Fibre trim on the interior.

Preceding the Chicane, a collection of two Phantoms, named the Ghawaas collection, consisted of a Saloon and a Coupe, was inspired by the beauty of pearls and the Gulf culture of pearl diving.

Their allure was distinct, thanks to a Turchese exterior, with interiors fitted out in a twin tone seashell and Turchese. The bespoke duet also featured a personalised Dhow logo embroidered to headrests in seashell thread and mother of pear inlays throughout.

Among the most aesthetically-pleasing of these one-of-a-kind creations last year was the Phantom Coupe Ruby. This Phantom enjoyed a Merlot Red Mica exterior, with interiors fitted out in a twin tone Seashell (white) and Mugello Red. Other bespoke touches included a personalised clock with a cut ruby stone inlay, illuminated Spirit of Ecstasy, personalised tread plates graphics and a twin coachline in Seashell with an integrated ‘Ruby’ logo.

The Middle East was also notably one of the most receptive regions in the world for the global bespoke collections launched in 2013, including the commemorative Home of Rolls-Royce Collection which celebrates a decade of Rolls-Royce production at the Goodwood locale; the Aviator collection, which pays tribute to brand-founders Henry Royce and Charles Rolls’ work in aviation; and the Alpine centenary collection, featuring a number of Ghosts styled in homage to the 1913 Radley Silver Ghost which won the 1913 Alpine Trial, a seminal victory at the time which established Rolls-Royce as the maker of the Best Car in the World.

This year also promises to be a landmark in the history of Bespoke, with a number of as-yet confidential concepts set to be launched throughout the year. Already announced is the Bespoke Waterspeed Collection of Phantom Drophead Coupes, celebrating the spirit of adventure of Sir Malcom Campbell, who in 1937 broke the world waterspeed record in his Bluebird K3 hydroplane boat, powered by Rolls-Royce’s R-Type engine.