Autoesque

There’s a space on the dashboard of every Rolls-Royce Phantom called the Gallery, which is where owners can display a specially-commissioned piece of art or design.

Black Badge models have been successful in attracting a different type of customer to Rolls-Royce. Often younger than might be expected, they want their cars to combine luxury with dynamics and performance. In fact, over a quarter of worldwide Rolls-Royce orders are now configured to Black Badge specification.

According to Rolls-Royce, “time, astronomical phenomena and the infinite reaches of the universe” were the inspiration for its new Tempus Collection. The brand’s latest limited-edition Phantom is aptly named, because tempus is the Latin word for time.

Rolls-Royce is preparing to launch its first ‘Collection Car’ of 2020. The Dawn Silver Bullet Collection – which was inspired by the roadsters of a century ago – is “an ode to decadence, to frivolity, to heady heydays and irreverent past times”.

With production of the first-generation Ghost due to end soon, Rolls-Royce has created a special version named Zenith to commemorate its departure.

Affluent audiophiles are going to be tempted by the latest Rolls-Royce Wraith special edition. Called ‘Inspired by Music’, it features a 1300W, eighteen-channel Bespoke Audio system that apparently took two years to perfect.

Rolls-Royce has launched another limited edition created by its Bespoke department. The Limelight Collection, which can be based on either the Phantom or Phantom Extended Wheelbase, “has been conceived for that select group of people who spend their lives in the public eye and on the world stage”.

Rolls-Royce has once again turned to its Bespoke division to create a limited edition. The latest, called Nighthawk, is based on the Phantom Drophead Coupé and it’ll be offered in North America only.

It might seem rather odd that a collection of one-off cars created to commemorate the historic relationship between Rolls-Royce and the Indian Maharajas is going to be available only in Dubai. But that market is where the demand is, so the decision makes commercial sense.

Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke division has unveiled the Phantom Metropolitan Collection, of which only 20 examples are going to be built.

Guests of the Louis XIII hotel in Macau, which is due to open in 2016, will get to ride in a chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce Phantom. In fact thirty of the cars – all Extended Wheelbase models – have just been ordered by the new Cotai Strip venue.

It would be so easy for Rolls-Royce to make its Bespoke Collection cars appear too gaudy. Thankfully that’s not the case with the Phantom Waterspeed Collection though, which manages to look stunning yet tasteful.

Five years after it was first launched, Rolls-Royce has given the Ghost a mild facelift.

The Bespoke Waterspeed Collection from Rolls-Royce pays homage to the Bluebird K3 hydroplane boat in which Sir Malcolm Campbell set a world waterspeed record in September 1937.

The V-Specification moniker isn’t particularly redolent of Rolls-Royce, not least because it’s bound to be shortened to V-Spec - and that instantly brings to mind a special Nissan GT-R.  However, maybe such a faux pas can be partly forgiven after considering the cars that lie beneath the name.

Rolls-Royce has revealed the unique Chicane Phantom Coupé. Created by the firm’s Bespoke division, it incorporates design elements that have been inspired by the Goodwood motor-racing circuit.

The dictionary definition of ‘cool’ is fashionably attractive or impressive . That makes it an entirely subjective thing, so attempting to come up with a list of what’s cool (or not) is bound to cause some disagreement.

Rolls-Royce is marking the 100th anniversary of its success in the gruelling Austrian Alpine Trials by introducing the Ghost Alpine Trial Centenary Collection limited edition.

It’s unlikely that the new Rolls-Royce Wraith is going to be mistaken for anything else on the road.

Rolls-Royce has released the final teaser image for its new Wraith, which is due to be unveiled at next month’s Geneva Motor Show.