rolls-royce redressed in transatlantic pure carbon fibre

european design house bengala automotive and US-based vitesse audessus have announced the launch of a bespoke carbon fibre program for current rolls-royce models. the program offers carbon fibre options for the rolls-royce ‘phantom’, ‘phantom coupé’, ‘phantom drophead coupé’, ‘wraith’, ‘dawn’, and ‘ghost’. the featured material is a compressed carbon matrix that is similar to the forged carbon fibre technology developed by lamborghini and callaway. the use of this material as an aesthetic offering is a first in the automotive industry.

the super strength carbon fibre receives it’s first ever use

‘forged carbon fibre is an extraordinary development for the automotive industry. to the casual observer the material serves a purely utilitarian purpose. as a designer I was inspired by the mosaic-like motifs and felt that the aesthetic could be elevated. I visualised a material with the look of honed granite that would communicate the antithesis of the current perception: luxury as opposed to ascetic utilitarianism. the product that vitesse audessus was able to develop exceeded my highest expectations; and, when thinking of the appropriate application for the material’s debut as a luxury finish, no pairing was better suited than the handmade rolling masterpieces by rolls-royce’, says bengala owner and design chief shoghi saeidnia.

the veneers are applied in a bespoke fashion

the program also offers another industry first — forged carbon fibre wheels. lighter and denser than titanium, forged, carbon fibre wheels offer a clear engineering advantage over their metal alloy counterparts. forged wheels are also a marked improvement in manufacturing lead-time compared to traditional carbon fibre layup. the availability of fast-curing resins makes it possible to produce a set in minutes, as opposed to days.

the unmistakeable rolls-royce ghost sat on forged carbon fibre wheels

‘carbon fibre wheels are the clearest and best performance choice as they dramatically lower unsprung weight. the only failing is in the complicated production process and long manufacturing lead-times. forged carbon wheels solve this problem and open the doors to a wide range of future applications’, says vitesse audessus CEO stefany sanchez.
 

the wheels are made completely from pure carbon fibre

aside from the forged offering and true to vitesse audessus’s bespoke commitment, every removable body panel is available in bare carbon replacements in the weave, tint and finish specified. for those parts attached to the chassis, the brand offers lightweight veneers. all original features are first removed and then stored away in their original condition.

the elegant rolls-royce ‘wraith’ features the extra light material on the roof