rolls-royce debuts phantom scintilla car at monterey car week 2024

a divine creation: the rolls-royce phantom scintilla

In an industry where automotive design often prioritizes utility over art, Rolls-Royce stands as a beacon for beauty to match its effortless performance. Dubbed as a ‘Goddess car’, the Phantom Scintilla takes this mantra the next mile, as a masterpiece of engineering and craftsmanship, and limited to a mere ten units. This exclusivity alone makes it a coveted private collection item, but it is the story behind its craftmanship that truly sets the car apart.

designboom traveled to the British marque’s Goodwood home to preview the design before its world premiere during Monterey Car Week 2024.

Rolls-Royce introduces Phantom Scintilla at Monterrey Car Week 2024 | all images courtesy of Rolls-Royce

mythology of the spirit of ecstasy

Derived from the Latin word for ‘spark’, Scintilla encapsulates the first flash of inspiration that ignited Rolls-Royce Managing Director Claude Johnson’s vision for the marque’s mascot. This traces back to the ancient Nike statue discovered on the island of Paros, also known as ‘The Winged Victory of Samothrace’. The triumphant grace of the Greek Goddess inspired Charles Sykes’ design for the Spirit of Ecstasy, which has proudly adorned the tip of a Rolls-Royce since 1910.

dubbed as a ‘Goddess car’, the Phantom Scintilla is limited to a mere ten units

The Spirit of Ecstasy sparks a fleeting moment that, though only glimpsed as a Rolls-Royce sails by, leaves a lasting impression. The Phantom Scintilla is a homage to this timeless muse, celebrating the ethereal beauty, grace, and legacy of the marque’s mascot. For the first time ever, the Spirit of Ecstasy on a Rolls-Royce is finished in pure white ceramic on the private collection car. It skillfully emulates the texture of the fabled Parian marble of the Nike statue, evoking the same wonder and influencing every aspect of the car’s design, from its colors to its intricate embroidery.

the Spirit of Ecstasy emulates the texture of the fabled Parian marble of the Nike statue

The exterior of the car embellishes the Phantom as if an art canvas. A two-tone color represents the Aegean Sea and marble of the Nike statue, transitioning the upper body in Andalusian white to the lower body in Thracian blue. Subtle metallic flakes embedded in the paint mimic the sparkle of sunlight on the water. The graceful exterior is completed with a hand-painted double coachline and wheel pinstripes in Spirit Blue.

Phantom Scintilla’s exterior in Andalusian white and Thracian blue

Inside, Phantom Scintilla is temple devoted to bespoke artistry. Every surface has been transformed as if a showcase of Rolls-Royce’s level of detail and craftsmanship. The interior design carries the flowing, organic feel of the Nike statue, with upholstery crafted from natural bamboo fibers to add tactility and depth. The skylight headliner, extended more than usual, is all-white with more movement, creating a serene yet dynamic atmosphere.

inside, the glowing, organic feel of the Nike statue continues pastel-colored thread and sparkling lights

The use of ceramic extends to surfaces previously untouched, and the upholstery boasts the most extensive density of embroidery ever seen in a Rolls-Royce. With well over a million stitches, the upholstery presented a formidable challenge in creating motion within something static. The coach doors and rear fabric seats alone feature 869,500 stitches, while the door motif is embroidered with 633,000 stitches using the intricate tatami stitch, which applies over six layers of interlaced density and complexity. The door motif combines pastel-colored thread and sparkling lights, illuminating at night and making seem as if glowing from within.

A defining feature of Phantom Scintilla is its ‘gallery’, which runs across the full-width of the front fascia of the dashboard. This ‘’gallery displays an artwork called ‘Celestial Pulse’, capturing the celestial character of the car. Ribbons, hand-polished with a ceramic finish, create a sense of movement. Crafted from seven aluminum blocks milled to a few centimeters, these ribbons reflect light in a unique fashion to add to the interior’s dynamism. A special Scintilla plate in the dashboard adds a finishing touch to this remarkable piece of art.

the gallery displays an artwork called ‘Celestial Pulse’

Developing the Rolls-Royce Phantom Scintilla was a labor of love that spanned two and a half years. Their bespoke and craft teams worked closely together to bring this vision to life. The extensive embroidery alone required 200% more hours to craft than a typical Rolls-Royce, if such a term could ever be applied to a model from the British marque. It stands as a limited, fleeting yet powerful tribute to the Spirit of Ecstasy, embodying the divinity of its muse and truly making it the Goddess car.