Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dubai Brand Manager, Mohammed al-Arishy’s imagination was piqued whilst recently dining at the Goodwood Hotel, adjacent to the home of Rolls-Royce. Photographs of motor racing greats negotiating the historic Goodwood motor circuit drew his eye. A consultation with Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke design team soon followed:
“I wanted to create a motor car that captures the unique atmosphere and history of the Goodwood Motor Circuit. The Home of Rolls-Royce’s connection to such an important centre of British motoring heritage is something that fascinates my customers,” said Mohammed al-Arishy. “The experience of working with Rolls-Royce’s world-class designers to create the beautifully executed Chicane Phantom Coupé was exhilarating. The creativity, vision, skill and attention-to-detail employed in the crafting of these one-off motor cars is unsurpassed in the super-luxury world.”
The result is a one-of-a-kind Chicane Phantom Coupé, which incorporates design cues and materials that evoke Goodwood’s motor sport history.
A traditional interior wood-finish makes way for carbon-fibre, alluding to the materials used in modern racing machines. This contemporary theme extends to the exterior of the car, with the bonnet and windscreen surround finished in a matte black, designed to complement the Gunmetal exterior paint.
Coloured wheels matching the main exterior paint finish are also specified, the first time such a feature has adorned a contemporary Rolls-Royce motor car.
Hand-crafted details throughout allude to the car’s motor racing theme with chequered flag motif stitching to the seats echoed on the exterior with a matching bespoke coachline. The homage is completed with a metal plaque expressing the car’s name and Goodwood’s famous track layout located in the glove compartment.
This is not the first time an unexpected spark of inspiration has taken a Rolls-Royce customer; commissions have included an exterior paint colour matched to a favourite eye shadow and a wood-veneer sourced from a tree on a customer’s estate.
“Customers often task us with designing cars themed around a particularly passion or interest. The customer leads the creative process, working in collaboration with us to create a highly personal, one-off masterpiece. As Bespoke designers we take great satisfaction in turning these dreams into reality,” said Gavin Hartley, Bespoke Design Manager.
Source: Rolls-Royce