On October 14, 2023, a solar eclipse will be visible in certain parts of the western hemisphere. In celebration of the lunar event, Rolls-Royce will be producing 25 examples of the Black Badge Ghost Ékleipsis Private Collection.
Because Rolls-Royces are not exclusive enough, apparently.
“With Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Ékleipsis, we draw inspiration from a total solar eclipse: a seldom-seen and spellbinding phenomenon that reflects the rarity and beauty of Rolls-Royce Private Collections,” says Torsten Müller-Ötvös, the Chief Executive Officer of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “In capturing the magic of this celestial alignment, our Bespoke Collective of designers, engineers and craftspeople have once again elevated contemporary craftsmanship, with a landmark series of exquisite details that project the marque’s culture of ambition and excellence.”
All 25 will be painted in Lyrical Copper, a color that the eclipse invokes. According to Rolls-Royce, the “stunning Bespoke [that’s RR’s capitalization there] finish incorporates powdered copper pigment, which appears darker until it catches the light when it produces a rich and dramatic iridescence.” There are also Mandarin highlights in the lower front valence, brake calipers, and coachline, which seems to be another word for “beltline.”
But this is a Rolls-Royce, which means it should have a nifty headliner. The Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Ékleipsis features an animated starlight headliner that, if Rolls-Royce is to be believed, will give those inside a true sense of awe and wonder. When the engine is started, the stars in the headliner darken and a “mesmerizing” replication of the eclipse sequence begins, resulting in the moon obscuring the sun. If you have your stopwatch out, the whole process lasts seven minutes and 31 seconds, which just so happens to be the longest possible duration of the total solar eclipse. A panoramic sunset also highlights the interior for a 360-degree sunset.
So, maybe a real eclipse comes and goes, but the eclipse of the Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Ékleipsis never goes. The illuminated fascia is adorned with 1,846 laser-etched stars that culminates in a Bespoke [there’s that word again] timepiece that incorporates a brilliant-cut 0.5-carat diamond.
Rolls-Royce says that “All 25 examples of the Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Ékleipsis Private Collection have been allocated to clients around the world.” Who are these people? Are they influencers? Rappers? Members of the Illuminati? A gambler in Macau? The world may never know.
