Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Debuts Phantom Metropolitan Collection

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars presented the latest showcase of the marque’s pinnacle Bespoke offering at the Paris Motor Show last week. The Phantom Metropolitan Collection features exquisite hand-crafted design inspired by the modern metropolis. Just 20 of these beautifully crafted motor cars will be available to commission. The Phantom Metropolitan Collection pays homage to the world’s great cities through the meticulous application of marquetry – the art of inlaying small pieces of wood veneer to form decorative motifs. When open, Phantom’s signature picnic table presents occupants with an elevated view of the city, created through the expert application of 500 individual wood veneer pieces. Without a doubt, the process of hand-cutting, coloring, shaping and applying is so complex these unique objects of art take an expert wood craftsperson several days to complete. On closing the tables, a different perspective of the cityscape is offered – reflecting the view one gets when effortlessly travelling in the rear of a Phantom.

OneShift Editorial Team

08 Oct 2014

Meticulous care is taken when selecting the individual wood veneers. Minute imperfections such as knots and flecks lead to instant rejection. Adjustments to the color of each piece are made through the traditional hand-process of hot-sand shading before a final inspection under magnification on a light box to ensure perfection.

The cityscape theme extends beyond Phantom’s many wood surfaces. A specially developed Aetherius Grey leather color was created to echo the color palette of the modern city whilst 6,800 two-tone stitches to the central rear seat flutes depict an abstract image of a skyscraper. A specially developed Bespoke clock extends the theme to the front of the car. For the first time in the marque’s history, a rotating bezel expressing 24 of the great cities of the world and their time zones – Paris included – adorns the central console of a Rolls-Royce motor car.

An exterior hue, Darkest Tungsten, inspired by city skylines finishes the exterior surfaces of the motor car on display in Paris. However, as afforded to any Rolls-Royce customer, the full palette of 44,000 colors is available to those commissioning a Phantom Metropolitan Collection motor car. Should that not be enough, the marque’s Bespoke craftspeople will create a perfect match of any color or object a customer may wish to replicate. The exterior is completed with a hand-applied coach line that depicts an abstract silhouette of modern skyscrapers.

Credits: Oneshift News Team