Rolls-Royce Special-Edition Ghost And Wraith For South Korea
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars celebrates over a decade of cordial ties with South Korea with the unveiling of a ‘Bespoke Collection for Korea’ at the British Embassy in Seoul.
The Bespoke Collection, the first of its kind for the marque in the country, embraces the aesthetic heritage of South Korea with a contemporary flare true to the sophistication and dynamism of the country’s largest cities of Seoul and Busan, from which the cars take their inspiration.
The two tailor-made cars are as individual as the cities they represent: flying the flag for Seoul in national colours is the world’s foremost business sedan Rolls-Royce Ghost, whilst for the southeastern metropolis of Busan the canvas is the ultimate Grand Tourer Rolls-Royce Wraith, playing to the leisure-orientated lifestyle of the coastal city. Seoul has been home to Rolls-Royce since 2004, with the marque’s second showroom in Busan joining the Rolls-Royce family in September last year.
United in their rarity, every car produced by the House of Rolls-Royce constitutes a unique personal item representing the height of creative endeavour. True to this philosophy, both cars are one-off creations from the hands of dedicated designers and craftspeople at the marque’s home in Goodwood, England, crafted through an immersive commissioning process that Korean customers can enjoy at the recently opened Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Studio in Incheon.
“With this pair of Bespoke cars we have created individual, personal spaces that at once embody the vibrant cities that they inhabit, demonstrating with aplomb the possibilities that the world’s most celebrated luxury house affords,” said Giles Taylor, Director of Design, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “Our team of Bespoke designers at the Home of Rolls-Royce relished the opportunity to explore Korean aesthetics and the result is a union of intricate detailing with clean, elegant colour schemes. Like a fine suit, some of the most pleasing Bespoke touches in a Rolls-Royce are hidden to anyone but the owner, or may reveal themselves only by chance to the passer-by. Like the colourful lining of a jacket fleetingly exposed by a gust of breeze, as these cars momentarily come to a stop in the city the lucky bystander can look forward to a glimpse of the hidden depths of the unique design.”
“It is with great pride that we introduce these glorious one-off vehicles,” added Paul Harris, Regional Director for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Asia Pacific. “Korea is a passionate and dynamic country with which we share an appreciation for continually moving forward while respecting traditional craftsmanship. Our customers are leaders of industry and entertainment and we hope this will inspire their creativity in rewarding themselves with truly rare and individual vehicles.”
The Bespoke Collection comes at a time of success for Rolls-Royce in Korea. As of the end of April 2017, registrations of Rolls-Royce vehicles were up by 33% compared to the same period last year, demonstrating the popularity of the newly expanded model portfolio – the youthful drophead coup é, Da wn, having joined Phantom, Ghost and Wraith as the fourth model line in summer 2016.
Rolls-Royce Ghost Seoul Edition
Representing the capital city, the Ghost wears white and black set off by red and blue design elements, a colour palette chosen with reverence to the traditional Korean colours that grace the country’s Taegukgi national flag.
The exterior is Andalusian White, a bright white befitting the colour’s historical symbolism of purity and hope and aptly representing the element metal. Above a twin coachline in Cobalto Blue and Mugello Red sits a hand-painted motif capturing the silhouette of the iconic Namsan Seoul Tower, the passionate red traditionally balancing the calm blue. In a subtle flourish, these colours also form pinstripes tracing the circumference of the wheel centres.
Inside, the effect is equally dignified. In a dark, brooding ‘Black tie with a twist’ theme, the contours of the Black leather are accentuated by contrasting Arctic White elements along with seat piping in the same Mugello Red and stitching in Cobalto Blue.
Beyond the threshold of the coach doors and Bespoke treadplates, sitting in the privacy of dark tinted rear windows, the patron and their guests enjoy a luxurious environment for either work or pleasure. Massage seats with perforated leather for air ventilation ensure they will arrive relaxed and refreshed, pampered by sumptuous headrest cushions embroidered with ‘RR’ monograms and hallmark Rolls-Royce lambswool floormats, calmed by the Starlight Headliner, and entertained by the rear-seat theatre and Bespoke Audio system. The increasing number of Korean owners who wish to drive themselves will be met with a sleek Piano Black fascia inlayed in silver with the bespoke Seoul Tower motif, which is also found on the back of the rear seat picnic tables.