Total solar eclipses have long been events rich with stories from oral traditions behind them. From a dragon or snake in the sky eating the Sun to angry quarrelling Gods inflicting damage on each other, the occasion where Sol is fully obscured by Luna leaving a ring of fire visible to those in the umbra is certainly an experience of a lifetime.

And so, Rolls-Royce has drawn inspiration from the spectacle, mystery and drama of a total solar eclipse to herald the coming of the equally rare Black Badge Ghost Ekleipsis Private Collection. Limited to just 25 units worldwide, the launch of these highly bespoke vehicles coincided with the annular solar eclipse that was visible in parts of the Western Hemisphere on 14 October.

“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.”

“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.”

“We are exceptionally proud to present these motor cars to 25 of our most significant clients around the world – it is these individuals who inspire greatness within our brand, and who drive us to create ever more bold and richly detailed expressions of modern luxury,” said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

The outside of the Black Badge Ghost Ekleipsis is bathed in an ethereal hue called Golden Darkness, which takes after the light that’s cast during a total solar eclipse. This bespoke finish incorporates powdered copper pigment, which appears darker until it catches the light when it produces a rich and dramatic iridescence.

Mandarin adorns the inserts below the Pantheon Grille and brake callipers, reminiscent of the intense pulses of sunlight witnessed as the eclipse progresses.

Mandarin is also used for the hand-painted coachline, which is supposed to represent the transition from sunlight to darkness as Chandra approaches to block Surya.

On the inside, the Black Badge Ghost Ekleipsis features a fully Bespoke Starlight Headliner with a solar eclipse-mimicking special animation. As the coach doors close and the engine is started, the ‘stars’ in the Starlight Headliner darken and a mesmerising sequence begins, replicating the totality of the solar eclipse, when the dark silhouette of the Moon completely obscures the bright light of the Sun.

A circle of 940 ‘stars’ is formed, representing the bright corona of light around the lunar silhouette. This is surrounded by a further 192 illuminating ‘stars’, recreating the otherworldly spectacle of stars visible in the sky during daylight, which occurs only during a total solar eclipse.

The animation remains visible for precisely seven minutes and 31 seconds, which is the longest possible duration of a total solar eclipse. Once this time has elapsed, the full constellation of stars in the night sky is restored.

Needless to say, this highly technical feature required Rolls-Royce to spend a year of painstaking development, in which the Bespoke Collective produced three complete prototypes to perfect the design and sequencing of the ‘stars’.

It’s not just the headliner that gets the eclipse treatment, but the illuminated fascia and “diamond ring” timepiece too.

The illuminated fascia of the Black Badge Ghost Ekleipsis is adorned with 1,846 laser-etched ‘stars’ in a symbolic timeline of a total eclipse. A single Bespoke designer had sole responsibility for adjusting the individual size and position of each ‘star’ to create the mesmeric effect; a delicate and exacting process that took over 100 hours to complete.

The composition culminates in a Bespoke timepiece, which incorporates a brilliant-cut 0.5-carat diamond, recalling the “Diamond Ring” effect, when a single, dazzling point of light can be seen on Selene’s outline in the split seconds just before and immediately after it obscures Helios. This also represents the first time in Rolls-Royce’s history that a gemstone has been integrated into the clock’s bezel.

The Black Badge Ghost Ekleipsis also features what Rolls-Royce calls a “Panoramic Sunset Interior.” At the totality of a solar eclipse, there is a moment when a golden twilight surrounds those viewing the eclipse, giving the illusion of a 360-degree sunset. The beauty of this rarely observed phenomenon is captured in bi-coloured seats with a unique perforated artwork, made of over 200,000 individual perforations.

The bold Mandarin leather is tinted in a black shade that is then perforated to reveal the brighter contrasting colour beneath, creating a visual effect with extraordinary depth and subtlety.

Bespoke finishing touches include illuminated treadplates, umbrellas with Mandarin piping concealed in the coach doors, and a unique indoor motor car cover bearing the Private Collection’s wordmark.

If total solar eclipses catch your fancy and you’re thinking of springing for one, well, you can’t. Rolls-Royce says all 25 examples of the Black Badge Ghost Ekleipsis Private Collection have been allocated to clients around the world.

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The Polestar 2 BST edition 230 is the second limited-edition version of the Polestar 2. A total of 230 units will be produced for worldwide markets, and Singapore will receive allocation in limited numbers.

Just in case you’re wondering what ‘BST’ stands for, it’s short-form for ‘Beast’, which was the nickname of the one-off high-performance Polestar 2 that was created to run during 2021’s Goodwood Festival of Speed and brutally ripped through the tarmac, wowing enthusiasts in the process.

Out of that was borne the limited-run BST edition 270. And now we have this second limited-run.

The original BST edition 270 featured chassis modifications, and this new BST edition 230 brings along with it a greater focus on performance design details. But first, some stats.

Compared to the Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor with Performance Pack, power gets a bump from 408hp to 476hp, while torque jumps from 660Nm to 680Nm.

The 0-100km/h sprint is dispatched in just 4.4 seconds compared to 4.8 seconds. In other words, the 230 gets all the performance upgrades the 270 did.

The BST edition 230 receives 21-inch gloss black diamond cut forged alloy rims wrapped in specially-developed Pirelli P Zero 245/35R21 tyres instead of 20-inch items.

The dampers are also upgraded bespoke Öhlins two-way adjustable Dual Flow Valve (DFV) in front and single-adjustable DFV in the rear, instead of non-adjustable DFVs. Springs are stiffer by 20% and ride height is dropped by a further 25mm.

On the inside, Weavetech upholstery is eschewed in favour of Charcoal MicroSuede upholstery, which is made from partly recycled Nubuck textile, and this also features as inserts on the steering wheel.

The most visible difference is on the outside, with two exclusive paint schemes – an olive-green colour called Nebula, and a metallic black colour called Space. Both come with a full-length matt-black stripe.

The BST edition 230‘s Singapore launch is expected to be in the third quarter of 2023. Quickly reserve your allocation slot here to avoid disappointment, since we’ll likely only get a handful.

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Since 1999, Harley-Davidson Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO) motorcycles have been an aspirational collection of limited-production motorcycles. Owning one was the equivalent of the ultimate in refinement of styling, design, craftsmanship and attention to detail, along with top-of-the-line performance.

Over the decades, Harley-Davidson designers and engineers have thoughtfully evolved these motorcycles and designs, introducing incremental improvements to further enhance the riding experience whilst carefully respecting their heritage and position as icons.

Well, the CVO boys have done it again, and Harley-Davidson is set to announce two new 2023 CVO motorcycles with exclusive and dramatic new visual designs coupled with advanced technology and dynamic performance.

“With the introduction of the all-new CVO Street Glide and CVO Road Glide, we’ve completely reimagined two of Harley-Davidson’s most iconic motorcycles and redefined the boundaries of CVO in the process,” said Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO of Harley-Davidson.

“By rethinking these two models from the ground up, we are ushering in a new era of innovation, design, engineering, and technology, while expanding the definition of Harley-Davidson CVO and taking the Grand American Touring experience to another level. The new CVO Street Glide and CVO Road Glide break the mold and reset the bar for the pinnacle Harley-Davidson riding experience.” 

“These all-new and unquestionably Harley-Davidson designs bring a cohesive and dynamic flow from the front fenders to the saddlebags,” said Brad Richards, Harley-Davidson Vice President of Design and Creative Director, commenting on the design of the new motorcycles.

“Achieving a greater degree of visual change than any generation prior, the design of these CVO Street Glide® and CVO Road Glide® models are revolutionary takes on the historical art of evolution. Like all Harley-Davidson® motorcycles, these new models are meant to instil a sense of timeless desire.”

Official details will be announced on June 7, 2023, with the official premiere of the all-new 2023 CVO Street Glide and CVO Road Glide. For more information, hover over this highlighted text here.

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