Rolls-Royce has recently unveiled the Black Badge Cullinan ‘Blue Shadow’ Private Collection, a tribute to the ‘vastness and enigma of outer space’. The designers at Rolls-Royce drew inspiration from the Kármán Line, an invisible threshold located 62 miles above the Earth’s surface.

Limited to 62 examples worldwide, each representing a mile from Earth to the Kármán Line, this exclusive interpretation of the Black Badge Cullinan is available through Rolls-Royce’s prestigious Private Offices.

The exterior of the ‘Blue Shadow’ is adorned with a shimmering bespoke paint called ‘Stardust Blue,’ which perfectly captures the rich blue hues found in the upper layers of our planet’s atmosphere.

A satin-tinted grille surround and aero bumper inserts pay tribute to the thermal tiles found on spacecraft. The wheels of the Blue Shadow are subtly darkened using a translucent lacquer, completing the exterior aesthetic.

On the inside, the Rolls-Royce Starlight Headliner now features an intricate Moon embroidery, surrounded by a constellation of ‘stars’. Each ‘star’ is painstakingly added by hand, each with its own twinkling effect.

In a first for Rolls-Royce, the front and rear seats of the Blue Shadow both feature perforated artwork, inspired by the breathtaking view of Earth from space. Tiny perforations in the leather create a pattern reminiscent of ever-shifting clouds gracefully swirling above the continents and oceans.

The perforation pattern adorns the backs of the picnic tables as well. When lowered, these tables reveal a Piano Black veneer finish with a glass sparkle.

To complement the Black Badge Cullinan Blue Shadow, the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective has crafted a series of unique accessories.

An exclusive indoor car cover showcases a pattern reminiscent of the seats, and a bespoke luggage set complements the colour scheme of the Private Collection.

Additionally, clients can commission an exact 1:8 scale replica of their full-size Black Badge Cullinan Blue Shadow, complete with fully functioning exterior and interior lights, coach doors that open and close, and meticulous recreation of all the Collection’s details, including the Bespoke Illuminated Collection Treadplates.

I mean, got to flex it even in the living room right?

If you have insanely deep pockets, better be quick about ordering your Cullinan ‘Blue Shadow’. Orders are pouring in from Japan, Korea, Australia, and Singapore in the Asia-Pacific Region.

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Sir Henry Royce might be known to some as a quiet but hardworking man, but to others, he is the embodiment of the world-famous Rolls-Royce company. Even after 160 years, and long after his passing, his philosophy still rings true to this day “Seek for perfection in everything you do. Take the best that exists and make it better”.

Who knows what he may be thinking right now, gazing over the world below in confusion as electric cars and hybrids now rule the world. But, let’s take a moment to honour his legacy.

Humble beginnings

Born in 1863 and being the youngest of the family, Henry soon had to fend for himself due to the bankruptcy of his father, who was eventually sentenced to prison. At the age of 10, he began working on the streets of London, first as a newspaper seller and then as a telegram messenger.

In 1879, thanks to the support of his aunt, he began an apprenticeship at the Great Northern Works Railway (GNR) at Peterborough. His aptitude for design was honed here, as well as an innate ability to be versatile with any tools and materials. 

A spark was born

After spending another 3 years working for the Electric Lighting & Power Generating Company, the now 21-year-old Henry Royce wanted to set up his own company. In 1884, he founded the Manchester F. H. Royce & Co. This small startup Initially focused on small items such as battery-powered doorbells, but soon transitioned to heavy equipment such as overhead cranes and shunting winches.

The business was booming, but Henry Royce’s health wasn’t. In a bid to take an extended break, he embarked on a 10-week vacation to South Africa to meet his wife’s family. On the long journey home, he stumbled upon a book titled “The Automobile, its construction and management”. The rest, as we like to say, is history.

His first car was a lemon

Back in the United Kingdom, Henry Royce immediately bought his first car, a frankly crap 10 bhp Decauville. However, this was exactly what he wanted, as the car allegedly was so badly made it gave Henry Royce the inspiration that he could do much better.

The Decauville was the perfect car to dismantle: “Taking the best and making it better”, to be precise. This then led to a few new cars entirely based on the Decauville. After all, his mantra was “erase, alter, improve, perfect” and that constant evolutionary process led to some of his greatest engineering achievements.

It wasn’t just cars either. In 1927, a sleepy old aircraft engine with an initial output of 825 bhp was transformed in just four years into the Schneider Trophy-winning “R” engine which, in its final form, was capable of producing 2,783 bhp. Taking inspiration from it, the V12 variant of it was later married into the 1936 Phantom III, three years after Henry Royce’s death. 

Today, his legacy lives on, in some of the best cars ever built for the roads. These cars, like him, pushed boundaries and constantly challenge the mantra of being exceedingly excellent.

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Make way, luxury executive saloons, for your king has returned. The Rolls-Royce Phantom has always set the bar for opulence, and nothing can compromise its grandeur as the gold standard of luxury. Now, Rolls-Royce has announced the arrival of the new Phantom Series II, which has recently landed in Singapore.

Our small little island is also the very first South East Asian country to receive the new model. Neat.

Of course, everyone knows a car like this doesn’t come cheap. Brace yourself, for the new Phantom Series II starts with an eyewatering price tag of S$2,098,888 without COE. And that only gets you the “standard” wheelbase variant. Want the Extended Long Wheelbase one? Prepare to drop a cool S$2,448,888 without COE.

This equates to roughly $1590 per extra millimetre of room you receive. Wow.

With such insane prices going for it, what exactly is new in this new iteration of luxury?

Not much has changed from the original Phantom, with the new Series II receiving fairly minor design updates. The biggest differences are the new polished horizontal chrome bar that runs above the new grille. These elements enable the signature Spirit of Ecstasy emblem to stand out more prominently.

For extra bling, the headlights also feature intricate laser-cut bezel starlights, a complement to the optional Starlight Headliner inside the cabin.

Notice the funky new wheel design? New rims will be offered with the Series II, and customers can also request for darkened trim pieces, much like the Rolls-Royce black badge editions. The areas that can be darkened include the chrome grille surround, black bonnet reins, windscreen surround and side frame finishers.

Inside, the steering wheel has been buffed up slightly, giving it just a tad more thickness. With the incorporation of Rolls-Royce Connected, the Phantom Series II is now much more technologically sophisticated. The infotainment system syncs up the car with Rolls-Royce’s Whispers app, enabling owners to send information like navigation GPS or location information via their smartphones.

Rolls-Royce Connected also actively displays the car’s location, security status and current ‘health’ condition on the Whispers app. Helpful menus allow owners to contact any preferred dealership for any servicing requirements or assistance with the car, with just a touch of a button.

Would you sink that much money into a car like this?

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