Rolls-Royce debuts reimagined Spirit of Ecstasy in all-new Spectre electric car

MANILA: Rolls-Royce has redesigned its iconic Spirit of Ecstasy figurine to embellish the bonnet of the all-new Spectre electric motor car, 111 years after the mascot was initially registered as Rolls-Royce intellectual property on February 6, 1911.

The figurine now features a lower, more dynamic stance that closely resembles the sketches created by its original creator, illustrator, and sculptor Charles Sykes in the early 20^th century. Its physical form also serves as a representation of The Expression, a visual device that is part of the brand’s new visual language.

In a statement, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Chief Executive Officer Torsten Muller-Otvos said, “The Spirit of Ecstasy is the most famous and desirable automotive mascot in the world. More than just a symbol, she is the embodiment of our brand, and a constant source of inspiration and pride for the marque and its clients. Like our brand, she has always moved with the times while staying true to her nature and character. In her new form she is more streamlined and graceful than ever before — the perfect emblem for the most aerodynamic Rolls-Royce ever created, and for gracing the prow of our bold electric future.”

The new Spirit of Ecstasy is 82.73mm tall. Its robes, which flow behind it in the slipstream — sometimes but mistakenly referred to as “wings” — have been subtly modified to make them more aerodynamic and realistic.

The figurine’s stance is the most notable alteration. It used to stand with its feet together, legs straight, and waist tilted. It is a true goddess of speed now, braced against the wind, one leg forward, body tucked low, and eyes fixed on the road ahead. These improvements boost Spectre’s exceptional aerodynamic qualities in both practical and stylish ways. The early prototypes of the Spectre feature a drag coefficient of only 0.26, making it the most aerodynamic Rolls-Royce ever built. During the product’s extensive testing procedures in 2022, the figure is predicted to improve.

“The Spirit of Ecstasy became an official part of Rolls-Royce, yet, she has come to represent a spiritual direction for our brand. Her form perfectly captures the marque — she leans forward, expressing our relentless pursuit of progress, and her dress gracefully flows in the wind, echoing the serenity of our products in motion. For Spectre and beyond, she becomes lower and more focused; braced for unprecedented speed and the exciting future her presence will define,” Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Design Director Anders Warming stated.

This new expression conveys a sense of Sykes’ originals drawings, but instead of being “redrawn” or “redesigned,” the Spirit of Ecstasy’s new shape has been digitally sculpted by a computer modeler at the Home of Rolls-Royce, who has a passion for life drawing and sculpture. Their expertise in this field was important in creating the figurine’s delicate realistic facial features and expression, which skillfully balances focus and tranquility. The designers also sought advice from Goodwood stylists on the figurine’s hair, clothes, stance, and attitude, giving it vitality and strong presence.

While all figurines are formed using one of the oldest casting techniques, known as “lost wax casting” or “cire-perdue,” each is finished by hand and will vary slightly from one to the other. This subtle, elusive human aspect presents an interesting contrast to the precise, highly engineered motor car its stands on, and continues a long Rolls-Royce tradition — until 1939, the mascots were crafted and polished by Sykes himself.

Changes to the Spirit of Ecstasy have been made throughout its 111-year existence, albeit they are rather rare in the modern era. It has been depicted in a variety of size and materials, and in a kneeling position.

In its original form, the mascot stood a statuesque 6 7/8 inches tall. By the 1960s, it had gone through eight versions and was a more petitle 4 5/16 inches tall. The gap between its nose and the tip of its extended robes had shortened from five inches to three. Over the years, its base shape, stance, and the precise inclination of its “wings” have all changed slightly.

Clients who purchased models from 1934 to 1959 had the option of a kneeling figure, which some thought was better suited to the coachwork designs of the period.

In the 1970s, some countries attempted to ban the mascot. For instance, clients in Switzerland were not allowed to exhibit the mascot at all, and when their cars arrived, they found it languishing in the glove box. Rolls-Royce’s ingenious solution was to place the mascot on a spring-loaded base, allowing it to descend into the radiator out of harm’s way at a push of a button. This retraction mechanism has evolved into a smooth, graceful movement called “the rise” and is standard on every Rolls-Royce motor car handcrafted at Goodwood.

The new design made for Spectre will be used on all future models, however, the current design will still be applied on Phantom, Ghost, Wraith, Dawn, and Cullinan, as well as their Black Badge variants, if applicable.

“As we enter a new era with Spectre, we have taken the opportunity to revisit our treasured icon and her story, which remains endlessly fascinating, eye-opening and intriguing after more than 100 years. It is both a significant chapter in the brand’s memory, and a rich human drama that, though the product of a bygone age, still resonates with us and our clients today,” Muller-Otvos said.

Muse, the Rolls-Royce Art Program, has also revealed the jury for the Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge. This first initiative challenges the brightest young creatives to reinterpret the Spirit of Ecstasy icon in a context other than her current home on a Rolls-Royce motor car. These young artists will make high-concepts works that are expected to amaze, excite, and inspire.

For every edition of this distinguished biennial event, a global panel of expert judges will choose a medium for the budding designers to create an artistic interpretation of the Spirit of Ecstasy. For this edition, the medium is textiles. The members of the panel are Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Design Director Anders Warming, Ambush Creative Director and Dior Men Jewelry Director Yoon Ahn, Design Museum in London Chief Executive Tim Marlow, and Counterspace Principal Sumayya Vally. They will choose three finalists to take part in this remarkable artistic initiative.

Photos from Rolls-Royce

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