When one buys a Rolls-Royce motor vehicle one expects the level of bespoke craftsmanship to reach above and beyond anything else on four wheels. When the term “the sky’s the limit” was coined I doubt who ever came up with it ever imagined it’d be used on a car. But Rolls-Royce have literally done just that with their latest Phantom Metropolitan Collection, which was launched at this year’s Paris Motor Show. Phantom Metropolitan Collection; even the name sounds fancy.
As someone who’s peak of elegance is a box of Ferrero Rochers, a Rolls-Royce has always been a bit out of reach. But like everyone else I have always dreamed of owning one. Of course the problem with buying a Rolls-Royce isn’t the cost, it’s deciding how to personalise it. Because Rolls-Royces are such desirable cars everyone with the bank account to match their sky-high price tag will buy one. So you get everyone from CEOs of multi-billion dollar conglomerates to footballers and rap stars rolling in a Royce.
That’s where Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke scheme comes in. Almost all of Phantom buyers, 90% of Wraith buyers, and 80% of Ghost buyers have at one point during the ordering process included some bespoke customisation to their car meaning no two cars are the same; unless you order a fleet of them. Of course letting your imagination soar beyond the clouds can either result in something brilliant or a complete disaster. Luckily the Metropolitan Collection solves this for you.
If Sir doesn’t mind, Sir can have his Phantom Metropolitan Collection painted in Darkest Tungsten to match the the colours of most of the world’s skyscrapers. Should Sir prefer a different colour, Sir could choose from one of Rolls-Royce’s 44,000 different palettes. Rolls-Royce can even recreate a particular shade from Sir’s objects. Rolex Gold, Louis Vuitton Brown, or Amex blue anyone? There’s even a most tasteful “hand-applied coach-line depicting an abstract silhouette of a modern skyscraper”. I wonder if one would be able to have it resemble New York City with a little King Kong figure?
Inside, it’s the traditional mix of wood, leather, and much luxury. The seats are trimmed in Aetherius Grey leather to echo the colour palette of a modern city and has over 6,800 stitches! The attention to detail is even more extreme with the wood. The slightest imperfection, be it knots or flecks, will be rejected. That almost makes the 6.75-litre V12 engine under the bonnet seem environmentally friendly. But the end result of the meticulous wood selection speaks for itself.
No, it literally does as the tables have yet more “abstract images of skyscrapers” woodcut into them. Very fancy indeed. The piece de resistance is the Bespoke clock found on the centre console. This fantastic looking thing has a rotating bezel and displays 24 different times of the world’s great cities including Paris, Tokyo, and Auckland. I’m not sure if this is utterly pointless or pointlessly cool. Only time will tell.
Rolls-Royce says the Phantom Metropolitan Collection is the best way to travel around a city. I’m not so sure about that but Rolls-Royce, I’m always happy to be proved wrong.
