“We venture to the fabled Kármán Line, where the constraints of Earth give way to the infinite freedom of outer space: a zone of incomparable beauty, mystery and boundless possibility.” This is how Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO of Rolls-Royce described the inspiration behind the marque’s new Black Badge Cullinan ‘Blue Shadow’ Private Collection.
The Kármán Line is the invisible boundary 100 kilometres (62 miles) above the Earth’s surface where our atmosphere ends and outer space begins. It is in this mystical region, that the blue of the sky we see on Earth ends, and the blackness of space begins. In between the two, is an intense dark-blue zone where darkness becomes visible.
Only a select few have been fortunate enough to witness the sublime beauty of the Kármán Line. With the new Blue Shadow collection, Rolls-Royce aims to recreate the essence of this ethereal boundary. Limited to just 62 examples worldwide, the collection is available exclusively through Rolls-Royce Private Office.
The shimmering new ‘Stardust Blue’ paint of the Blue Shadow Collection’s exterior captures the deep blue colour of the upper layers of the Earth’s atmosphere. The satin-tinted grille surround and aero bumper insert sets recall the thermal tiles used to shield Space Shuttles from the intense heat during atmospheric re-entry.
Drawing further from the materials used in spacecrafts, the Spirit of Ecstasy is created using 3D printing techniques in titanium. It is then finished with a thin layer of blue-tinted lacquer which adds pearlescence while revealing the titanium’s grained texture. The Black Badge infinity logo and ‘Blue Shadow’ Private Collection name are engraved on the Spirit of Ecstasy base and infilled with Charles Blue. Completing the exterior aesthetic, Blue Shadow’s wheels are subtly darkened using a translucent lacquer.
At the Kármán line, the visible edge of Earth’s atmosphere appears as an ethereal blue halo. This transition from blue sky to the inky darkness of space is captured on Blue Shadow’s unique painted fascia and door panels. These were created using six layers of paint, combining five different shades of blue with a deep black hue to produce a mesmerizing three-dimensional effect.
The final touch is a clear-coat layer incorporating blue and clear glass particles to add further depth and lustre. According to the marque, “the ratio was precisely identified down to a fraction of a per cent: it is exactly 0.05%.” The fascia is completed with a Bespoke clock, produced specially for the Private Collection. The clock features light blue anodized details and a ‘Blue Shadow’ engraving.
In the Blue Shadow collection, Rolls-Royce has taken the marque’s signature Starlight Headliner to new heights. The centrepiece is an intricate Moon embroidery, surrounded by an array of stars. The Moon’s surface, with its multitude of craters, was recreated in three-dimension with embroidery that incorporates five different colours of thread. Each thread is applied with a different technique to produce a distinctive texture. In total, the embroidery is created from 250,000 separate stitches, a process that takes two days to complete.
Filling the cabin with a gentle glow and a sense of wonder, the Starlight Headliner contains a total of 1,183 stars – 799 white and 384 blue. Each one of these has been individually placed in the leather canvas through perforated holes, precisely chalked and punched by hand. To add to the Headliner’s mystique and ambience, the twinkling effect of the fibre-optic ‘stars’ is further enhanced for an even more enchanting glow.
In a first for Rolls-Royce, the front and rear seats feature a unique perforated artwork, inspired by the view of Earth from space. Formed from a multitude of tiny perforations in the leather, the pattern conjures up the impression of organic, ever-shifting clouds swirling over the continents and oceans.
These perforations are made in two different sizes. The smaller ones, at just 0.8 mm in diameter, form the land, while the slightly larger 1.2 mm perforations define the sea. The blank spaces of leather in between represent the clouds. Each seat has over 75,000 perforations, all individually placed.
This pattern took two weeks to design and underwent five trials before it attained the level of quality acceptable to the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective. The result is a perfect alignment of the design, ensuring a cohesive, uniform appearance across all four seats.
The seats’ perforation pattern is extended to the picnic table backs. Once lowered, the picnic tables themselves are finished in Piano Black veneer and incorporate a glass sparkle finish, evoking the view into the darkness of space. Each table also includes the Collection theme text, inlaid in polished aluminium beneath the top lacquer layer.
The Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective has created a series of exclusive accessories to complement the 68 Blue Shadow cars. For example, the exclusive indoor car cover echoes the pattern seen on the seats, and a unique luggage set features the Private Collection’s colourway.
Clients can also commission an exact 1:8 scale replica of their full-size Black Badge Cullinan Blue Shadow. It features fully functioning exterior and interior lights, doors that open and close, and an interior that recreates the collection’s detailing, down the bespoke treadplates.
“In creating Blue Shadow, the Bespoke Collective of designers, engineers and craftspeople captured this spirit by embarking on their own voyage of discovery, once again pushing the boundaries of craftsmanship. Blue Shadow is a testament to our relentless pursuit of perfection and a celebration of the spirit of exploration, designed for the unique individuals who expand horizons and represent the very best of human endeavour,” says Müller-Ötvös.
