Production has begun.
A Rolls-Royce is an inimitable thing, dripping with class and luxury like no other manufacturer. Cars like the recently revealed Boat Tail and even the regular Phantom are just spectacular, but even if they are impossible to replicate, many have tried. Most of these copies have come from China - although we have seen some homegrown copies too - but the latest one hails from Russia, and President Putin even rode in one during his last inauguration. Called the Aurus Senat, it s been a working concept since 2018 and plans for the vehicle have existed since at least 2013, but now it s heading to production.
Rolls-Royce
The Spirit of Ecstasy was officially registered as the intellectual property of the British automaker way back on February 6, 1911. It was based on a bronze statuette called the Whisper. A sculptor and illustrator named Charles Sykes was responsible for its creation, which he conceptualized for Lord Mantagu of Beaulieu, described as an early Rolls-Royce enthusiast.
Today, Rolls-Royce maintains its links with the art world, notably through MUSE, the company s art program. Although the Spirit of Ecstasy hasn t changed much in more than a century and still graces the hoods of models like the Ghost and Phantom, it is notably smaller than it once was. The original design was seven inches, but today s version is just three-quarters of an inch.
For instance, black remains one of the favored choices for luxury vehicle buyers. If you ve ever seen a Rolls-Royce Phantom or Audi A8 cruise by in a stealthy black, it s clear why this is the case. Following silver at 9% are blue (7%), red (5%), and brown/beige (3%).
Interestingly, Torch Red was the most popular color choice for the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette, but only 7% of compact/sport car owners in the US chose red. In North America specifically, 30% of new vehicles were painted in white, with black and gray both on 19% each. If you truly want to stand out, consider getting your new car in green, as a mere 1% of buyers in the US made this choice.