Rolls-Royce marks the Year of the Dragon

Rolls-Royce has presented four new bespoke commissions (comprising three Phantom Extended models and one Cullinan), all designed to mark the Year of the Dragon.

The commissions take on a modern, minimalist expression of the dragon, said to have never been previously seen in a Rolls-Royce, while remaining faithful and respectful to its original form.

Each of the bespoke commissions get Phoenix Red dragons stitched into their headrests

Each of the four cars come in a bespoke colourway, with the Cullinan getting a dual-tone Cherry Red with a Crystal finish over Selby Grey with a Crystal finish, while the Phantoms get a a two-tone Silver and Cherry Red or monolithic Black with a Crystal finish. All four cars also come with a hand-painted bespoke coachline in Phoenix Red that incorporates a dragon motif.

In the cabin, the commissions get fascia panels adorned with artworks that reinterpret the dragon form. These are all hand painted by one Rolls-Royce artist, and each is said to be a distinctive exploration of the colour red.

The cars also feature a dragon in their front fascia panels, each painted by one dedicated Rolls-Royce artist and sporting a unique 3D effect

These artworks are created by first painting their initial outlines via a 'feathering' technique to create a flame effect. Three different layers, in darker shades of red, each formed by individually blending different proportions of red, white, yellow and brown, are then applied to create a 3D effect for the artwork, allowing it to appear to have been carved into the fascia.

The dragon motif also appears as a Phoenix Red stitching on the headrests of each of the seats of the cars, said to comprise of 5,449 stitches and taking 20 hours each to complete, while in three of the commissions, the rear Piano Black picnic tables also incorporate a minimalist representation of the circular Chinese zodiac calendar in inlaid stainless steel. The fourth motor car, meanwhile, gets a bespoke artwork featuring the dragon inlaid in Piano Black veneer.

And of course, the cars also get a bespoke Starlight Headliner, here utilising 677 individually placed fibre-optic 'stars' form an abstract dragon motif, surrounded by a further 667 lights, with the commission destined for the Rolls-Royce Private Office Shanghai incorporating red 'stars'.

The interiors of the four cars are completed with Bespoke lambswool carpets which are perfectly colour-matched to the leather trim.