The Spirit Of Ecstasy, a symbol of the iconic Rolls-Royce brand for over a century, is all set to receive a design upgrade for its future electric cars. The legendary bonnet ornament gets a few design enhancements to improve its aerodynamics. Fans of the Spirit of Ecstasy need not worry, as they could still recognize the emblem as that of the Rolls-Royce brand. The current mascot was adopted by Rolls-Royce approximately 111 years ago. As a century passes, the designers are looking forward to tweaking the design to provide better performance on the car.
The designers at Rolls-Royce are all set to redesign the Spirit Of Ecstasy for the upcoming electric cars from the brand. The mascot is all set to receive its first design enhancements since it was adopted over a century ago. Folks could still recognize the emblem as that of the Rolls-Royce brand. The rich historical significance is believed to be passed on to the new emblem.
The Enhanced Design
The modern Spirit Of Ecstasy is very much identifiable as the familiar figurine that has been on the hoods of the Rolls-Royce cars for over a century. The wings that are the feminine figure's robes are still cascading out in the wind. The new figurine has a shimmering finish with a firm stance facing forward. Upon a closer look, one could find that the Spirit Of Ecstasy is not standing straight-legged as before. The figure has changed its stance to a crouching position with legs bent and one slightly in the front. The body is now leaning aggressively forward, creating what Rolls-Royce called a 'true goddess of speed'.
Some Practical Aspects Of The Redesign
The redesign of the Spirit Of Ecstasy is slightly shorter than the existing one. At 82.73 mm tall, rather than 100.1mm, which had a more upright stance, the new figurine leans forward into the wind, which Rolls-Royce claims to be better for the aerodynamics. The brand used bang-up-to-date computer modeling to optimize the airflow over the emblem. Rolls-Royce has resorted to the old methods that were used to produce the mascots 111 years ago for the redesign. Each figure is to be cast using wax molds, and the finer detailing and polishing are to be done by hand, making each Spirit Of Ecstasy slightly different.
Debut Of The New Design
The new ornament is set to debut in 2023 with the brand's all-new electric lineup. It is set to appear first on the bonnet of the Spectre EV that is set to launch in 2023. The Spectre is expected to reach the Indian shores by 2024, but Rolls-Royce has no official announcement. In the meantime, the current models such as Wraith, Ghost, Phantom, and Cullinan will continue with the existing mascot. The redesign was inspired by the original drawings of the ornament by Charles Sykes. Further, the Spectre EV has also received drastic design enhancements to ensure better performance.
The Significance And History Of The Mascot
Torsten Müller-Ötvös, the CEO of Rolls-Royce, claims that the Spirit Of Ecstasy is the most desirable and famous automotive mascot in the world. More than just a symbol, it embodies the Rolls-Royce brand. Additionally, it is a constant source of inspiration and pride for the marque and its clients. The emblem moved with the times by staying true to her nature and character. It is more graceful and streamlined than ever before with the new design. It is the prow of a new bold electric future for the brand. Further, it is the perfect emblem for the most aerodynamic Rolls-Royce ever created.
The earliest Rolls-Royce cars did not have a mascot at all. It all started when John, 2nd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, asked his friend and sculptor Charles Sykes to sculpt a mascot for the grille of his 1909 Silver Ghost. Sykes created a small sculpture known as 'The Whisperer', which was affixed to the top of the car's radiator grille. By 1910, Claude Johnson, the Rolls-Royce CEO, was displeased by this act and commissioned Sykes to create a more dignified figure for future use by the company. Sykes modified The Whisperer to create the Spirit Of Ecstasy. The mascot was presented to the company in 1911 and subsequently adopted by the company.
Overall, Rolls-Royce has decided to redesign the mascot of the Spirit Of Ecstasy to fit the new enhanced aerodynamic design of its new EV, Spectre. The new design is meant to provide better visibility and give the better aerodynamic ability to the emblem. The latest design was inspired by the original drawings of the mascot by Charles Sykes, the designer of the former figurine. The Spirit Of Ecstasy is set to receive its first major redesign in over a century. The new design will be out only in 2023. However, existing models will continue to feature the current version of the Spirit Of Ecstasy.