Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Ékleipsis – The Celestial Showstopper

In the pantheon of automotive excellence, Rolls-Royce occupies the high altar, the sanctum sanctorum of motoring royalty. And within that revered space, a new deity rises, casting a shadow that is both literal and metaphorical. Welcome to the stage, the Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Ékleipsis. A name like a spell, a car like a charm. 

 

We’re in Goodwood, West Sussex. The spiritual home of Rolls-Royce, where the air is crisper, the grass is somehow greener, and the cars are like nothing else on Earth. Here, the brand has unveiled its latest spellbinding creation, the Black Badge Ghost Ékleipsis. Inspired by nothing less than the cosmos itself, specifically the jaw-dropping awe of a solar eclipse, this isn’t just a car. It’s a cosmic event on wheels.

 

Limited to a mere 25 examples, the Ékleipsis is as rare and fleeting as the celestial dance it represents. If you’re thinking of getting one, tough luck. They’re all spoken for. And believe us, they were snatched up faster than tickets to a Led Zeppelin reunion concert.

 

 

 

 

From the outside, the Ékleipsis doesn’t so much stand out as it does absorb all surrounding light. The bodywork is done in a bespoke Lyrical Copper paint job. It’s like they’ve managed to bottle the eerie, preternatural light during a total solar eclipse and slather it over the car. The result is hypnotic. When the light hits, it comes alive in a coruscating play of brilliance that’s quite unlike anything else on the road.

 

And then there’s the detailing. Oh, the detailing! Mandarin accents, a hue that mimics the corona of the eclipsed sun, find their way onto the brake callipers and grille insert. It’s a splash of intense colour in the brooding darkness. And, of course, there’s the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy, leading the way into the cosmic journey. Even she seems to be in on the secret, a silent sentinel guarding the mysteries of the universe.

 

If the exterior is a study in celestial camouflage, the cabin is a veritable planetarium. The pièce de résistance is the Starlight Headliner, a Rolls-Royce staple, but here, it takes on a new dimension. Upon ignition, a mesmerising light show begins, mimicking the phases of an eclipse. A total of 940 ‘stars’ form, representing the bright corona during totality, surrounded by 192 additional twinkling lights, simulating the unearthly phenomenon when stars appear in the daytime sky.

 

 

 

 

The spectacle lasts for seven minutes and 31 seconds, the longest duration of a total solar eclipse. Why? Because Rolls-Royce doesn’t just make cars; they craft stories, experiences, and in this case, their very own cosmic event.

 

The fascia continues the celestial theme, adorned with a staggering 1,846 laser-etched ‘stars’, each meticulously placed to create the effect of an eclipse across the dashboard. But here comes the crowning glory – a 0.5-carat diamond, nestled into a bespoke timepiece. This isn’t just any gemstone; it symbolises the ‘Diamond Ring’ effect, the breathtaking moment before totality when light peeks around the moon in a scintillating halo.

 

This level of detail doesn’t just happen. It’s the product of hours of labour, an unwavering commitment to the craft, and perhaps a slight touch of madness. That diamond underwent temperature extremes from -30°C to +90°C just to ensure it wouldn’t get moody and decide to exit its exquisite setting.

 

 

 

 

Now, let’s talk about the seats. In the Ékleipsis, occupants are embraced by what can only be described as the visual representation of a twilight hug. The Panoramic Sunset interior scheme is something of pure wonder. The seats are bi-coloured, and thanks to some perforation wizardry (over 200,000 individual perforations, to be exact), they replicate the 360-degree twilight effect seen during an eclipse.

 

 

The technique used here is akin to high art. The leather gets a dark tint, with brighter colours revealed through the meticulous perforations. What you get is depth, contrast, and a sense that you’re sitting in a shadow-dappled forest clearing, watching as light triumphs over darkness.

 

 

 

Under the bonnet, the Black Badge Ghost Ékleipsis harbours its usual 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine, a silent beast ready to propel you into the cosmos with a mere touch of the accelerator. While Rolls-Royce has remained coy on any performance tweaks for the Ékleipsis, the standard Ghost pushes over 560 bhp. That’s plenty of grunt to escape Earth’s gravity, metaphorically speaking.

 

However, it’s not about how fast it’ll catapult you from 0-60 (which it will do elegantly, by the way). It’s about the experience, the smoothness of the journey, the sense of serene detachment from the mundane world outside. It’s about reaching your destination with the regret that the journey has ended too soon.

 

Everything about the Ékleipsis screams (or rather, whispers) craftsmanship. The bespoke touches, like the illuminated treadplates, the umbrellas with Mandarin piping tucked into the doors, and the unique indoor car cover, are all nods to the majesty of the Rolls-Royce brand. They’re symbols of what can be achieved when you throw practicality out the window and chase a vision.

 

 

 

While we may never get the chance to pilot this rare beast through the cosmic highways, we can certainly bask in the afterglow of its creation.