Fashion designer Iris van Herpen stands next to the Rolls-Royce Phantom she helped design. Photo: Rolls-Royce
Fashion designer Iris van Herpen stands next to the Rolls-Royce Phantom she helped design. Photo: Rolls-Royce
Fashion designer Iris van Herpen stands next to the Rolls-Royce Phantom she helped design. Photo: Rolls-Royce
Fashion designer Iris van Herpen stands next to the Rolls-Royce Phantom she helped design. Photo: Rolls-Royce

Lifestyle

Motoring

Rolls-Royce Phantom Syntopia makes its debut

The bespoke vehicle was created in collaboration with fashion designer Iris van Herpen

Simon Wilgress-Pipe
Simon Wilgress-Pipe

March 08, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

Rolls-Royce has unveiled the Syntopia, its most technically complex bespoke Phantom so far.

The vehicle was created in collaboration with Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen and was four years in the making.

Phantom Syntopia takes its name from the haute couturier’s 2018 collection, which was created around the concept of art being inspired by patterns and shapes found in nature.

Rolls-Royce says the Syntopia seeks to represent the “ethereal beauty of fluid motion in solid materials through its weaving water theme”.

The Starlight Headliner was created from a single sheet of leather. Photo: Rolls-Royce
The Starlight Headliner was created from a single sheet of leather. Photo: Rolls-Royce

That aquatic concept is key to the car's interior, which features three-dimensional textile details meant to capture the movement of the sea.

To create the shimmering exterior, Rolls-Royce developed a one-off paint called Liquid Noir, for a swirly effect. Black is the base colour, but there are elements of blue, magenta and gold in there as well.

Inside, the ceiling of the car — what Rolls-Royce refers to as the Starlight Headliner in its vehicles — is the most eye-catching feature. In this tech-savvy model, it was crafted using a single sheet of leather, selected from more than 1,000 hides.

A designer hand-stitches part of the interior of the Syntopia. Photo: Rolls-Royce
A designer hand-stitches part of the interior of the Syntopia. Photo: Rolls-Royce

Cuts in the fabric reveal a silver texture underneath made from woven nylon fabric, and used in van Herpen’s Embossed Sounds collection, giving the ceiling a three-dimensional appearance.

It is finished with 162 petals made of glass organza, a process that took nearly 300 hours. In addition, 187 of the 995 fibre-optic stars were individually placed alongside the artwork.

In total, the Headliner alone involved almost 700 collective hours of work.

Rolls-Royce says this is a one-off vehicle, which will never be replicated. There is no word on how much the Syntopia cost to create or who it is destined for, but it will be making its way to the no-doubt highly appreciative owner’s doorstep in May.

Rolls-Royce Boat Tail: Latest version of world’s most expensive new car unveiled - in pictures

The Boat Tail looking suitably at home by Lake Como in Italy. All photos: Rolls-Royce
The Boat Tail looking suitably at home by Lake Como in Italy. All photos: Rolls-Royce
The Boat Tail was unveiled at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d-Este event in northern Italy.
The Boat Tail was unveiled at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d-Este event in northern Italy.
The rear deck is swathed in a walnut veneer.
The rear deck is swathed in a walnut veneer.
Possibly the world's poshest picnic set.
Possibly the world's poshest picnic set.
The boat analogy stretches to a deck-like effect on the car's boot.
The boat analogy stretches to a deck-like effect on the car's boot.
The front of the Boat Tail features what Rolls-Royce calls a pantheon grille.
The front of the Boat Tail features what Rolls-Royce calls a pantheon grille.
The wood-veneer interior is matched with earth-tone accents.
The wood-veneer interior is matched with earth-tone accents.
The colour of the new Boat Tail is a blend of "oyster and soft rose".
The colour of the new Boat Tail is a blend of "oyster and soft rose".
The rear deck has a butterfly opening action.
The rear deck has a butterfly opening action.
Roof up, ready to roll.
Roof up, ready to roll.
The Spirit of Ecstasy figurine in rose gold.
The Spirit of Ecstasy figurine in rose gold.
The Boat Tail is hand-built, with the body panels being crafted from single sheets of aluminium.
The Boat Tail is hand-built, with the body panels being crafted from single sheets of aluminium.
Up close with the wood-veneer decking.
Up close with the wood-veneer decking.
An early design sketch.
An early design sketch.
The Boat Tail's body shape was chiselled from wood before construction as a guide to the coachbuilders.
The Boat Tail's body shape was chiselled from wood before construction as a guide to the coachbuilders.
Even the statue seems impressed.
Even the statue seems impressed.
The Boat Tail has gold accents throughout.
The Boat Tail has gold accents throughout.
The Boat Tail features a clock with mother-of-pearl accents.
The Boat Tail features a clock with mother-of-pearl accents.
Parasol only to be used when stationary.
Parasol only to be used when stationary.
The Boat Tail at dusk.
The Boat Tail at dusk.
'HIJRAH%3A%20IN%20THE%20FOOTSTEPS%20OF%20THE%20PROPHET'
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEdited%20by%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Idries%20Trevathan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPages%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20240%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hirmer%20Publishers%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Plastic tipping points
While you're here
Our commentary on Brexit
Tomorrow 2021
Tomorrow 2021
The biog

Siblings: five brothers and one sister

Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota

Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym

Favourite place: UAE

Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera

What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books

Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The%20specs%3A%20Taycan%20Turbo%20GT
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDual%20synchronous%20electric%20motors%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C108hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C340Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20automatic%20(front%20axle)%3B%20two-speed%20transmission%20(rear%20axle)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E488-560km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh928%2C400%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOrders%20open%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Women%E2%80%99s%20T20%20World%20Cup%20Qualifier
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20fixtures%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E25%20April%20%E2%80%93%20Ireland%20v%20UAE*%3Cbr%3E27%20April%20%E2%80%93%20UAE%20v%20Zimbabwe**%3Cbr%3E29%20April%20%E2%80%93%20Netherlands%20v%20UAE*%3Cbr%3E3%20May%20%E2%80%93%20UAE%20v%20Vanuatu*%3Cbr%3E5%20May%20%E2%80%93%20Semi-finals%3Cbr%3E7%20May%20%E2%80%93%20Final%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20squad%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEsha%20Oza%20(captain)%2C%20Al%20Maseera%20Jahangir%2C%20Avanee%20Patel%2C%20Heena%20Hotchandani%2C%20Indhuja%20Nandakumar%2C%20Kavisha%20Kumari%2C%20Khushi%20Sharma%2C%20Lavanya%20Keny%2C%20Mehak%20Thakur%2C%20Rinitha%20Rajith%2C%20Samaira%20Dharnidharka%2C%20Siya%20Gokhale%2C%20Suraksha%20Kotte%2C%20Theertha%20Satish%2C%20Vaishnave%20Mahesh.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E*Zayed%20Cricket%20Stadium%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E**Tolerance%20Oval%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Under 19 Cricket World Cup, Asia Qualifier

Fixtures
Friday, April 12, Malaysia v UAE
Saturday, April 13, UAE v Nepal
Monday, April 15, UAE v Kuwait
Tuesday, April 16, UAE v Singapore
Thursday, April 18, UAE v Oman

UAE squad
Aryan Lakra (captain), Aaron Benjamin, Akasha Mohammed, Alishan Sharafu, Anand Kumar, Ansh Tandon, Ashwanth Valthapa, Karthik Meiyappan, Mohammed Faraazuddin, Rishab Mukherjee, Niel Lobo, Osama Hassan, Vritya Aravind, Wasi Shah

While you're here
Vidaamuyarchi

Director: Magizh Thirumeni

Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra

Rating: 4/5

 

Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
On Women's Day

Dolittle

Director: Stephen Gaghan

Stars: Robert Downey Jr, Michael Sheen

One-and-a-half out of five stars

Nepotism is the name of the game

Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad. 

Updated: March 08, 2023, 11:51 AM`
Supercars