Iris van Herpen, a fashion designer, says the idea of “weaving water inspired this one-of-a-kind Rolls-Royce Phantom Syntopia.” We should see what kind of trouble we’re in. The base of the Syntopia is a Phantom Extended, and it has the smell and color of paint. The Syntopia has already been put on hold, and in May, it will be added to a collection of vehicles. You can’t pay for it if you have to ask for help. In reality, no matter how many questions you ask about the car, you cannot acquire it. The car in question is the Rolls-Royce Phantom Syntopia, which is one of a kind. Iris van Herpen and Rolls-Royce worked together to build a custom Phantom Extended inspired by the idea of “weaving water,” according to van Herpen. For her most recent fashion show, models were submerged in water to show off their clothes. Rolls-Royce calls the car a “bespoke masterpiece,” which makes it clear that it is very complicated. We agree with the company that it took four years to finish the project. Of course, you can see it as a test of your capacity to spend other people’s money on lavish ideas rather than as a work of art. Even though this is true of many Rolls-Royce cars, we don’t think we’re exaggerating when we say that this is the first Rolls to have a custom smell and a unique shade of Liquid Noir paint. The perfume can enter the cabin thanks to an ingenious aroma-releasing system in the headrests. The Syntopia comes from van Herpen’s 2018 collection, influenced by haute couture, or the “art of fashion,” in his words. Van Herpen said she wanted the person riding or driving the car to feel “overpowered by the energies of nature.” The Syntopia’s exterior adds a purple, swirly touch to the Phantom’s aesthetic. According to the maker, the iridescent paint includes blue, magenta, and gold undertones. The Liquid Noir color starts with a solid black layer of paint, then a layer that changes color, and finally, a clear coat with pigment mixed in. Rolls spent months developing this new paint, which required over 3000 hours of testing and certification. The van Herpen team in Amsterdam and the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective in Goodwood made the interior parts and designs. The front seats are made of Magic Grey leather, and the back seats are made of a fabric that resembles a mix of silk and cotton. The Weaving Water Starlight Headliner is made from a single piece of leather and woven nylon fabric that looks like silver “liquid metal” to make a 3D design. About 1000 glowing “stars” are also made of fiber optics and 162 “delicate glass organza flowers” inside. Rolls-Royce said that just installing the headliner took 700 hours of work. This does not include the time it took its designers to choose this piece of “flawless leather” from over 1000 hides. When van Herpen said he felt “overcome by natural forces,” I’m unsure if he meant this. In May, a client will add the Phantom Syntopia to their collection. Rolls-Royce says it will not make this car again in the future.
