The Spirit of Ecstasy is an iconic hood ornament that has adorned Rolls-Royce cars for over a century. Despite its many controversies and changes over time, this mascot remains an important part of the brand’s history and culture.
To celebrate the 111th birthday of its most ethereal mascot, Rolls-Royce unveiled a new version of the Spirit of Ecstasy that will adorn all future models. It’s smaller and more aerodynamic than ever before.
The Iconic Mascot
The Spirit of Ecstasy is an iconic mascot that has been gracing the front of Rolls-Royce cars since 1911. She is an apt representation of the brand’s philosophy, which is to embody luxury, beauty, and grace.
The mascot was designed by Charles Sykes, who first presented it to Rolls-Royce in February 1911. Initially, it was an option that could be fitted to all of the company’s vehicles from that point onwards.
As the name suggests, it depicts a woman leaning forward into the wind, with her robes flowing behind her along her outstretched arms. This resembles wings, which is why the Spirit of Ecstasy is often called the Flying Lady.
When it was first introduced, the Spirit of Ecstasy was based on a sculpture that sculptor Charles Sykes had made of Eleanor Velasco Thornton. She was Montagu’s secretary and secret mistress, who he had a long-term affair with.
In 1909, he had an idea for a personal mascot that would be incorporated into the bonnet of his Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. He commissioned Sykes to create a figurine of his lover that could be mounted on the car’s radiator cap.
The original version of the mascot depicted Thornton in fluttering robes, with one forefinger against her lips – alluding to her quiet nature. It was a variation of Sykes’ other sculpture known as The Whisper, which also adorned Montagu’s Silver Ghost.
A kneeling version of the mascot made an appearance in the 1930s, before a standing version became standard fit for all Rolls-Royce vehicles. In the 2000s, Rolls-Royce redesigned the mascot so that it automatically retracts beneath the hood if it is subjected to any sort of pressure or impact, thus protecting pedestrians from injury.
Today, the mascot is still an integral part of the company’s branding strategy. A new version of the mascot will be featured on Rolls-Royce’s first electric car, Spectre, and will eventually grace the front of all future models as well.
In order to make the mascot more contemporary, Rolls-Royce hired stylists and computer modelling to help design her hair, clothes, posture, and expression. The mascot’s facial features were also enhanced to better resemble the face of modern women, according to Rolls-Royce.
The Iconic Design
If you’ve ever driven a Rolls Royce, then you probably have seen the iconic sculpture on its hood. It’s called the Spirit of Ecstasy, and it symbolizes the high standards that the brand embodies.
The Spirit of Ecstasy is a small figurine that was originally designed by sculptor Charles Sykes in 1911. It was based on Eleanor Thornton, who was a model for Sykes’s work.
According to Rolls Royce, the Spirit of Ecstasy is a symbol of speed, power, elegance, and perfection. It also commemorates Eleanor Thornton, who died in 1915 when her ship was torpedoed by a German U-boat during World War I.
Since her inception, the Spirit of Ecstasy has undergone a number of changes and redesigns. However, the current design has been around for over a century and remains the most popular choice among Rolls Royce drivers.
One of the most important changes that the figurine has undergone is its stance. The figure has changed its stance to a more crouched position, and Rolls Royce says that the change allows it to be more aerodynamic.
This new stance is closer to the original sketches that Sykes made in the early 20th century, and it’s a major redesign that reflects Rolls Royce’s new visual language, known as The Expression.
The stance of the mascot has also been modified to make it more aerodynamic, and it’s expected to debut on the company’s first electric car, Spectre, in 2023. The Spectre will have the largest battery of any Rolls-Royce, and it’s likely that this new stance will help the car to be more efficient in the future.
In addition to the redesign, the statue has been made with a special material that’s more resistant to the elements. This allows it to last longer and prevents it from becoming damaged.
Another change that the figurine has undergone is a retractable version. This was a safety feature that allowed the mascot to retract if the grille was hit by a car or other object, so that pedestrians could be protected.
The Spirit of Ecstasy is the ultimate symbol of British automotive pride, and it’s a part of Rolls Royce that is inseparable from the brand and its cars. It’s been at the center of several controversies, but it still has a strong hold on the hearts of many.
The Iconic Material
It isn’t hard to see why Rolls Royce Spirit of Ecstasy is one of the most iconic automobile mascots. It’s a symbol of the company’s history, craftsmanship, and prestige. It’s also a reminder that Rolls-Royce is dedicated to creating the finest cars in the world.
The story of how the iconic mascot was first created is fascinating. It all started with a romance between John Walter Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 2nd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu and Eleanor Velasco Thornton. While there are many different theories about what exactly inspired the creation of the mascot, it is clear that the love affair between the couple influenced the design.
In 1911, Charles Sykes was commissioned by Rolls-Royce to create the original Spirit of Ecstasy. The figurine is known for its leaning posture and her robes flowing behind her like wings, which are a representation of speed and flight.
Although the design was originally created for a car radiator cap, it soon became popular among Rolls-Royce owners and is still a common sight on many of today’s luxury cars. In fact, the mascot has even been featured on some of Rolls-Royce’s latest Phantom models.
Since its inception, the mascot has been universally recognised and admired, with its poise and grace a hallmark of the brand. At various points in its long history, she’s changed her stance or even allowed the wind to sculpt her flowing garments into subtly altered forms.
With the company’s recent transition into an all-electric vehicle manufacturer, Rolls-Royce has decided to update the mascot with a new version. The updated mascot will first appear on the upcoming Spectre electric car.
The mascot is being redesigned in order to better suit Rolls-Royce’s bold electric future and the company’s designers have worked to make it more aerodynamic. This means that the hood mascot will now be tucked and trimmed to maximize airflow around the car’s body.
The redesigned Spirit of Ecstasy is much more streamlined and elegant than the old design. The mascot’s stance is also significantly changed, with the new model standing slightly lower and braced for the wind. In addition to its aesthetic benefits, the redesign will help Rolls-Royce achieve its ambitious goals of a low drag coefficient for Spectre.
The Iconic Net Worth
Rolls Royce Spirit of Ecstasy is one of the most recognizable car logos in the world, and she’s been with the brand since 1911. She was first registered as the company’s intellectual property, establishing her as a symbol of luxury and respect around the globe.
Throughout its life, the iconic Flying Lady sculpture has evolved in subtle ways and at various points has stood with different stances. She has also changed her flowing dress to represent the company’s pursuit of speed and progress.
Now, as the company celebrates the 110th anniversary of the mascot’s registration, she’s been given a fresh makeover to be reimagined for Rolls-Royce’s debut EV model. The new version of the hood ornament features an elongated silhouette, a lower stance and more focussed expression to match the dynamic character of the new Spectre.
To create her new look, the designers consulted stylists at the Home of Rolls-Royce, Goodwood to give the figurine a contemporary take on her hair, clothes and posture. They also used a technique called ‘lost wax casting’, or a cire-perdue method, to ensure that each piece is unique.
The redesigned Flying Lady will be available on the Spectre EV when it’s launched in September, and she’ll be available across all Rolls-Royce models in the future. She’s also been redesigned to be more aerodynamic and to flutter at the prow of the new model, rather than sit down on top like she has on previous cars.
According to the manufacturer, this change has allowed for an even more aerodynamic and graceful Flying Lady, allowing for the design to fly at a higher cruising speed than her predecessor. The new mascot will be a symbol of the company’s commitment to making sure that its cars remain at the forefront of innovation and are ready for the future, and her appearance is set to be a key feature of the new Spectre EV when it arrives in 2023.
Rolls Royce is a brand that is synonymous with luxury, and the company’s high-end cars are extremely expensive. As such, the company’s cars are prone to depreciation and can lose up to 25% of their value over time. As such, it’s important to know how to best protect your investment if you’re considering buying a Rolls Royce, as well as what to watch out for when evaluating a used vehicle.
