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The legendary ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’ has been downsized and streamlined to improve efficiency in future electric cars.
Rolls-Royce’s iconic bonnet emblem – dubbed the ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’ – has been redesigned to improve aerodynamics for the electric era.
Adorning all vehicles built by the luxury British marque since the early 1920s, the legendary metal statue depicts a woman leaning forward into the wind with outstretched arms.
The newest rendition has been scaled down – shrinking from 100.01mm to 82.73mm tall – and had its edges rounded off to reduce drag.
The Spirit of Ecstasy was commissioned in 1909 – more than a decade before it became ubiquitous on Rolls-Royce cars – by sculptor Charles Robinson Sykes, and modelled on English actress Eleanor Thornton. It was trademarked 111 years ago, on 6 February 1911.
It has undergone several design updates over its lifetime – including, briefly in the 1930s, depicting the flying woman on her knees (scroll through the gallery above) – however the basic premise has not changed for more than a century.
Despite this, in newer cars owners can choose between four finishes: Silver, Gold, Crystal, or Black. A button on the dashboard – or an icon on the car’s touchscreen – allows the driver to retract the statue into the bodywork.
He has maintained a primary focus on industry trends, autonomous technology, electric vehicle regulations, and local environmental policy.
As the newest addition to the Drive team, William was brought onboard for his attention to detail, writing skills, and strong work ethic.
Despite writing for a diverse range of outlets – including the Australian Financial Review, Robb Report, and Property Observer – since completing his media degree at Macquarie University, William has always had a passion for cars.
Read more about William Davis
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