Bespoke cars that pay tribute to Lunar New Year tradition

Images of the Wood Dragon and shades of fiery red define these special-edition automobiles. Each expression is elevated by a certain boldness associated with the Lunar New Year. Here, Boulevard looks into some bespoke commissions from two of the finest automakers in the world.

Rolls-Royce ‘Year of the Dragon’ Phantom Extended & Cullinan

Among the most powerful reinterpretations of the Lunar New Year comes from Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective. The Phantom Extended & Cullinan models include hand-painted fascia panels with contemporary artworks reinterpreting the dragon form. A three-dimensional pattern emerges from the panels, made through a ‘feathering’ technique. To achieve such detailing, lacquer was meticulously applied after each layer of paint. Hence, artwork that appears to be carved into the fascia.

What arguably is the boldest feature in this series is the Dragon motif in the Bespoke Starlight Headliner. Above the driver and passenger seats, 677 individually placed fibre-optic ‘stars’ create an abstract version of the mythical creature, punctuated by a further 667 lights above.

Featuring a Phoenix Red hand-painted coachline, all four commissions quietly integrate the dragon motif into the models. The Bespoke designers offer these Lunar New Year delights in two colourways. The first is in a two-tone Silver and Cherry Red or monolithic Black with a Crystal finish for the Phantom Extended. Opposite this is a duotone Cherry Red with a Crystal finish over Selby Grey for the Cullinan.

Range Rover ‘The Dragon Edition’

Range Rover called upon the services of its most trusted enhancement specialist, Overfinch to come up with ‘The Dragon Edition.’ Here, the vehicle merges Chinese cultural richness with the brand’s luxury design language. The duo ended up producing eight carefully curated bespoke enhancement packages, meant to embody the power and prosperity that the Wood Dragon brings.

The emblematic image of the dragon is featured heavily throughout the commemorative models. The exterior possesses Overfinch’s carbon fibre styling and badging, accentuated by distinctive finishing touches all around. For this edition, the group also introduced the new Overfinch Vortex wheel, a 24-wheel featuring the Dragon emblem in the self-levelling centre cap.

Inside the vehicle is where the Dragon comes to life. A custom red and black colour scheme elevates the atmosphere. Complementing this are the fiery illuminated treadplates on each door sill. Multi-coloured embroidery detailing is showcased in the leather, as well as through hand-laid graphics in the veneers. Meanwhile, the gear selector shines the spotlight on the Dragon emblem, highlighted by Dragon veneer and limited-edition badging on the front centre console.

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