Rolls-Royce's Legacy in the World of Speed
The name Rolls-Royce has been synonymous with world speed records on land and water for over a century. While the feats of Sir Malcolm Campbell are well-documented and widely known, history has often overlooked another British hero who set three speed records on land using Rolls-Royce engines.
Honoring Captain George Easton
Now, more than 80 years later, Rolls-Royce remembers the achievements of this hero. Through the Land Speed collection, which includes the Black Badge Wraith and Black Badge Dawn, the brand unveils the remarkable story of Captain George Easton and his extraordinary car, Thunderbolt. The Rolls-Royce Black Badge Dawn has recently arrived in Abu Dhabi.
Design of the Land Speed Collection
The two new cars in this collection feature distinctive colors that combine metallic black with a newly developed blue from the Bespoke team. The car's surface was designed at the Goodwood surface finishing center, transitioning from light blue to silver under sunlight, embodying the vast desert sky above the Bonneville salt flats, complemented by the striking white surface of the unpainted aluminum Thunderbolt body.
A dark line on the steering wheel mimics the path drawn by Easton on the specially prepared track, helping him maintain the straight line of the Thunderbolt at speeds exceeding 350 miles per hour. Additionally, the wooden veneer on the dashboard and control covers is inspired by the cracked texture of the salt flats, applied through multi-dimensional laser engraving and digital surface simulation techniques.
A design of the Silver Island mountains, which dominate the Bonneville skyline, is etched into the upper waterfall between the rear seats.
New Horizons for Limited Edition Concepts
The Land Speed collection represents new horizons for the concept of limited and exclusive editions, with only 25 units of the Black Badge Dawn produced at the Rolls-Royce facility in Goodwood, swiftly distributed to clients. As it arrives in Abu Dhabi, the Black Badge Dawn celebrates Easton's achievements and the long-standing engineering legacy of Rolls-Royce.
Statements from the Rolls-Royce Brand Director
Tariq Muttaz, the Brand Director of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars at Abu Dhabi Motors, stated: "Humans naturally strive to achieve specific goals. Some seek to enhance speed and power, while others aim to explore new horizons that challenge the impossible. However, our dreams at Rolls-Royce know no bounds, as we continue to pursue perfection in everything we do. The new Land Speed collection is designed to expand our horizons, embodying our vision of audacity, determination, and brilliance from 80 years ago to today. We are proud to present the Rolls-Royce Land Speed Dawn in Abu Dhabi."
