- Rolls-Royce is celebrating the year of the dragon on the Chinese zodiac calendar
- The automaker has revealed special-edition Phantoms with dragon motifs throughout
- The cars are the first special editions in the Phantom nameplate’s centennial year
This year is the Year of the Dragon on the Chinese zodiac calendar, and Rolls-Royce is celebrating with a pair of bespoke Phantoms, one for China and the other for the U.S.
Known as the Phantom Dragon editions, the cars are also the first in what is likely to be multiple special Phantoms arriving in this centennial year for the nameplate.
For the Chinese Phantom Dragon edition, the inspiration came from an ancient legend of two dragons and a pearl. According to the legend, the two dragons received the pearl as a reward for protecting humanity.
Dragon motifs feature throughout the interior of the car, which is dressed in red leather that is contrasted with wood panels on the dash. The wood at the top of the dash features marquetry depicting the two dragons, formed from 297 individual pieces of wood. They are guarding the pearl, represented here by the dash-mounted clock.
2025 Rolls-Royce Phantom Dragon – China
Other bespoke touches include the starlight headliner with an abstract representation of two dragons in red and white, formed by more than 1,200 fiber-optic lights. The picnic tables in the rear also feature inlaid stainless steel circular Chinese zodiac calendars, with each zodiac sign represented by its Chinese character and the dragon character highlighted in gold.
The Phantom Dragon edition for the U.S. was commissioned by the Rolls-Royce of Orange County and can be ordered exclusively through the dealership. It features dragon motifs throughout, including on all four headrests, in this case depicted in red accent stitching. Each embroidered dragon comprises 5,449 stitches and requires 20 hours to complete. The car also comes with a hand-painted coachline on each side, incorporating a subtle dragon motif. The dragons face to the right, representing the east.
The Phantom Dragon editions were developed by the Rolls-Royce Bespoke personalization division, whose facilities at Rolls-Royce’s plant in Goodwood, U.K., are being upgraded to handle the strong demand for cars with custom touches. Among the upgrades are more Private Offices, like the ones used by the clients who commissioned the Phantom Dragon Editions.