Rolls-Royce Unveils Phantom Hummingbird Bespoke Model, First to Feature Abalone Shell Inlays

On September 16, Rolls-Royce unveiled the Phantom Hummingbird, a bespoke commission. Based on the extended-wheelbase Phantom, the vehicle was commissioned through Rolls-Royce’s Dubai Private Office as a tribute from the client to his wife. This marks the first time Rolls-Royce has used abalone shell as an inlay material for interior embellishments. Each of the two picnic tables integrated into the rear seats features a hummingbird motif, with each bird composed of 53 individually shaped pieces of abalone shell and mother-of-pearl fragments—18 of which form the wings. Between the two rear seats, the waterfall fascia at the rear of the cabin displays a botanical motif crafted from 84 individual inlays. On the exterior, a hand-painted hummingbird adorns the Seashell waistline. The entire marquetry process took over nine months to complete, with the team conducting six trial iterations to perfect the technique. The base panels for the marquetry are crafted from burr ash wood veneer, while the picnic table motifs rest on a silver birch foundation. The seats are upholstered in light cream leather accented with details in Saddle Brown and tan suede, complemented by seashell-colored carpeting and the brand’s signature Starlight Headliner. Externally, the upper body is finished in Seashell, while the lower section is painted Wild Berry. Built on Rolls-Royce’s second-generation Architecture of Luxury platform, the Phantom Hummingbird is powered by a 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine producing 563 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque, enabling it to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 5.4 seconds.