The Sprit of Ecstasy has had a makeover

She’s lower (by 17mm), leaner and more thrusting and dynamic. She is also more aerodynamic, doing her bit to make the Spectre what Rolls-Royce says will be the most aerodynamic Rolls-Royce ever, with a Cd of 0.26.

Her robes (they are not wings) flow behind her sensuously and make her “a true goddess of speed, braced for the wind, one leg forward, body tucked low, her eyes focused eagerly ahead”, according to the Goodwood-based company. 

The more life-like pose was digitally sculpted by a computer modeller at Goodwood who has a passion for life drawing. The figurine’s hair, clothes, posture and expression were all considered in coming up with the new look. 

The redesign brings her closer to the drawings made by her original creator, the illustrator and sculptor Charles Sykes, more than 100 years ago. The Flying Lady has changed before – at one brief stage, she was kneeling down – as well as being made of various materials including most recently stainless steel (with gold plating optional). Rolls isn’t saying how the lady will be illuminated, which is virtually de rigueur for electric cars now.

While we may know what the Spirit of Ecstasy for an electric age looks like, the rest of the car remains concealed under its camouflage wrap. Rolls-Royce gave the world its first glimpse of that last year, insisting the car was not a prototype but the first pre-production model, impressive given first customer deliveries are still 20 months away. The company says the time is being spent on the most demanding test programme in its history.

Rolls-Royce is not confirming any other details of the Spectre at this stage, so we can all go on speculating about what appears to be its relatively compact dimensions, definite sporting character with a sloping, coupe-style roofline and rear-hinged coach doors. It is sure to ditch the BMW-derived platform of the Wraith and use a version of the brand’s own scalable aluminium spaceframe – already the basis of the Phantom, Cullinan and new Ghost – that was developed from the start for battery-electric power.

The redesigned Spirit of Ecstasy, along with the never-before-used Spectre name, emphasise what the company sees as a new beginning for the super-luxury brand under electrification. The new figurine will debut on the Spectre towards the end of 2023 and thenceforth will adorn all the new electric replacements for the current Phantom, Ghost, Dawn and Cullinan, all of which will be battery-powered by 2030, the firm has stated. 

“The Spirit of Ecstasy is the most famous and desirable automotive mascot in the world,” Rolls-Royce chief executive officer Torsten Müller-Ötvös tells us. “In her new form she is more streamlined and graceful than ever before – the perfect emblem for the most aerodynamic Rolls-Royce ever created, and for gracing the prow of our bold electric future.”