The British brand Rolls Royce is arguably the greatest luxury car brand in the world. Established in 1904 by Henry Royce and Charles Rolls and now owned by the BMW group, the brand is the real embodiment of prestige, luxury, royalty, and elegance. The Rolls-Royce logo is a symbol of luxury and craftsmanship and reflects the prestigious history of the brand since its inception. The logo of the company has undergone several logo changes, where each represents the evolution of the brand’s identity and values. The article delves into the various logo changes associated with Rolls Royce.
The Genesis of the Rolls Royce Logo (1906–1934)
The inaugural Rolls-Royce logo was introduced in 1906, which featured an ornate coat of arms capturing the luxury ethos of the brand. This logo included a monogram of the two overlapping Rs, representing the founders, placed alongside various symbols. The symbols included a lion, two roses, a seahorse, and wings, all of which conveyed strength, reliability, and a connection to England and its heritage. This complex design was typical of luxury brands at the time and aimed to project an image of grandeur and sophistication.
(1911–1934)
In 1911, Rolls-Royce simplified its logo but retained the monogram. The new design featured a rectangular badge with two menacing lions flanking the monogram. This heraldic badge emphasised the royal associations of the brand and became its hallmark. It was executed in a light silver palette to convey elegance and authority. The slogan “The Best Car in the World” was also introduced to reinforce the commitment of the brand to quality.
(1911–1973)
In this logo iteration, Rolls-Royce transitioned to a more minimalist logo by removing the coat of arms entirely. The logo was now monochrome and displayed the iconic Rs in a refined style. This period marked a shift towards professionalism and modernity, wherein the logo evolved to reflect the changing tastes of the automobile industry. The design became more streamlined and focused on the identity of the brand rather than mere aesthetics.
(1911-2020)
This particular logo iteration became iconic as it revealed the Spirit of Ecstasy emblem for the first time. It looked like a woman leaning to the front with her hands outstretched behind her back. In due course, this figurine became an integral part of the visual identity of Rolls Royce. It appeared in a light grey, blue, and white colour palette, the combination of which evoked a sense of class and sophistication.
(1973–1998)
In 1973, the Rolls Royce logo underwent another redesign wherein it adopted a contemporary minimalist approach. The new logo featured a solid blue square with rounded corners housing a silver and white “RR” monogram. This design emphasised clarity and sophistication and aligned with the modern aesthetic of the time. The logo’s simplicity made it easily recognisable and reinforced the brand’s status as a leader in luxury automobiles.
In 1973, another logo iteration saw an orange square with the monogram “RR” forming the brand name to the right in two levels. The word “MOTORS” appeared at the bottom of the brand name to complete the wordmark. The orange square had a thin white outline and the wordmark appeared in white.
(1998–2020)
With BMW’s acquisition of Rolls-Royce in 1998, the logo saw a return to its heritage. The design was simplified to a vertically oriented rectangle with rounded angles. And within the rectangle a bold black RR monogram and the brand name in a modern uppercase sans-serif font were depicted. Here, the brand name was displayed at the top and bottom sections of the rectangle. This iteration retained a slight 3D effect thanks to the interplay of grey colour gradient. The design aligned with the contemporary design trends of the late 1990s and early 2000s. The logo was used until 2020 and maintained a balance between tradition and modernity.
(2020–Present)
In 2020, Rolls-Royce further refined its logo and adopted an even more minimalist design. The current logo features only the iconic monogram “RR,” rendered in a sleek serif font and set against a plain white background. This change reflects a broader trend in branding towards simplicity and versatility. It allows for easier application of the logo across digital platforms while maintaining the luxurious image of the brand.
The Spirit of Ecstasy Icon
This is the refined Rolls Royce emblem, the original of which was introduced in the year 1911. Called the Spirit of Ecstasy, it shows a black-and-white silhouette of a lady leaping forward with her hands stretched at the back.
The Elements of the Rolls Royce Logo
Font
The font used in the Rolls-Royce logo is a custom serif typeface, which has evolved over the years but retains a classic elegance. The latest iteration of the logo was redesigned in 2020. It showcases a sleek serif font with sharp, flared ends to emphasise the brand’s commitment to luxury and refinement.
Colour
Historically, the colour palette of the Rolls-Royce logo has been varied, which included shades of silver, grey, and black. The most recent version features a plain black monogram set against a simple white background. The choice of colours conveys professionalism and authority.
The History of Rolls Royce
Rolls-Royce was named after its founders, Charles Rolls and Henry Royce, where one was a vehicle developer and the other owned a car dealership. In 1906, Rolls-Royce Limited was incorporated, and a factory was opened in Derby in 1908. The first model of the company was the Silver Ghost, which established the reputation of Rolls-Royce for quality and reliability. During wartime, the company shifted its focus to producing aircraft engines. Business thrived until 1971, when financial difficulties arose: the RB211-22 aircraft engines failed to generate profits, which led to a cash shortage.
To navigate the crisis, the government decided to nationalise Rolls-Royce. This resulted in the automobile division being made independent, which in 1973, entered the market as Rolls-Royce Motors. However, the rights to the emblem remained with the aircraft engine manufacturer, so the automaker could only use the traditional visual identity under agreement.
In 1998, Volkswagen acquired Rolls-Royce Motors but did not obtain the rights to the Rolls-Royce name and logo. In 2003, BMW acquired these rights and formed Rolls-Royce Motor Cars as a wholly owned subsidiary to manufacture Rolls-Royce-branded cars.
Interesting Facts About Rolls Royce
- In the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, Rolls Royce used to be the only choice of car for the world’s elite. In fact, Phantom IV became the model to be used for the royals and heads of states.
- Chauffeurs can be sent to the Rolls-Royce driving school to learn how to handle this luxurious beast.
- The first Rolls Royce car delivered only 10 horsepower from its 1.8-litre, two-cylinder engine.
- The Spirit of Ecstasy emblem was commissioned by Baron John Edward Scott-Montagu, a car collector, who based the emblem on his secretary-turned-mistress, Eleanor Thornton.
- The Spirit of Ecstasy emblem does not have any wings. In fact, they are flowing robes, which, according to Rolls Royce, symbolise speed.
- The Spirit of Ecstasy emblem cannot be stolen or mishandled, as it automatically hides under the bonnet, even during an accident.
- BMW had to cough up $40 million to buy the Spirit of Ecstasy emblem from Volkswagen when it bought the premier car brand from Volkswagen in 2002.
- The EU banned the display of the illuminated Spirit of Ecstasy emblem on the hood of Rolls Royce. According to the EU, it had the potential to cause too much light pollution.
- The quality of Rolls Royce can be gauged from the fact that about 60 percent of them are still operational and roadworthy.
- Rolls Royce is known to have built a 0.50 calibre machine gun during the Second World War. It was an effort by the company to improve the effectiveness of the standard machine gun of the time, the Browning M2. However, it could not supplant the Browning machine gun as there were issues like jamming and excessive muzzle flash.
- One of the 0.50 calibre machine guns built by Rolls Royce is still kept at the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds, England.
- In 1935, a Rolls Royce engine recorded a speed of 301.33 mph in Utah.
- Rolls Royce is known for manufacturing aircraft engines.
- A battery-powered electric vehicle made by Rolls Royce clocked a top speed of 387 mph in testing.
- The leather interiors used by Rolls Royce come from European bulls, which have fewer insert bite marks due to higher altitude and cold temperatures.
- The pinstripes on Rolls Royce cars are hand painted by a single person, Mark Count, for the last 17 years. There are no robots or machines used to paint.
- The Phantom model of Rolls Royce takes around two months to complete.
- The headliner in the Falcon Wraith model has an embroidered image of a peregrine falcon.
- A majority of Rolls Royce cars are produced in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, and not London, its base.
- The fridge inside Rolls Royce has two cooling modes—six degrees and eleven degrees. These temperatures are the optimum ones to serve non-vintage and vintage Champagne, respectively.
- The cavities of Rolls Royce are checked with an endoscope during the monsoon to test for water or moisture ingress. If the car shows any ingress, it is scrapped.
- If the owner of a Rolls Royce stays at a place where there is no authorised dealer, technicians called “flying doctors” fly to the place to service the car.
- More Rolls Royce cars can be seen in Hong Kong than any other city in the world.
- An Indian Maharaja bought a few Rolls Royce cars to collect garbage when he was mocked by a salesman of Rolls Royce.
- Boat Tail is the most expensive Rolls Royce yet, with a price tag of 28 million dollars.
Finally
The evolution of the Rolls-Royce logo shows the journey of the brand from a complex representation of luxury to a streamlined symbol of elegance and sophistication. Each iteration has contributed to the brand’s identity and reinforced its reputation as a leader in the luxury automotive market. The logo signifies the company’s heritage and its adaptability to changing design trends and consumer expectations.