There is a line, 62 miles (100 km) above the earth, where the bounds of our atmosphere give way to the infinite expanse of outer space. Dubbed the Kármán Line, it is made visible by a dark blue shadow that demarcates the border between our blue sky and the inky blackness of space.
This line has only been seen by a handful of adventurous explorers, and it is the subject of Rolls-Royce’s latest creation. The 2023 Cullinan Blue Shadow is a new, limited edition model from its Black Badge customization department.
To celebrate the Kármán Line’s distance from the earth, the automaker will produce just 62 of these exquisitely crafted models, which feature a brand-new leather-working technique that adds a whole new canvas to the Rolls-Royce line.
For the first time in the brand’s history, it is using two sizes of perforation to create a design on the leather seats of the Cullinan Blue Shadow. These act to ground the design, and are intended to represent the earth, the seas, and the clouds that can be seen drifting across our planet from 62 miles up.
Read: Rolls-Royce Unveils One-Of-A-Kind Manchester Ghost Commission Filled With Easter Eggs
As your eye moves up, it meets the dashboard, where the Kármán Line can be seen arcing across the dashboard and onto the door panels. It is represented with five different shades of blue and six layers of paint. Finally, a clear-coat layer that incorporates blue and clear glass particles gives the trim a depth and luster to make it feel truly special.
From there, the top of the interior darkens further until it reaches the “Edge of Space” headliner where a total of 1,183 fiber optic lights (799 in white, 384 in blue) represent the stars.
However, to make the headliner truly special, Rolls-Royce’s upholsterers have stitched an embroidered moon into it. It incorporates five different colors of thread, and is made of 250,000 separate stitches. In all, it takes two full days to complete.
Outside, the Cullinan is finished in a new, shimmering shade of “Stardust Blue” that attempts to recreate the color found at the edge of space. It is complemented by a satin-finished grille and bumper inserts that are inspired by the thermal tiles used by returning space shuttles to deflect heat. Meanwhile, the “Spirit of Ecstasy” hood ornament is made out of 3D printed titanium and finished with a thin layer of blue lacquer, to give it a pearlescent quality.
To go with the SUV, buyers will also be offered a range of accessories, such as an indoor car cover with a design inspired by the one found in the seat leather perforations and a unique luggage set. For those who really want to celebrate their new Cullinan Blue Shadow, a 1:8 scale model of their precise example can also be commissioned with working exterior and interior lighting.
Rolls-Royce has not specified a price for the Cullinan Blue Shadow, and the SUV is available exclusively through its Private Office.