The official mascot of Rolls-Royce, Spirit of Ecstasy (female image), had no wings ~

Spirit of Ecstasy is reborn

This time, I saw the news that Rolls-Royce redesigned the official mascot of the female image (maybe also called the goddess image) of the emblem attached to the front of that Rolls-Royce.

What surprised me most was that the Rolls-Royce woman called Spirit of Ecstasy had no wings.

Well, I was wondering if it was a female figure with wings. Because it only looks like it's spreading its wings.

Was this "not a wing" a common sense that I didn't know about again? I googled it for a moment, but since many sites in Japan say "wings", I wonder if there are people who don't know that this is not a wing. I thought.

I wonder if that is the case ^^?

Origin of Spirit of Ecstasy

This small statue of the mascot, Spirit of Ecstasy, was originally created by Charles Sykes, modeled after a woman named Eleanor Velasco Thornton.

Originally, this sculpture called The Whisper ↓ is said to be the prototype, this is actress Thornton and John Walter Edward Douglas-Scott who is the 2nd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu. -Mr. Montagu's secret relationship ... in other words, it hints at an affair / mistress relationship.

In other words ... she's not a goddess. There are no wings. I didn't know.

* From this new Spirit of Ecstasy, Rolls-Royce is officially called "a true goddess of speed". However, this is just a metaphorical statement, and can you understand that it is not really a true goddess?

Of course, it seems that the design is also influenced by the following famous sculpture, Samothrace's Nike.

However, the part of the Rolls-Royce mascot that looks like a wing is not a wing, but a "robe worn by a woman, flowing around a woman's arm."

Fuhe ~. Was it so.

In fact, if you look at the initial sketches of this Spirit of Ecstasy, you can see that it is a robe.

This time, in the press release officially issued by Rolls-Royce that this Spirit of Ecstasy was changed to a more aerodynamic design, it was clearly stated that this was not a wing. ..

Here is an excerpt from the official Rolls-Royce announcement ↓

Her robes, which flow behind her in the slipstream – often but erroneously characterised as'wings' – have been subtly reshaped to make them more aerodynamic and realistic.

(Her robes that slipstream behind her, often mistaken for "wings," have been redesigned to be more aerodynamic and realistic.)

SPIRIT OF ECSTASY REDESIGNED FOR MOST AERODYNAMIC ROLLS-ROYCE EVER

The new goddess statue is in a low position with one leg forward

Also, this new image is

Until now, I stood straight with my legs together and leaned down
↓
From this time on, she is the goddess of speed, with one leg forward in preparation for the wind and her body in a low position, her gaze focused forward.

It is said that her stance is the most visible change, and this is closer to Charles Sykes' first sketch.

It seems that there were things that changed in size and posture, but for the time being, this time it was a new Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy that was redesigned with a focus on "eliminating air resistance". is not it.

Anyway, for me, "that wasn't a wing!" Was the biggest surprise ^^

Source:
◆(Official) SPIRIT OF ECSTASY REDESIGNED FOR MOST AERODYNAMIC ROLLS-ROYCE EVER
◆Rolls-Royce Redesigns Their Flying Lady To Be More Aero And Reminds Us She Never Had Wings