EU Bans Rolls-Royce Hood Ornament Crack Down On Light Pollution

[AVANTI R5]

EU Bans Rolls-Royce's Illuminated Spirit Of Ecstasy, Will Have To Be Removed From All Models

It’s bad news for a number of Rolls-Royce owners, as well as prospective customers, across the European Union after the automaker confirmed that its illuminated Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament is no longer permitted on the streets.

Rolls-Royce first showcased the illuminated Spirit of Ecstasy with the all-electric 102EX concept back in 2011. The option soon became available on the Phantom, the previous-generation Ghost, the Dawn, the Wraith and the Cullinan.

After being contacted by a number of concerned Rolls-Royce owners, The Daily Mail reached out to Rolls-Royce, who confirmed that the option was removed at the start of 2019 due to a change in European Union regulations relating to lighting on cars as part of a crackdown on light pollution.

“In February 2019 we sent our dealers a bulletin saying we were removing the option of an unlit Spirit of Ecstasy. It was no longer to be sold to customers. It came off the options list,” a Rolls-Royce spokesman said.

This isn’t just bad news for those looking to purchase a new Rolls-Royce with the illuminated Spirit of Ecstasy, but also owners with Rolls-Royce vehicles already equipped with the £3,500 ($4,570) option as it will need to be removed and replaced.

“Sadly, we are telling our customers that we will by law have to disconnect their Spirit of Ecstasy,” the spokesman added. “We are in the process of putting a package together. We shall write to make an offer of a full refund, a replacement silver-plated Spirit of Ecstasy, or another option from our list. We felt it our moral obligation. We sold this option in very good faith. We are forced to retract it now through no fault of our own.”

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[oichan]

I didn't know there were so may RR's in EU that lit up the sky at night causing light pollution. (sarcasm)

So stupid.

[JP Chestnut]

Definitely a first order problem in today’s world.more troubling is the EU being able to retroactively outlaw it. I’m sure California would love to do that to all ICE cars.

[godfather2112]

Glad to see they have tackled all the important problems facing the EU so that they could focus on light pollution from a damn hood ornament.

[White out]

Looks like certain bureaucrats are justifying the existence of their jobs.

[dwf137]

The regulation that RR claims prevents the use of their hood ornament is the overall lighting regulation that all cars in the EU must conform to. This isn't a regulation specifically against RR. But whatever gets clicks and gets people who accept things for face value upset about a feature on a car they'll never buy!

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by dwf137

The regulation that RR claims prevents the use of their hood ornament is the overall lighting regulation that all cars in the EU must conform to. This isn't a regulation specifically against RR. But whatever gets clicks and gets people who accept things for face value upset about a feature on a car they'll never buy!

I certainly didn't think it was a targeted regulation, and nothing I read from anyone else suggested they did either.

[BeepBoop]

"Light pollution"...
God damn, how petty and regulatory can you be?