When you think Rolls-Royce, the words ‘big’ and ‘opulent’ don’t merely walk past your thoughts and say hi. They barge inside your brain, settle down and give birth to a string of synonyms that finally sum up the world’s most upscale automotive brand.
But the same string of synonyms won’t hold water for Rolls-Royce’s latest creation – the SRH. For starters, it’s quite small. So small that its only meant for kids. So small that it goes down in history as the smallest Rolls-Royce ever made. I’ll come to the opulence bit later.
The Roll-Royce SRH is is commissioned by the St Richard’s Hospital Pediatric Day Surgery Unit in the marque’s home town of Chichester, West Sussex. In Rolls-Royce’s words, the SRH “will allow children awaiting surgery to drive themselves to the operating theatre, through the Pediatric Unit corridors which are lined with ‘traffic signs’. The experience of ‘self-drive to theatre’ aims to reduce child patient stress.”
Created from the ground-up by the Bespoke Manufacturing team, the Rolls-Royce SRH took over 400 hours to complete. And yes, it might not be as opulent as the marque’s bespoke limos, but the SRH is indeed a Rolls-Royce for kids.
It is specified with a two-tone paint-scheme of Andalusian White and Salamanca Blue and finished with a hand-applied St James Red coachline. The interiors, with the two-tone steering wheel, seats and self-righting wheel centers colour-matched to the St James Red coachline, make the SRH more of a kid’s chariot.
A top speed of 10mph is achieved in seconds courtesy of power derived from a 24 volt gel battery. For kids that won’t grow into petrol-heads, “the speed setting is variable and can be limited to a statelier but no-less exhilarating 4mph.”
In addition to developing competency in new chassis and electronic technologies, the project team also utilised 3D printing techniques for the design. This included production of the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy and the bespoke paddle controls.
There’s no word on how much the SRH will cost in the real world. But given that its a Rolls-Royce (and made like one), it’ll still be more than you can afford. The official handover of the Rolls-Royce SRH to St Richard’s Hospital happened today.
