Apparently, Rolls-Royce fell victim to a recently unearthed 2011 directive by the UN and the European Commission stating that hood-mounted extra lighting is prohibited for all passenger vehicles.
The issue first surfaced back in February, when the company decided not to offer its £3,500 bonnet ornament with newly sold cars so as not to risk legal issues. Today, it followed up with an announcement saying all pre-sold cars in Great Britain must be serviced to turn off the illumination.
The iconic Spirit of Ecstasy first came aglow nine years ago on the one-off 102EX Concept. The 103EX followed its example four years ago, and then the company started offering the backlit version of its hood figurine with all new Phantom, Ghost, Dawn, Cullinan and Wraith models. The diodes light up along with the greeting lights when the car remains stationary.
Official Rolls-Royce representatives expressed their distress over the situation, but confirmed that the automaker saw no way it could circumvent the UN/EC directive. Having said that, the Brexit may see glowing Ecstasy Spirits returning to the bonnet lids en masse as the ES legislation loses its power.