Kids friendly
Miniaturisation is no stranger to luxury carmakers. After all, it’s best to start appreciation of fine cars when the children are young. But what makes the Rolls-Royce SRH so different from other child-sized models (like the McLaren P1) is that there is only a single one. And it belongs to the St. Richard’s Hospital Paediatric Day Surgery Unit.
The idea began when Rolls-Royce received research that showed conclusively that a Rolls-Royce vehicle reduced anxiety in patients. Mulling over retrofitting an existing car for the hospital’s use, Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke Manufacturing division went several leagues further. The resulting Rolls-Royce SRH – named after the hospital in Chichester, home of Goodwood – would allow young patients to drive themselves to the operating theatre, reducing stress and enabling smiles during such an anxious period.
But just because it’s for kids, doesn’t mean it does not live up to the Rolls-Royce standard. Powered by an electric motor coupled to a 24V battery, the SRH can zip around at 16kph, throttled down to 6.4 kph for the younger ones. It looks great too. The single-seater mini is finished in a dual-tone combination of Andalusian White and Salamanca Blue, with a hand-painted St James Red coachline. Advanced 3D printing technology was utilised to shrink down the classic Rolls-Royce elements, including the grille, paddles, wheel trims, dashboard and obligatory Spirit of Ecstasy. The leather interior, in fact, went through utmost scrutiny to meet the British National Health Service standards.
And all that effort must have been worth it, just to see the beaming smiles of Holly Matthews and Hari Rajyagura, who became the first two human beings to drive the SRH. Rolls-Royce obviously believes that the children are our future.
