TWIL: Rolls-Royce’s Latest Phantom, Ferrari’s New Manual Transmission, And More
Catch up on this week’s most noteworthy updates from the universe of luxury.
In our weekly TWIL series, we bring you the latest in luxury news from around the world. This week’s highlights: Rolls-Royce taps into racing yachts for inspiration, Ferrari reinvents the manual transmission, and Bvlgari’s summer timepieces are colourful takes on ancient Roman handiwork.
Rolls-Royce Brings The World Of Sailing To Automotive Design
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars recently unveiled the new Phantom Regatta, a one-of-one bespoke Phantom Extended commission, at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed. It takes inspiration from the racing yachts and regattas of the English South Coast, which reflect in the deep marine Regatta Blue exterior and English White lower body.
Inside, the Gallery takes centre stage, featuring a hand-painted work of art by the marque’s in-house artist to evoke the movement of waves. And in true Rolls-Royce fashion, the Headliner is adorned with 1,307 fibre optic stars to capture the swirling tidal currents surrounding the Isle of Wight. As a final touch, hidden within each eyeball vent are engraved geographic coordinates that lead back to the location of the Goodwood House and the Home of Rolls-Royce.
Ferrari Reinvents The Manual Gearbox With The 12Cilindri Manuale
It’s not really a manual transmission, though it is designed to look, feel, and act like one. Ferrari’s newly developed in-house system, Manuale By-Wire, includes a gated shifter and a clutch pedal that act as actuators for its familiar, highly acclaimed 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Kinematic mechanisms provide physical feedback that mimics the old days of analogue operation, and it provides actual performance consequences—mistakes can lead to jerks and stalls. Manual mode provides access to the first six gears plus reverse, while automatic mode is just a button push away for more relaxed and trouble-free driving. Ferrari debuted this system in a limited, 1,499-car run of its flagship grand tourer, the 12Cilindri—still sporting a naturally aspirated 6.5-litre engine capable of 819bhp and a 0-100km/h time of 2.9 seconds.
Bvlgari Ushers In A Roman Summer With Two New Coloured Dials For The Bvlgari Bvlgari
With these two new references for the Bvlgari Bvlgari collection (RM31,200), the Italian maison celebrates the season with elegance and poise by infusing ancient Roman art into elegant watchmaking. These 33mm steel-cased timepieces feature twelve diamond indices, and a mother-of-pearl dial that comes in two distinct colourways: pink, set in rose gold bezel, and green, set in yellow gold bezel. Each dial consists of approximately 400 tiny mother-of-pearl pieces, exquisitely and individually arranged to form a lustrous fresco to embody the ancient Roman art of polychrome mosaic. Both variations feature quartz movements, and have gold crowns set with a cabochon-cut natural pink tourmaline.
Hublot Embraces Sunshine With A Pair Of Pastel Ceramic Timepieces
For Hublot, the summer is something to look forward to every year with a seasonal release, and this year’s pastel-coloured ceramic watches have cemented that narrative. Inspired by the shifting hues that dance along Mediterranean coastlines, the manufacture introduces two fresh interpretations of its signature Big Bang models.
This pair of Big Bang Summer timepieces—one being a 42mm Unico flyback chronograph (limited to 200 pieces), the other a 44mm automatic tourbillon (limited to 10 pieces)—have similar multi-coloured aesthetics. Case parts and strap are a delicate yet matching palette of pink, mint green, and sky-to-sea blue, a fusion of rubber and ceramic and accomplished mechanical watchmaking that is the Hublot specialty.
Van Cleef & Arpels Unveils its Second Malaysian Boutique in The Gardens Mall
On the 1st of June, Van Cleef & Arpels opened its second Malaysian boutique in the Gardens Mall. It has the maison’s signature black façade, but, in a first for Southeast Asia, references the minaudière, a classic type of women’s fashion accessory or vanity case. Inside, a Murano glass chandelier illuminates nature-inspired walls—gardens and natural beauty being a recurring theme in the Van Cleef & Arpels oeuvre. Beyond the jewellery displays lies a private salon, fashioned with a dance-themed library and local flower and bird artistry, where guests can relax as they explore and experience timeless pieces.
Leica Unveils Its Most Advanced Full-Frame Camera to Date
Designed for both professional photographers and videographers, the Leica SL3-P features a new sensor and a new hybrid autofocus system, with the 44-megapixel BSI full-frame sensor providing an ideal balance of high resolution and exceptional image quality. The dynamic range of up to 14 aperture stops allows for even the finest tonal gradations to be captured, while the Multishot mode delivers extremely high-resolution, detailed images with up to 176 megapixels. For video creators, the SL3-P supports recording in up to 8K resolution, including 8.1K Open Gate, 5.9K at 60 fps, and 4K at 120 fps.
Built in Germany, the SL3-P features a minimalist design with blacked-out controls, IP54 weather resistance, and Leica’s intuitive user interface, which separates photo and video workflows while adapting automatically to portrait and landscape orientations. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C, Lightroom Classic and Capture One tethering support, plus seamless integration with the Leica FOTOS app.
Alongside the camera, Leica introduced two new lenses. The Leica Summilux-SL 50 f/1.4 ASPH. is billed as the world’s most compact autofocus 50mm f/1.4 lens, offering strong low-light performance, subject isolation, and portability; while the Leica APO-Macro-Elmarit-SL 100 f/2.8 revives a legendary Leica optic in modern form, delivering 1:1 macro capability, apochromatic correction, and portrait-friendly telephoto performance.
The Leica SL3-P is priced at RM28,160.
Montblanc Refines Classic Designs For Its Latest Leather Goods Collection
For its Fall/Winter 2026 leather collection, Montblanc shifts focus to a quieter expression of luxury. While sustaining the dialogue that the brand promotes between writing, travelling and craftsmanship, Artistic Director Marco Tomasetta reimagines the German manufacturer’s classic merchandise through an organic lens. He establishes soft constructions in earthy tones as the defining blueprint of the season, largely inspired by the delicate hush of the natural world.
Leading this collection is the expansion of the signature Writing Traveller line. Featuring new briefcases and crossbody bags, the Maison presents its iconic Extreme pattern in smooth calfskin leather and water-repellent fabric, intersecting design and functionality. The innovative Paper capsule collection also perpetuates this by uniting timeless envelope-inspired accessories with technically advanced lightweight leather totes, thoughtful combining engineering with refined artistry.
Presenting Tod’s Men’s 2027 Spring/Summer collection—The Italian Wardrobe
Celebrating the authentic Italian lifestyle, Tod’s signature leather takes centre stage in their new Men’s 2027 Spring/Summer collection. Taking centre stage is the Pashmy project, a lightweight and silky to the touch ready-to-wear collection featuring the Brera Bomber, Castello Jacket, and Solferino Shirt; colours range from earthy hues to Mediterranean-inspired shades such as Riviera blue and pearl grey. Meanwhile, the new Red Dot urban sneaker, which features an extra-light sole and serves as the perfect companion for the Italian outlook, where work transitions seamlessly into leisure. Closing out the collection is the Gommino loafer, another piece of ultra-light footwear, one that also exemplifies Tod’s expertise in hand-stitched construction.
G/FORE Brings Colour to Malaysia’s Luxury Golf Scene
Golf has become increasingly defined by style as much as it is by skill, and G/FORE has captured that evolution through their brand identity. The Los-Angeles born golf lifestyle label recently brought its ‘Add Colour to Your Life’ experience to KLoé Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, showcasing the sport through a vibrant lens of fashion and contemporary design. Guests were immersed in a series of lifestyle activities, cocktails, and curated clothing exhibits. The event took attendees beyond the golf course, demonstrating G/FORE’s lifestyle-led philosophy.
A highlight of the evening was the introduction of the brand’s latest G.112 footwear collection, which perfectly encapsulates the balance between technical performance and contemporary aesthetics. Notable for its bold colours and premium craftsmanship, this apparel range effortlessly blurs the boundaries of golf attire.
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