Rolls-Royce Set To Revive Model Name From Its Past

After Roll-Royce confirmed that its first all-electric model will arrive sometime this decade, BMW’s ultra-luxury arm filed a trademark for the term “Silent Shadow.” A modern twist on the Silver Shadow name used from 1965 to 1980, we think Silent Shadow is the perfect name for Rolls-Royce’s first EV. But it may not be the only moniker from the company’s past that will make a comeback.

On the same day Rolls-Royce filed its Silent Shadow trademark with the WIPO, it also submitted a new application to the UKIPO for the name “Seraph.” As a reminder, Rolls-Royce previously sold a car called the Silver Seraph from 1998 to 2002. Of all the nameplates to revive from the company’s past, the Silver Seraph seems like an odd choice.

The Silver Seraph was built during a time when Rolls-Royce and Bentley were the same company, hence why – save for the grille – the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph looks almost identical to the Bentley Arnage. But whereas the Arnage used various twin-turbocharged BMW-sourced V8 engines, the Silver Seraph was the first V12-powered Rolls-Royce since the Phantom III in 1939, borrowing a 5.4-liter unit from the BMW 750iL.

Reviving a nameplate used during such a strange time in Rolls-Royce’s history might seem weird but such practice is not completely unheard of. Remember, Honda recently revived the Passport name even though Isuzu built the original model.

BMW’s trademark filing covers “Automobiles and their parts,” meaning the Seraph name could be used for a future model. It’s still too early to tell where this new model would slot into the Rolls-Royce lineup or if the name will be used at all. The original Silver Seraph replaced the Silver Spirit as the only four-door model in the range, alongside the Corniche V.

Seeing as the 2021 Roll-Royce Ghost fills the role once held by the Silver Seraph, we think it’s likelier that the new Seraph could be a smaller SUV model slotted below the Cullinan, which is already proving to be a popular model for the brand.