Gaspard Deveugle Designs Futuristic Rolls-Royce Phantom Concept Firmament

Gaspard Deveugle’s Vision for the Firmament Concept

The “Firmament” concept represents a departure from the established identity of Rolls-Royce vehicles. Created by Gaspard Deveugle as a personal internship project, the design was not commissioned by the automaker, allowing for a complete reimagining of the brand’s standard visual elements. Deveugle, who has previously worked with BMW, Kingfisher, and RealNum, utilized the project to explore the potential future of electric vehicle aesthetics. Because the concept was not a direct order from the manufacturer, the designer was free to rework the standard design elements of the British brand, resulting in a cohesive study of visual identity transformation that does not require changes to technical parameters.

The most significant change is the removal of the iconic vertical radiator grille, a feature that has defined the front profile of the brand’s vehicles for over 100 years. Instead, the concept features a low, elongated nose that tapers into a blade-like form, intended to mimic the geometry of a ship’s hull. This shift reflects a broader trend in automotive design, where the absence of a mechanical cooling system in electric vehicles creates new opportunities for manufacturers to redefine their signature look. The design replaces the traditional grille with an aerodynamic shape resembling the fuselage of a spaceship.

Astrophysical Inspiration and Exterior Lighting

The aesthetic of the Firmament is rooted in the concept of astrophysical nucleosynthesis—the process by which stars in the process of dying create heavy chemical elements such as iron and calcium. Deveugle incorporated this theme into the vehicle’s exterior, utilizing motifs such as the frozen tail of a comet, radial flashes of a supernova, and the reflection of meteors on a water surface. These elements inform the car’s lighting and body lines, where light strips thicken in areas of theoretical energy concentration and thin out during their gradual dispersion.

The vehicle features an exterior lighting system made of optical fibers, a technology previously reserved for the interiors of production models like the Ghost or Spectre. The glass roof and long front hood serve as a base for an installation simulating the effect of a meteor shower. The density of the light lines is highest near the windshield and dissipates into fine dust toward the nose, mimicking a meteor that burns brightest just before it disappears. All light strips converge toward the Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament, creating the impression that the figure is absorbing everything from the sky. The rear deck is divided by a raised central black line into two separate, flowing fenders that taper into points, referencing the “boat tail” design tradition. The wheels have also been overhauled, replacing traditional static center caps with dark, functional, turbine-shaped blades.

The ONYX Concept Phantom Alternative

While Deveugle’s project focuses on a theoretical, futuristic transformation, other custom builds take a different approach to the Phantom. As reported on June 25, 2026, the ONYX Concept Rolls-Royce Phantom offers a luxury sedan that treats every detail as a statement. Unlike the Firmament, which is a conceptual design study, the ONYX build highlights a commanding presence through refined interior and exterior upgrades. The ONYX project emphasizes craftsmanship, exclusivity, and attitude, showcasing a dramatic character for the Phantom while maintaining the iconic Rolls-Royce design language. These projects demonstrate the varying ways designers and custom shops are attempting to evolve the luxury car segment.

Sources: Nextech.