Rolls-Royce Droptail Limited to Four Units

author: FutureCar Staff    

The Rolls-Royce Coachbuild division has recently revealed its latest creation, the Droptail, at the prestigious Monterey Car Week. Limited to just four units worldwide, the car showcased in California is the first of its kind, named La Rose Noire.

The design of the La Rose Noire Droptail draws inspiration from the Black Baccara, a French rose favored by the family who commissioned the vehicle. Its exterior is coated in a unique red finish that appears almost black in the shade but reveals a pearlescent red glow under the sunlight. Rolls-Royce achieved this special paint by combining two shades of red called True Love and Mystery.

Unlike the Sweptail and Boat Tail models, the Droptail does not share the same Architecture of Luxury platform as the Cullinan, Ghost, and Phantom. Instead, it features a new monocoque chassis constructed from steel, aluminum, and carbon fiber. Underneath, it is powered by Rolls-Royce's 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine, generating 593 horsepower and 620 lb-ft (840 Nm) of torque. While the Droptail is not focused on straight-line performance, it is estimated to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in less than 5.0 seconds and reach a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).

The Droptail's exterior design sets it apart from other Rolls-Royce models. The front end features a conventional large chrome grille and slim LED headlights with daytime running lights. The bodywork adopts a smooth and flowing design along the sides, leading to a rear end with distinctive taillights. The car is also equipped with a stylish spoiler and an eye-catching decklid. Additionally, it boasts a removable carbon fiber roof panel with electrochromic panels.

Rolls-Royce describes the interior of the Droptail as the "most remarkable element" of the car. It took nearly two years to perfect and showcases complex artwork that represents falling rose petals. The artwork is meticulously crafted from 1,603 pieces of black wood veneer. The seats are adorned with a combination of True Love red and Mystery red leather. In the center of the dashboard sits a custom timepiece by Audemars Piguet, featuring red counters and a red inner bezel. The timepiece, a 43 mm chronograph with a flying chronograph, can be detached and worn with a strap at the press of a button.

To complement the car, the family who commissioned the Droptail also ordered a one-of-a-kind Rolls-Royce Champagne Chest. Opening at the press of a button, the chest includes hand-blown crystal champagne flutes and a serving tray.

Although Rolls-Royce has not disclosed the price of each Droptail model, sources estimate that they will cost around $25 million each.

FutureCar Staff