Rolls-Royce Droptail Limited to Four Units

author: FutureCar Staff    

The Rolls-Royce Coachbuild division has unveiled its latest masterpiece, the Droptail, during Monterey Car Week. Limited to just four units worldwide, the car presented in California is known as La Rose Noire.

The La Rose Noire Droptail draws inspiration from the Black Baccara, a French rose favored by the family that commissioned it. It features a unique red finish that appears black in the shade but has a pearlescent red glow under the sun. Rolls-Royce created this special paint by combining two shades of red called True Love and Mystery.

Unlike the Rolls-Royce Sweptail and Boat Tail, the Droptail has a new monocoque chassis made from steel, aluminum, and carbon fiber, rather than being based on the Architecture of Luxury platform. However, it still boasts the marque's powerful 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine, producing 593 hp and 620 lb-ft (840 Nm) of torque. While not focused on straight-line performance, the Droptail can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in under 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. It features a conventional front end with a large chrome grille and slim LED headlights. The bodywork has a smooth and flowing design, tapering to a rear end with distinct taillights. The car also includes a stylish spoiler, an eye-catching decklid, and a removable carbon fiber roof panel with electrochromic panels.

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

In addition to the car, the commissioning family also ordered a one-off Rolls-Royce Champagne Chest to match. This chest can be opened at the press of a button and includes hand-blown crystal champagne flutes and a serving tray.

Rolls-Royce has not disclosed the price of each Droptail model, but sources estimate it to be around $25 million per unit.

FutureCar Staff