Rolls-Royce Droptail: The Pinnacle of Luxury

author: FutureCar Staff    

This may come as a surprise, but I am not the target audience for what is likely the most expensive new car in the world. I am not an oil tycoon, nor was I born into wealth, nor do I control a country's water supply. Therefore, my opinions may not be well-suited to evaluate an eight-figure automobile. However, even I did not expect the Rolls-Royce Droptail to look like this.

Rolls-Royce recently unveiled the Droptail during Monterey Car Week, most likely breaking its own record for the world's priciest new car. The previous record holder was the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail, which made its debut at last year's Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. The Boat Tail's official cost was never disclosed, as it was a custom project with only three coachbuilt cars made to exact customer specifications. Rumor has it that Jay-Z and Beyonce were among the customers. At the time, the Boat Tail was rumored to have a price tag of $28 million. While the exact cost of the new Droptail has not been officially revealed by Rolls-Royce, Autocar reports that it is even more expensive than the Boat Tail.

The Drive has reached out to Rolls-Royce for confirmation on the pricing and will update the story with more information.

Similar to the Boat Tail, the new Droptail is a coachbuilt design that shares very little with other Rolls-Royce models. Only four Droptails will be produced, each one tailored to the individual client's preferences. The design was a collaboration between Rolls-Royce and the four customers.

It is undeniably a beautiful car, but is it worth $30 million? According to the automaker, the long hood, custom rear deck, and low-slung shoulder line pay homage to roadsters from the 1920s. The first Droptail to be made, named "La Rose Noire," features a red-and-black color scheme inspired by the Black Baccara flower.

The Droptail's interior will be familiar to those who have seen a modern Rolls-Royce, but it does have some unique elements. The center armrest is new, and the dashboard trim is adorned with a red/black geometric pattern reminiscent of the opening credits of Casino Royale. The same motif can be found on the entire rear deck of the Droptail. As no ultra-expensive car is complete without a custom watch, the Droptail comes with a bespoke Audemars Piguet timepiece that fits into the dashboard, serving as the car's clock. The design had to undergo crash testing to ensure the watch would not become a projectile in the event of an accident.

Despite its two-door shape, the Droptail is not based on the new electric Rolls-Royce Spectre. Instead, La Rose Noire is equipped with a familiar 6.75-liter twin-turbo V12 engine that produces 593 horsepower, 30 more than the Phantom. However, the torque is rated at 620 lb-ft, which is 44 lb-ft less than the Phantom.

The Rolls-Royce Droptail is an impressive creation, handcrafted and unlike anything else on the road. One could argue that it may not be worth $30 million or more, especially when competing with the stunning vintage cars at Pebble Beach. However, in the world of the ultra-rich, where everyone has everything, exclusivity is highly valued. Being one of only four people in the world to own this exquisite Rolls-Royce is what makes the Droptail so valuable. At the very least, it is probably more deserving of its price tag than the charred remains of a once magnificent Ferrari.

FutureCar Staff