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 baron, nor was I born into wealth, nor do I control a country's water supply. So, perhaps my ordinary eyes are not qualified to judge an eight-figure automobile. However, I did not expect it to look like the Rolls-Royce Droptail.

During Monterey Car Week, Rolls-Royce unveiled the Droptail, most likely breaking its own record for the world's priciest new car. The previous record was held by 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 created to meet specific customer requirements. Some of the reported customers included Jay-Z and Beyonce. At the time, the Boat Tail was rumored to cost $28 million. While the exact cost of the new Droptail has not been revealed by Rolls-Royce, Autocar states that it is even more expensive than the Boat Tail.

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

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

The Droptail 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 example, named "La Rose Noire," features a striking red-and-black color scheme inspired by the Black Baccara flower.

The interior of the Droptail 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 covers the entire rear deck of the Droptail. As a custom touch, the Droptail comes with a bespoke Audemars Piguet watch that fits into the dashboard, serving as the car's clock. Rolls-Royce even conducted crash tests to ensure the watch remains secure in the event of an accident.

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

The Rolls-Royce Droptail is an impressive creation, crafted mostly by hand and unlike anything else on the road. Some may argue that it is not worth $30 million or more, especially considering the stunning vintage cars it competed with at Pebble Beach. However, in the world of the super-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 likely more deserving of its price tag than the charred remains of a once beautiful Ferrari.

FutureCar Staff