Rolls-Royce Reveals La Rose Noire: The First Droptail Coachbuild Masterpiece
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars unveils the dark and daring La Rose Noire Droptail, a coachbuilt triumph.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars proudly introduces the remarkable Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail – a captivating coachbuilt masterpiece that embodies dark allure and dramatic flair. This exclusive creation is the first model among four upcoming Droptails, costing more than US$30 million as reported by The New York Post.
Resulting from an exclusive four-year collaboration with a carefully selected group of visionary patrons, Droptail emerges as a contemporary reinterpretation of the roadster body style. This marks a pioneering departure for the brand. The interior of Droptail exudes intimacy and comfort, capturing the essence of two-seater motoring. Limited to just four units, each Droptail represents an exquisite expression of its patron's individuality.
Droptail boasts an audaciously unique design: a commanding low stance, a snug cabin embracing its occupants, and precisely sculpted surfaces, all emphasizing its driver-centric character. The silhouette is characterized by 'sail cowls' – bold, angular forms rising behind the doors and curving gently inwards, clearly denoting its strict two-seat configuration. The elegantly crafted aft deck, situated behind the passengers, serves an aerodynamic purpose, generating downforce to enhance stability at higher speeds.
Designers ventured to present a fresh interpretation of the marque's cherished iconography: the Pantheon grille and the Badge of Honour. The grille's vanes possess an upward 'kink', forming a distinctive 'temple brow' overhang – a first for Rolls-Royce. The iconic 'Badge of Honour' is transformed into an elegant stainless steel 'Double R' monogram, maintaining the monolithic harmony of Droptail's surfaces.
Droptail incorporates a detachable hard top, endowing it with dual personalities: roofless, it transforms into a lithe open-top roadster; with the roof in place, it takes on a commanding and theatrical coupé guise. The roof features electrochromic glass, enabling the interior light levels to be adjusted with a simple touch.
Embracing the essence of two-seat roadsters, Droptail's interior envelops its occupants with a cocooning ambiance. A high waist-rail and low seating position provide a sense of security and comfort. The interior space becomes a canvas for bespoke wood craftsmanship, notably showcased by the sweeping curved shawl panel that gracefully encircles the driver and passenger.
Characterized by minimalism and tactile analog elements, the interior hosts just three primary buttons, yet retains all modern functionality. A dramatic cantilevered armrest, resembling a plinth, elegantly conceals the rotary controller for the entertainment system. This armrest glides effortlessly at the touch of a button, ensuring easy access.
LA ROSE NOIRE DROPTAIL: GLAMOR DISTILLED
Inspired by the romanticism of two-seater travel and the allure of the Black Baccara rose, cherished by the patron's family matriarch, La Rose Noire Droptail embodies these sentiments. The petals of the dark pomegranate-hued Black Baccara rose appear almost black in shade, but under direct light, a pearlescent red shimmer unveils itself. These two tones form the central colour palette of La Rose Noire Droptail.
The upper bodywork showcases a seductive 'True Love' red tone with a deep black base, capturing the captivating shade shifts of the Black Baccara rose through over 150 iterations.
Distinctive dark-coated brightwork, named Hydroshade for its liquid-like quality, adorns the exterior. The 'True Love' red paint subtly accents the rear surface of the Pantheon Grille vanes. The alloy wheels feature the 'Mystery' paint finish – from a distance, it appears black, yet sunlight reveals its deep red undertones.
La Rose Noire Droptail's detachable hard top boasts a uniquely sleek shape, further accentuated by its elongated and fast sloping rake, enhancing its assertive and glamorous demeanor. The car's name is discreetly engraved onto an ingot integrated into the roof's edge – a first for Rolls-Royce.
The interior of La Rose Noire Droptail showcases Rolls-Royce's most intricate parquetry, a portrayal of cascading rose petals crafted from over 1,600 hand-cut Black Sycamore wood veneer pieces. A meticulously orchestrated arrangement of 1,070 symmetrical and 533 asymmetrical elements, painted red to mimic rose petals, forms the background. The lacquer formula developed for the red pieces ensures their enduring vibrancy.
This motif extends to the artwork on the aft deck and the sides of the Bespoke Champagne Chest, which houses champagne from the client's favored French vineyard. Seat trim echoes the rose theme, combining dark red 'Mystery' leather and light red 'True Love' leather, each finished with a subtle copper shimmer reminiscent of the pearlescent texture of the Black Baccara rose petals.
A SINGULAR TIMEPIECE
The fascia of La Rose Noire Droptail proudly holds a bespoke integrated timepiece by Audemars Piguet, specially commissioned for this masterpiece. The 43mm Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date, uniquely self-winding, features a flyback chronograph and a split-seconds mechanism. Harmonizing with La Rose Noire's palette, it incorporates red counters and inner bezel, providing a striking contrast to the 'openworked' black dial highlighted with rhodium-toned bevels.
Innovatively integrated, the timepiece can be displayed within the car or removed and worn, facilitated by a powered clasp mechanism.
Once removed, an elegant titanium openworked blank head watch, adorned with a hand-sculpted rose engraving in white gold, conceals the aperture in the fascia. This rose motif is mirrored on the motor car's Bespoke Audio speaker frets.
A COMMISSION TO CELEBRATE
To celebrate the arrival of their Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail, the patrons commissioned an exclusive vintage of Champagne de Lossy, reflecting their favourite vineyard. The exclusive vintage is stored in a custom Champagne Chest, adorned with matching rose petal parquetry and meticulously crafted to complement the car's palette and materials.
Upon activation, the Champagne Chest reveals a sophisticated champagne set featuring hand-blown crystal flutes. The outer lid transforms into a serving tray crafted from bookmatched open pore Black Sycamore wood, featuring the vineyard's design in stainless-steel inlay.
The sides of the chest are adorned with intricate parquetry, echoing the Droptail's motif. Two hammocks present the special edition Champagne de Lossy, meticulously matching the car's color scheme. Thermal champagne coolers, designed with black anodized aluminum and carbon fiber, maintain the ideal champagne temperature.
A testament to passion and a thirst for meaningful experiences, this extraordinary La Rose Noire Droptail symbolizes the visionary couple behind it. In crafting this exceptional vehicle, the family has etched their legacy in the annals of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars' history.
