Rolls-Royce, the esteemed British luxury carmaker, has taken the wraps off the very first member of an exclusive quartet of Droptail roadsters, christened the La Rose Noire. This impressive roadster, named as part of Rolls-Royce’s Coachbuild initiative, showcases the brand’s dedication to craftsmanship and elegance.
The design inspiration for the La Rose Noire Droptail comes from the Black Baccara rose, a creation of French rose hybridizer Jacques Mouchotte in the late 1990s. Rolls-Royce boasts that the styling of this inaugural Droptail model features the most intricate parquetry detailing ever witnessed in the company’s storied history.
The exterior is adorned with a special red paint named True Love, a shade that underwent an astonishing 150 refinements to achieve its perfect appearance, seemingly shifting colors depending on your vantage point. The dark Hydroshade finish applied to the bright elements accentuates the bespoke dual-tone aesthetics of the La Rose Noire. Dubbed Hydroshade due to its “liquid quality,” this hue was exclusively developed for this Coachbuild project. Applying this dark finish involves depositing a layer of color measuring just one micron thickness onto the pieces during the chrome plating process.
The La Rose Noire introduces a detachable hardtop roof, endowing the vehicle with two distinct personas. When the roof is on, it exudes the aura of a powerful and theatrical coupe. With the top removed, this custom Droptail metamorphoses into a stunning open-top roadster.
The roof incorporates an electrochromic glass segment, which swiftly transitions to an almost translucent state with a simple button press, allowing occupants of this two-seater marvel to appreciate the sky above as they cruise along.
Venturing inside the La Rose Noire reveals a realm of pure opulence. The interior showcases an artistic representation of falling rose petals, crafted from a staggering 1,603 pieces of Black Sycamore veneer triangles. The seats are luxuriously upholstered in dark red ‘Mystery’ leather and light red ‘True Love’ leather, mirroring the tactile sensation of the Black Baccara rose petals that served as the inspiration for this exceptional creation.
The design culminates in a unique timepiece crafted by Audemars Piguet, seamlessly integrated into the dashboard of the La Rose Noire. This timepiece can be detached and worn on a strap, serving as a reminder to the owners of their bespoke masterpiece.
Adding a delightful touch, the La Rose Noire features a custom-made Rolls-Royce Champagne Chest, specially designed to house an exclusive vintage Champagne de Lossy, commissioned to commemorate this extraordinary car. Opening at the push of a button, the champagne chest reveals a set of hand-blown crystal flutes. The exterior lid of the Champagne Chest doubles as a serving tray, fashioned from Black Sycamore wood, adorned with intricate parquetry that harmonizes with the design of the Droptail La Rose Noire.
Under the elongated hood, the La Rose Noire boasts the formidable 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 engine, producing an impressive 654 horsepower and a peak torque of 840Nm, propelling this two-seater luxury cruiser that spans 5.3 meters.
The Rolls-Royce Droptail La Rose Noire is more than just a car; it encapsulates a tale of affection and serves as a romantic tribute to the couple who commissioned its creation. As the first Droptail captivates us like never before, our curiosity is piqued regarding the forthcoming trio of bespoke creations that will be unveiled in due course.