Rolls-Royce Motor Cars introduces Droptail, a remarkable bespoke motor vehicle that redefines the boundaries of luxury. Within Rolls-Royce’s exclusive Coachbuild department, a haven of limitless creativity, the most discerning clients can now participate in crafting a motor car that reflects their essence. These automotive masterpieces are the outcome of a profound artistic collaboration that spans over four years, uniting a select group of ambitious clients with designers, engineers, and artisans at every stage of development. The result is a historic automobile as unique as its owner, marking a significant milestone in Rolls-Royce history and underscoring the alignment of vision between the brand and its clients. Droptail answers the age-old question: Can a car be regarded as a work of art? With the unveiling of this extraordinary roadster, the unequivocal answer is yes.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ CEO, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, declares the launch of Droptail as a transformative moment in the luxury automobile sector, and he affirms that the Coachbuild department offers a realm of unbounded creative possibilities. The Coachbuild initiative allows for a departure from conventional design strategies, exploring new and highly focused creative directions. These motor cars are a testament to the dreams of their clients, encapsulating a particular moment in time while projecting a timeless interpretation of the Rolls-Royce brand. Droptail, the most intricate and forward-looking Coachbuild project to date, is more than a concept car or design study; it is a vehicle meant to be driven and celebrated on the road.
Anders Warming, Design Director at Rolls-Royce, underscores the Coachbuild department’s capacity to push the boundaries of design. Droptail emerges as a celebration of simplicity, shedding new light on the iconic Pantheon grille, which has been thoughtfully reimagined for the first time in the brand’s history. The design of Droptail is a reflection of each client’s personal sensibilities, with a keen focus on clarity, precision, and confidence within the realm of Rolls-Royce design.
Alex Innes, Head of Coachbuild Design at Rolls-Royce, emphasizes the significance of shaping the world’s only contemporary Rolls-Royce roadster. Droptail’s design challenges the conventional codes of luxury and expresses a deep, personal connection between the clients and their motorcars, underscoring a new era of self-assuredness in Rolls-Royce design.
Rolls-Royce’s commitment to crafting deeply meaningful luxury products is exemplified by the Coachbuild initiative, allowing clients to work directly with designers, engineers, and craftspeople to create entirely unique motor cars beyond the brand’s standard offerings. Droptail is the latest chapter in the Coachbuild story, epitomizing the pinnacle of Rolls-Royce’s brand and super-luxury sector.
Droptail breathes new life into the roadster body type, departing from the traditional four-seat format that has long been associated with Rolls-Royce. Inspired by the audacious spirit of early American clients who preferred two-seat roadsters, Droptail is a contemporary interpretation of this vision, taking design cues from iconic Rolls-Royce models like the Silver Ghost ‘Sluggard,’ the Phantom Brewster New York Roadster, and the Silver Ghost Piccadilly. It embraces a distilled approach to design, with simplicity and clarity as guiding principles.
Droptail’s exterior design is a departure from convention, with a reshaped Pantheon grille and innovative treatment of the Badge of Honour, creating a more informal and progressive expression of Rolls-Royce design principles. The profile of Droptail is striking, characterized by a low and assertive stance, a snug cabin, and dramatic sculpting. Sail cowls, reminiscent of a yacht’s jib, rise behind the doors, directing the eye to the occupants and adding to the motor car’s unique charm.
The engineering challenges faced by Droptail’s design team were substantial, particularly in achieving downforce without the need for a wing. The sail cowls and the innovative rear deck are results of a two-year collaboration between designers and aerodynamicists. The door handles, Spirit of Ecstasy, and Rolls-Royce monogram were seamlessly integrated into the exterior design, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted profile.
The rear of Droptail exudes the spirit of a roadster and incorporates nautical design elements, with vertical rear lamps that cant forward to convey a sense of dynamic intent. The tall rear diffuser is finished with a semi-transparent lacquer, showcasing its raw carbon-fiber texture and anchoring Droptail to the road.
Droptail’s roof, a removable hardtop, allows the vehicle to transform from an open-top roadster to a dramatic coupé, catering to different moods and climates. Its low-slung profile and ‘postbox’ glasshouse design draw inspiration from hot-rod and Kustom-style modified cars of the mid-20th century. The roof, made of carbon fiber, includes electrochromic glass to control the amount of light entering the interior, offering a perfect blend of performance and luxury.
The interior of Droptail is designed to be an intimate and minimalistic space, celebrating the discipline of woodcraft. The minimalist approach accentuates the beauty of wood, capturing light from multiple angles. A curved shawl panel envelops the driver and passenger, enhancing the sense of intimacy within the cabin. The cantilevered armrest is both functional and visually striking, offering a rotary information and entertainment system controller.
Droptail’s engineering goes beyond the traditional Rolls-Royce architecture, with a new rigid monocoque constructed from aluminum, steel, and carbon fiber, showcasing the brand’s commitment to innovative engineering. The drivetrain retains the familiar Rolls-Royce quality, with a subtly enhanced twin-turbocharged 6.6-liter V12 engine delivering an additional 30bhp and increased torque.
Droptail represents a new standard in the luxury sector and signals that coachbuilding will play a significant role in Rolls-Royce’s future. It reflects a shared vision between the brand and its clients, where every detail of the motor car is a manifestation of personal desires and artistic expression. This extraordinary roadster is a testament to the enduring legacy of Rolls-Royce and the promise of a bold future built in collaboration with its patrons.
