Rolls-Royce’s La Rose Noire Droptail is inspired by romance and the allure of the Black Baccara rose
The Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail is a coachbuilt masterpiece of luxury, artistry, and innovation. Share
The recently unveiled Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail elevates this legacy to new heights, epitomizing the essence of personalized opulence. Presented at a private event near Pebble Beach in California, this coachbuilt masterpiece is the ultimate homage to its commissioners—an international family known for their impeccable taste and connoisseurship.
The La Rose Noire Droptail draws inspiration from the Black Baccara rose, a mesmerizing flower native to France and cherished by the mother of the commissioning family. This rose, appearing almost black in shade, reveals a red, pearlescent shimmer when exposed to direct light—elements that are gracefully translated into the vehicle’s design. Two shades dominate the car’s palette: ‘True Love,’ representing the family’s romantic inclinations, and ‘Mystery,’ inspired by the enigmatic qualities of the rose.
The car’s exterior gleams in True Love red, a color that underwent over 150 iterations to achieve its transformative hue. This chromatic versatility is made possible through a complex layering process involving a base coat and five layers of clear lacquer, each a slightly different tone of red.
The Droptail’s brightwork employs a finish called Hydroshade, created especially for this project. The dark, reflective finish extends to the car’s interior, complementing the polished stainless-steel details. Unique to this model is a removable hard top, transforming the vehicle from a sleek roadster to a dramatic coupé at will.
The detailing is nothing short of a magnum opus. From the hand-polished stainless-steel ingots in the front air intake to the wheels’ Mystery paint finish, every element has been meticulously crafted. It features a 22-inch alloy wheel treated with a high-precision diamond milling process, revealing the base alloy material underneath and emphasizing the wheel’s bold size.
The interior is a sanctuary of artistic brilliance, featuring the most complicated expression of parquetry ever conceived at Rolls-Royce. It required nearly two years of development, and a single craftsman painstakingly worked in isolated conditions for nine months to bring the vision to life. This artwork—an abstract representation of falling rose petals—is crafted from 1,603 pieces of black wood veneer triangles.
In a historic collaboration, a one-off timepiece by Audemars Piguet adorns the fascia. This is no ordinary watch—it can be detached and worn, thanks to a powered clasp mechanism. When removed, its absence is masked by a white-gold coin bearing a hand-sculpted rose, echoing the car’s overarching theme.
To celebrate their Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail, the owners commissioned an exclusive vintage of Champagne de Lossy, one of their favourite wine properties. This is of particular significance given the special wine created for La Rose Noire Droptail is one of only a precious handful of vintages produced by the Chateau in its 160-year history.
As the perfect staging point, the commissioning family requested a unique Rolls-Royce Champagne Chest. Appointed with matching rose petal parquetry and coordinated to match the colour palette and materials of the motor car, it is the product of the same meticulous attention to detail as the clients’ coachbuilt Rolls-Royce.
