Rolls-Royce Droptail La Rose Noire – A New Chapter in Bespoke Automotive Art
The Rolls-Royce Droptail La Rose Noire is more than a luxury roadster—it is a handcrafted automotive sculpture, a celebration of heritage, love, and individuality. Unveiled as the first of only four Droptail commissions under Rolls-Royce’s exclusive Coachbuild program, the La Rose Noire embodies a client’s personal story expressed through rare materials, avant-garde design, and intricate detailing. It sets a new precedent for ultra-luxury personalization in the modern automotive world.
A Symbol of Romance and Refinement
La Rose Noire translates to “The Black Rose” in French, and the car draws direct inspiration from the Black Baccara rose, a rare and sensual flower known for its dark, velvety crimson petals. This romantic symbol guided every aspect of the car’s design, from its shimmering paint to the mood of the interior. The exterior wears a bespoke color called True Love, a deep red tone that required over 150 iterations to perfect. The interplay of light and shadow across the body panels creates a living, breathing surface that reflects both motion and emotion.
Complementing this dramatic red are accents of Hydroshade, a new darkened chrome finish that adds a mysterious edge to the brightwork, along with 22-inch alloy wheels finished in “Mystery” gloss black. These features establish a commanding presence whether the car is parked or in motion.
Open-Top Elegance with a Removable Roof
Unlike most luxury convertibles, the Droptail offers a removable hardtop with a smart electrochromic glass panel, allowing the driver to adjust the transparency of the roof at the push of a button. This makes the Droptail a dual-nature machine—one moment an elegant coupé, the next a wind-in-the-hair roadster. The rear design pays homage to classic hot rods and yachts, with negative body contours and a unique tail-deck shape, underlining the bespoke nature of its coachbuilt form.
Cabin: The Pinnacle of Handcrafted Interior Art
The interior of the La Rose Noire Droptail showcases one of the most complex woodwork projects ever attempted by Rolls-Royce. Over 1,600 individual pieces of Black Sycamore veneer were hand-cut, stained, and arranged into a marquetry design resembling rose petals scattered by the wind. This stunning artwork took nearly two years to complete, demonstrating the patience and precision of the craftspeople in Goodwood.
Two-tone leather upholstery in “True Love” and “Mystery” shades lines the cabin, with a copper shimmer that mimics the metallic hues found on rose petals. This theme of passionate contrast flows throughout the dashboard, door panels, and even the steering wheel.
A highlight of the dashboard is a removable Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept timepiece, custom-designed for this specific car. It is mounted in a titanium blank, and when removed, the fascia maintains its integrity with a separate trim piece. Rolls-Royce also provided a custom champagne chest with hand-blown crystal flutes and cooled compartments, designed to echo the same romantic visual language.
Engineering Meets Exclusivity
Under its artful exterior, the Droptail La Rose Noire features a custom-engineered chassis built from aluminium, steel, and carbon fibre. This structural design differs from the brand’s standard Architecture of Luxury platform, confirming that every element—from the frame to the panels—has been crafted for this specific series.
Powering the car is a 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine, producing approximately 593 to 600 horsepower and 840 Nm of torque. Performance is brisk for a luxury roadster, with 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in around 5 seconds, and a top speed electronically limited to 250 km/h. Though this car is not intended for track performance, the V12 ensures majestic, effortless cruising befitting a Rolls-Royce.
Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail: Key Specifications
| Attribute | Details |
| Production Units | Limited to 4 globally |
| Vehicle Category | Coachbuilt Ultra-Luxury Roadster |
| Exterior Color | “True Love” multi-layer red finish |
| Brightwork | Hydroshade (darkened chrome) |
| Wheels | 22-inch forged alloys in “Mystery” black finish |
| Roof | Removable hardtop with electrochromic glass |
| Interior Material | 1,603-piece Black Sycamore marquetry veneer |
| Upholstery | Two-tone leather with copper metallic undertones |
| Timepiece | Bespoke Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept |
| Engine | 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12 |
| Power Output | Approx. 600 hp and 840 Nm |
| 0–100 km/h | Approx. 5 seconds |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h (electronically limited) |
| Chassis | Custom aluminium-steel-carbon monocoque |
| Special Feature | Handcrafted champagne chest with matching design |
Final Verdict: The Ultimate Symbol of Bespoke Luxury
The Rolls-Royce Droptail La Rose Noire is not simply a car—it is a rolling expression of art, passion, and individuality. Every curve, color, and stitch reflects a singular vision brought to life by the world’s most revered luxury marque. While its price is confidential and likely exceeds several million dollars, its value lies not just in materials or engineering, but in the story it tells.
As a car that exists outside the boundaries of mass production, the La Rose Noire establishes a new benchmark for Rolls-Royce’s Coachbuild division. It is a romantic gift immortalized in motion, setting the standard for what handcrafted automotive luxury truly means.
