What's all this about?

Rolls-Royce has revealed the third installment in its series of ‘Droptail’ roadster models, which is called the Arcadia. Named after the place known as Heaven on Earth in Greek mythology, the convertible model is designed to be “a uniquely pure reflection” of the Droptail’s design.

So what exactly is the Droptail?

An excellent question. This is Rolls-Royce’s series of custom-built roadster models, all of which use the same basic body but are commissioned specially by customers, who want an exclusive vehicle. Rolls-Royce calls the cars coachbuilt, and while it’s true that the cars are specially handmade to order for customers, they aren’t quite as coachbuilt as the cars of the 1920s that were supplied as little more than a chassis and engine, and the bodywork was left to other firms. The Arcadia is the third car in the line of Droptail models, following the Amethyst Droptail and the La Rose Noir versions.

What’s special about the Arcadia Droptail?

The customer, based in Singapore, wanted to “honour the Droptail form” with this clean duotone design with a mostly white body. However, though the paint looks white at first glance, it’s full of aluminium and glass particles that give it depth and shimmer under natural light. At the customer’s request, the contrasting dark silver of the bonnet is infused with similar particles.

What’s more, the Arcadia is the first Droptail to cover the carbon-fibre used to construct the lower sections with silver paint – a move intended to “lift” the car in profile. Rolls-Royce has also mirror polished the vane pieces and 22-inch alloy wheels, as well as the grille surround to mirror the brightwork of old Rolls-Royce cars.

What about the inside?

There, the client and Rolls-Royce have gone to town. Intended to reflect the style of the owner’s homes and business spaces, the car uses wood extensively. Santos Straight Grain wood was selected for the modernity of its texture and grain, even though the dense hardwood made life more difficult for Rolls-Royce’s craftspeople. The wood is prone to cracking and tearing when machined, but the company persevered to create the gorgeous deck and interior trim that takes inspiration from a yacht. However, while coatings used on superyachts were considered, they require reapplication, so Rolls-Royce settled on a bespoke lacquer guaranteed for the life of the car.

The 233 pieces of wood are joined by upholstery in two bespoke colours, reserved exclusively for the client. The white is designed to complement the body, while the tan is intended to complement the wood trim.

What about that roof?

Looks like the old Mini Coupe, doesn’t it? The Droptail is definitely at its best with the roof down, and though it does rain quite frequently in Singapore, Rolls-Royce says the car is set to be used internationally (which is why it’s in left-hand-drive form). We suspect the car and its owner will spend plenty of time in the sun.

What's under the bonnet?

The Droptail models all get the same 6.75-litre, twin-turbocharged V12 engine, but the car sits on its own chassis, rather than the Architecture of Luxury platform that underpinned the Boat Tail specials and the Cullinan, as well as the Phantom VIII.

Go on. How much?

Typically, Rolls-Royce hasn’t said, and we suspect it never will disclose just how much it has charged this clearly very wealthy customer. But the Droptail is reportedly the most expensive new car in the world, with prices estimated to be in excess of £20 million.

James Fossdyke - 29 Feb 2024