Automotive

Rolls-Royce presents second Boat Tail, world's most expensive new car

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Rolls-Royce Boat Tail
Rolls-Royce
The early stages of aluminum hand-building
Rolls-Royce
The grille is milled from a single billet of aluminum
Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce Boat Tail
Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce Boat Tail ready for an al fresco luncheon
Rolls-Royce
The perfect way to tailgate the annual regatta or polo series
Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce Boat Tail picnic set
Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce Boat Tail
Rolls-Royce
The butterfly rear deck design is a key element of the Boat Tail
Rolls-Royce
A peek at the driver's seat
Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce Boat Tail
Rolls-Royce
The Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament gets the rose gold treatment
Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce wows the Concorso d'Eleganza crowds with another coachbuilt creation
Rolls-Royce
The centerpiece clock of the dashboard
Rolls-Royce
The walnut veneers and rose gold accents continue on the inside
Rolls-Royce
Like the 2021 Boat Tail, the new 2022 version includes a deployable rear picnic setup
Rolls-Royce
Classic gauges with mother-of-pearl in their design
Rolls-Royce
The Boat Tail gets a cognac-colored hood and grille surround that contrasts the lighter paint color
Rolls-Royce
The dramatic namesake boat tail arches into the rear-fascia with a walnut trunk lid
Rolls-Royce
Finishing up the full-size model
Rolls-Royce
View gallery - 19 images

Rolls-Royce had one of the most memorable showings at last year's postponed Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, where it premiered its first Boat Tail, a bespoke creation that handily tops the list of world's most expensive new cars at a reported $28 million. How do you follow up such a monumental appearance at the next Concorso? By debuting another Boat Tail, the second in a series limited to just three cars. This model arrives as a whisky-tinged cigar, complete with walnut decks, rose gold accents and a built-in picnic area.

The latest creation of Rolls' Coachbuild program becomes one of only three Boat Tails that Rolls-Royce plans to ever make. And when you're selling them for close to $30 million apiece, you can afford to keep production numbers far removed from serial. With visions of early 20th century racing yachts in mind, Rolls-Royce hand-builds the bespoke body out of sheets of aluminum.

This particular Boat Tail was commissioned by a businessman whose family fortune is rooted in his father's success in the pearling industry. The Boat Tail serves as both an homage to this family heritage and a piece of functional modern art.

Rolls-Royce wows the Concorso d'Eleganza crowds with another coachbuilt creation
Rolls-Royce

The project began with a series of four pearl shells from the client's collection, inspiring the unique color. Rolls-Royce calls it one of the most complex bespoke colors it has created, and it starts with a foundation of oyster and soft rose embellished with large white and bronze mica flakes that add a unique pearlescent effect that changes subtly in different light conditions.

The darker hood and rear deck both contrast with the base paint. The hood is painted a bespoke cognac-shaded blend that incorporates bronze and gold aluminum mica flakes and includes a layer of crystal and iced matt clear coat. The winged rear deck lids, meanwhile, are crafted from Royal Walnut wood veneers with inlaid rose gold pinstripes that create a look similar to yacht decking. These front and rear contrast elements are connected by a matching soft-top.

Rolls-Royce Boat Tail ready for an al fresco luncheon
Rolls-Royce

Each of the two split trunk compartments houses components of an integrated picnic in the park, including flatware colored to match the car and dishes with matching accents. The build also includes an umbrella that mounts on the rear deck to offer shade from the sun.

The interior continues the unique look of the exterior, complete with walnut veneers, cognac and oyster-colored leathers, and rose gold and mother-of-pearl accents throughout. The highlight is the classic timepiece in the center of the dashboard, made from mother-of-pearl sourced from the client's collection, a precious material that also finds use in the analog gauges.

Classic gauges with mother-of-pearl in their design
Rolls-Royce

The Rolls-Royce Boat Tail II made its world debut on the shores of Lake Como, Italy over the weekend and will find its home in the buyer's private car collection museum.

Source: Rolls-Royce

View gallery - 19 images
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14 comments
jeronimo
Just an insane waste of money.
It's not even good looking.
WOFTAM
David F
Usually I don't think much of the appearance of RR cars. Admire their superb craftsmanship, of course. This Boat Tail, however, is simply exquisite.
Claudio
did anyone say "fugly" yet? no? well, let me say that it's... fugly
Unsold
It takes a stack of skill to pull together something as beautiful as this. Every little design detail managed. Perfectly.
Steve Jones
It's all very nice, but it's about ten times as expensive as it should be and ALL that trouble over a colour scheme which is essentially "not quite pink".
I'm not anti-rich like some, but you have to wonder about someone who does THIS instead of buying a normal Rolls convertible and using the remainder to save the lives of many, many thousands of people in a poor country.
madsci
suspect this car is never actually driven anywhere. if it is, I guess along with a team of body/car guards.
Dan Lewis
28 MILLION...and it doesn't fly?? UNbelievable.
It would have to park itself and come running when called.
itsKeef
oooyugh..pink gold not the ideal paint job...and not axactly the true essence of 'boat tail' Anyhoo...hands up all who dream of owning their first car? ... rust smoke rattle and roll. Funny old world innit?
Nelson Hyde Chick
I wonder how many people could be housed and fed for the cost of this worship the rich creation?
Demosthenes
The wooden covering on the trunk is Rolls-Royce's ecological contribution. Think green