When it comes to riding on the pinnacle of luxury, Rolls-Royce is notorious for producing the world’s most opulent, over-the-top drives with an outrageous price tag to boot. In yet in another pursuit to meet the evolving ambitions of its discerning clients, the British automaker has unveiled the Boat Tail, a truly stunning and complex new car with an estimated eye-watering price tag of between US$25 million and US$28 million – making it the most expensive car in the world.

Inspired by J-class yachts as well as the 2017 Rolls-Royce Sweptail, this decadent cabriolet takes its name after the tapered rear end – a popular style from the late 1920s and early ‘30s. In its early stages, engineers would attach the hull of the boat onto the rolling chassis of a car to create a nautical-themed automobile with a streamlined design.

Nautical inspirations

Swathed in a rich tone of the client’s favourite blue colour, the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail measures at nearly 5.8 metres long, and shares the same 6.75-litre V12 engine as the Phantom, Cullinan, and new Ghost models. The car’s nautical references stand out when in profile, seen in the wrap-around windscreen which recalls the visor on motor launches, and the rearward lean of the A-pillar creates a gesture that mirrors a motor launch rising out of water under power.

However, it’s at the rear where the nautical references shine the most. The aft deck, a modern interpretation of the wooden rear decks of historical Boat Tails, incorporates large swathes of wood. Caleidolegno veneer that’s typically housed in the interior has been specially adapted to be used on the exterior, without compromising the aesthetic.

Meanwhile, the open pore material features a linear wood grain, visually elongated by brushed stainless steel pinstripe inlays – a nod to the typical wooden construction of yachts. Deep-set lamps establish a dramatically low reference point, evoking the dipped stern and proud bow of a motor launch under power and on plane. The Boat Tail’s unconventional fixed-canopy roof features a sweeping roofline which concludes in delicate structural elements that touch down on the rear that’s redolent of flying buttresses.

A vision in blue

Attention to detail and materiality are some of the elements that define all Rolls-Royces, and the Boat Tail is no exemption. When its body is hit by sunlight, its complex blue hue reveals embedded metallic and crystal flakes that bring a vibrant aura to the finish. And to ensure the smoothest possible application when rendering the exterior, the brand’s craftspeople ran their gloved fingers over the body line before the paint had fully dried to soften its edges. The wheels are also given a bright blue treatment, highly polished and clear coated as finishing touches.

As for the interior, the Boat Tail reflects the bonnet’s colour tone transition, with the front seats dressed in a darker blue hue and the rear seats finished in a lighter tone.

Embellishments and finery

One of the most exquisite details in the Boat Tail comes courtesy of a collaboration between Rolls-Royce and Bovet 1822, featuring two bespoke tourbillon timepieces produced by the latter that have been developed in parallel with the production of the car. One of the timepieces can be inserted into the centrepiece of the minimalist dashboard, giving it the duty as the Boat Tail clock.

Going back to the rear, twin side-opening compartments open like butterfly wings to reveal more indulgent treasures, such as a dual champagne cooler on one side that’s specifically designed to fit bottles of the owner’s favourite Armand de Brignac vintage. On the other side, a set of crockery by Christofle of Paris is matched to salt and pepper grinders – all engraved with the car’s name. An onboard fridge keeps caviar cool and fresh, alongside other food compartments.

And to top it all off, is the parasol that’s slotted into the rear of the Boat Tail for extra shade and flair. It pops out telescopically, and accompanied by mini rotating cocktail tables that can be deployed on either side of the deck. Underneath, the owner will find two carbon-fibre stools designed by Promemoria, wrapped in blue Rolls-Royce leather.

For more details, visit the official Rolls-Royce website.

Photos: Rolls-Royce