Rolls-Royce unveils coachbuilt La Rose Noire Droptail

Rolls-Royce has revealed a new, coachbuilt La Rose Noire Droptail inspired by the Black Baccara rose.

The rose is said to sport a dark pomegranate colour, which appears almost black in shade, but turns red and reveals a pearlescent shimmer when observed in direct light. This feature of the rose's petals inspired the primary palette of the La Rose Noire Droptail. The car thus utilises two shades: The first, True Love, and the second, Mystery.

The La Rose Noire Droptail gets a paint finish comprising of a base coat and five layers of clear lacquer, each with a different tone of red

This True Love colour is utilised on the exterior coachwork, formed after a base coat colour is followed by five layers of clear lacquer, each blended with a slightly different tone of red. This process allows the car to appears to change colour depending on the point from which it is examined.

The alloy wheels here also get the same effect. Featuring the dark Mystery finish, they appear to be black, but reveal shimmering dark red undertones when observed in sunlight. The Mystery paint is said to have been applied to the entire surface of the rim, before being precision milled to expose the base alloy material, which is then polished.

Pieces of Black Sycamore wood, each cut, sanded and precisely positioned by hand, mimic falling rose petals on the front fascia of the car

The exterior of the car also gets this duo-tone theme extended to its brightwork. A special Hydroshade finish, specially developed for this commission, is utilised and extended to select metal details throughout the interior, each precision and hand-polished to deliver a dark, yet high-gloss finish.

A uniquely low-slung hard top roof is said to give the car two distinct characters: It appears as a lithe, open-top roadster without its roof, but once the roof is installed, becomes a formidable and dramatic coupe. This roof also gets an electrochromic glass section.

The La Rose Noire Droptail also gets an ingot with the motor car's name at its rear - a first for Rolls-Royce.

A powered clasp mechanism holds the one-off Audemars Piguet timepiece, and allows it to be released if the client wishes to have it attached to a strap to be worn

The cabin of the La Rose Noire Droptail is said to sport the most complex parquetry ever created at Rolls-Royce. Designed to represent an abstract expression of falling rose petals, a total of 1,603 pieces of Black Sycamore wood is used to form the various accent panels on the rear shawl panel through the doors and onto the expansive fascia.

The car's two seats here are also decorated at the edges with both dark red Mystery leather, and light red True Love leather, each finished with a subtle copper shimmer evoking the pearlescent texture of the Black Baccara rose petals.

The cabin also gets a one-off timepiece by Audemars Piguet which was specially commissioned by the client and has been matched to the La Rose Noire's colourway with red counters and a red inner bezel. A powered clasp mechanism allows the timepiece to be either attached to the motor car, or removed and worn as a timepiece if desired.