One-Off Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire is a Unique Love Story
With La Rose Noire, a specially commissioned marvel of design and engineering from Rolls-Royce’s Coachbuild team, the British ultra-high luxury brand is once more catering to the unique tastes and desires of its customers.
Following the Sweptail (2017) and Boat Tail (2021), this is the first of four Droptail one-offs that Rolls-Royce plans to release. Its debut and delivery both took place at a private gathering near Pebble Beach during the Monterey Car Week in California.
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La Rose Noire is inspired by the allure of the Black Baccara rose, an intense, velvet-like flower that originates in France and is beloved by the mother of the commissioning family. It combines two tones of dark red called ‘True Love’ and ‘Mystery’ and appears to change colour when viewed from different angles.
To achieve this rich variation, surface finish specialists developed a completely new paint process that was perfected over 150 iterations. A base coat, the colour of which is a closely guarded secret, was followed by five layers of clear lacquer, each blended with a slightly different tone of red.
Naturally, there are plenty of black contrast elements around the car. Interestingly, a specific chrome electrolyte was introduced in the chrome plating process and co-deposited on each stainless-steel substrate in a layer just one micron thick—roughly the same width as a strand of spider-web silk—to create a dark, reflective ‘Hydroshade.’ The striking alloy wheels, which feature the Mystery paint finish, measure 22 inches, by the way.
Exclusively for La Rose Noire, the roof is uniquely low-slung, which is further exaggerated with a faster and longer rake to underpin its assertive, glamourous character. It also features an electrochromic glass section, which instantly transitions to a near-translucent shade at the touch of a button.
The custom interior is equally creative, revealing the most complex expression of parquetry ever created by Rolls-Royce—and the product of nearly two years of development and hand craftsmanship. The artwork was made to look like falling rose petals, formed using 1,603 pieces of black wood veneer triangles. The highly complex pattern uses 1,070 perfectly symmetrical elements forming the background and 533 asymmetrically positioned red pieces representing the rose petals.
Another unique feature is the integrated one-off timepiece by Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet, which was specially commissioned by the customers. They requested that it should both be mounted in the car and also be removable, so that it can be attached to a strap and worn. This was achieved with a powered clasp mechanism that gently presents the timepiece at the touch of a button.
And because La Rose Noire is cause for celebration, the commissioning family requested a unique Rolls-Royce Champagne Chest. It is appointed with matching rose petal parquetry and coordinated to match the colour palette and materials of the car. Hand-blown crystal champagne flutes can be found inside.
While Rolls-Royce didn’t share any information about the engine, Car and Driver reports that the turbocharged 6.75-litre V12 has been massaged to deliver up to 593 horsepower.
How much could La Rose Noire possibly cost? That remains a secret. Remember, the Boat Tail was said to have been sold for approximately $28 million USD, so that should give you a pretty good idea. Take a closer look in our photo gallery at the top of the page. And keep an eye out for the three other Droptail models coming up.