Among all the high-end automakers that exist on this planet, Rolls-Royce is by far the most prestigious and swoon-worthy. Even its most affordable model, the Ghost, starts from Rs 6.95 Crore (ex-showroom, India). It is often said that those who have achieved great success own a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, while those who have achieved incredible success own a Maybach. Then there are people who own a couple of islands in the Caribbean or the British Virgin Islands and at least have one mega yacht to their name – such are clientele of Rolls-Royce. Among these elites, there are some that demand a Rolls, which is absolutely bespoke, money absolutely no object. This is what leads to a car like the Boat Tail.
The recently unveiled Rolls-Royce Boat Tail is the accomplishment of the British marque’s respected Coachbuild division. After a sabbatical of nearly four years, Rolls-Royce has revived Coachbuild, with this Boat Tail being its first creation. Inspired by the fabled J-Class racing yachts, the whole design of the new Boat Tail is decidedly nautical in its theme. According to Rolls-Royce, this bespoke masterpiece was commissioned for a “globally successful couple” who already have a 1932 Boat Tail in their collection. Either way, what all three patrons demanded of RR was to be presented with something they had never seen before. Seems like the marque surely pulled it off with this one.
At 5.8 meters in length, the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail is a pretty vast land yacht. The famed Coachbuild team behind the whole project of the Boat Tail started off by sketching the whole design on paper before moving on to a full-size clay model. Oh, the aluminium panels on the Boat Tail have all been hammer-formed by hand – how’s that for a hands-on touch? At the front, there is Rolls-Royce’s signature pantheon grille which is flanked by LED ‘brow lines’, with the main round LED headlamps placed underneath. However, it is from the side that one can actually start noticing the nautical theme of the Boat Tail.
The slanted A-pillars are blacked out, whilst chrome-laden secondary pillars placed just forward of the door mirrors steal much of the show. Then there is the beautifully crafted wrap-around windscreen that drives home the whole “boat cockpit” vibe apart from looking fantastic. With its fabric roof in place, one can distinctively spot its yacht-inspired design. Moreover, the Boat Tail gets its own unique rear quarter glass and a rear screen to ensure a sealed-off cabin experience. Do note that this is not a power-operated roof. Instead, it is attached directly to specific mounting points that are tucked away, for the most part, to keep the lines clean.
Approaching the rear of the Boat Tail, the design visually narrows out without taking anything away from the wide stance. Meanwhile, the bright blue paint is bespoke and meant for this particular example only and is also used in the wheels. As for the massive hood, it is finished in a much darker shade of blue and is applied by hand.
The rear deck of the Boat Tail uses copious amounts of wood that is then subjected to a special Caleidolegno veneer treatment. The open-pore wood not only features a linear wood grain but also brushed stainless steel pinstripe inlays. Both of these are details found in typical wooden yachts. The tapered lower section is a throwback to the hull lines of classic Boat Tail bodies, while the ultra-slim LED taillights on the Boat Tail are horizontally placed, rather than vertically as with other Rolls-Royces.
The wealthy couple that commissioned this Boat Tail wanted the interior to mark a sense of occasion and serve that occasion like nothing else. Sure enough, by the looks of it, that brief seems to have been met. Much of the opulent cabin is finished in the same blue livery as seen on the exterior, with the front seats featuring a darker hue (like that applied on the hood). Obviously, there’s expensive leather, wood, and metal covering almost every surface imaginable. The dials within the instrument panel use a decorative technique called Guilloché, usually preferred by fine jewelers and watchmakers. Speaking of which, the minimalistic interior of the Boat Tail sports two Bovet 1822 timepieces. These can be taken out of the car and worn as wristwatches if the couple feel like it.
Rolls-Royce also noted that the couple collects pens (high-end ones, of course). Therefore, hidden in the glovebox compartment of this Boat Tail is a Montblanc pen that resides in a hand-crafted case of aluminium and leather. The aforementioned open-pore Caleidolegno veneer treatment is applied in the cabin as well, where it can be found on the lower sections of the cabin and on the floor. The couple also called for a double refrigerator that can hold their favorite vintage Armand de Brignac champagne.
Meanwhile, the center-hinged aft wooden deck opens up to reveal an assortment of expensive silverware, cutlery, cocktail tables, two foldable leather-clad stools, and even a large umbrella. Rolls-Royce has conducted extensive weather and road testing on this “hosting suite”, ensuring everything works as it should without ruining the car’s whisper-quiet cabin ambiance. That is to say, nothing moves about or rattles unnecessarily.
While the company proudly mentions this Boat Tail’s 15-speaker Bespoke Rolls-Royce Audio System, nothing has been said about its powerplant. However, since the Boat Tail is based on the Phantom, we can expect to find the same engine here as well. The motor powering the Phantom is a 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V12 that pumps out 571hp and 900Nm of torque.
Having said that, it is the estimated price tag of this Rolls-Royce Boat Tail that is truly out of the realm of most of us. At a staggering £20 million, this is now the most expensive car in the world! For reference, that amount, converted to Indian Rupees equals INR 205 Crore! If true, that is absolutely bonkers. Therefore, calling this couple “wealthy” is the understatement of the century.
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