2022 Rolls-Royce Boat Tail the Art of Coachbuilding
Just as the last issue of Rolls-Royce & Bentley Driver went to press, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars revealed its latest ultra-exclusive bespoke model, aimed at expanding the company’s coachbuilding service into a distinct business. The most expensive model ever produced at Goodwood, it takes the name Boat Tail – last used on a series of coachbuilt Rolls-Royces in the 1920s and ’30s thanks to distinctive rear-end styling with overtones of a J-class yacht’s hull. The two-door, four-seater grand tourer measures 5900mm in length and has a removable ‘canopy’ roof.
RETURN OF THE BOAT TAIL
Just three examples have been hand-built, heavily customised to the desires of their buyers, each of whom was involved throughout the entire design process. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has hailed the Boat Tail as a “unique collaboration” between the company and its clients. The bespoke offering is said to showcase the refinement of Rolls-Royce’s post-opulent design trend, which began with last year’s second-generation Ghost. Company CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös said the project has led to the expansion of Goodwood’s bespoke commissioning service into a full Coachbuild division: “Rolls-Royce Coachbuild is the return to the very roots of our brand. It represents an opportunity for a select few to participate in the creation of utterly unique and truly personal commissions of future historical significance.”
The Boat Tail uses Rolls-Royce’s new Architecture of Luxury platform and the 563bhp 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12 from the Phantom. The all-aluminium architecture has been designed to provide the scope and flexibility for further low-volume models, enabling Rolls-Royce Motor Cars to work on more single-figure production projects. While a handful of safety elements are taken from the Phantom, virtually all of the Boat Tail is bespoke, including every body panel and its front and rear lights. The car is said to feature 1813 completely new parts, with even the Phantom’s sound system being re-engineered to ensure it works optimally in the Boat Tail.
The one-of-three shown here was created for a client who also owns a 1932 Rolls-Royce Boat Tail. It’s hand-finished in their favourite colour and the rear deck contains a full hosting suite that automatically opens to an ideal serving angle of 15 degrees. It features two full fridges, including one for the client’s preferred Armand de Brignac champagne, and a cutlery and crockery set custom-made by Christofle. The suite also includes two carbonfibre stools created in association with Italian firm Promemoria to sit beneath a parasol that extends from the rear deck. At the front of the cabin is a minimalist dashboard that was custom-designed to fit the tastes of the client, with pared-back use of switchgear and much of the modern technology hidden. The centrepiece is a unique clock fitting in which two timepieces from Swiss watchmaker Bovey can be placed. These watches had to be extensively re-engineered to ensure that they would work within the car. Rolls-Royce hasn’t disclosed the price of the Boat Tail, but it’s thought the final cost of each example is around £20 million.