Rolls-Royce has once again raised the bar for luxury automobiles, unveiling what is now considered the world’s most expensive road car — the £23 million Droptail. The car, which costs more than double some private jets and superyachts, has become the ultimate status symbol for the ultra-wealthy.
Only four Droptails will ever be built, each tailored entirely to the owner’s exact specifications. The limited production has added to the exclusivity and pushed the price even higher. Rolls-Royce says the car is not simply a vehicle but “a work of art on wheels,” blending modern engineering with century-old coachbuilding traditions.
Produced at the company’s Goodwood facility in southern England, the Droptail is inspired by classic Rolls-Royce icons such as the 1912 Silver Ghost and the 1930 Phantom Brewster New York Roaster. Unlike those early models, the Droptail incorporates modern carbon-fibre construction to reduce weight while maintaining structural strength, giving it a sportier edge than most Rolls-Royce designs.
The first of the series, named La Rose Noire Droptail, was unveiled at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California in August 2023. The car’s deep crimson “True Love” paintwork required over 150 iterations to perfect, resulting in a shimmering pomegranate-black finish.
Beneath the bonnet lies a formidable 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12 engine delivering nearly 600 horsepower, a reminder of Rolls-Royce’s aerospace heritage. Buyers also receive an exclusive bonus: a bespoke Audemars Piguet watch, which doubles as the vehicle’s dashboard clock.
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The car’s interior is equally lavish, featuring rare wood veneers, custom leatherwork, and even a temperature-controlled champagne chest — an indulgent touch aimed at spontaneous celebrations.
Rolls-Royce continues to dominate the market for ultra-luxury cars, with three of the world’s ten most expensive vehicles coming from its Sussex factory, according to the RAC. French manufacturer Bugatti is among its closest competitors, with its La Voiture Noire model priced at £10.4 million.
While new cars like the Droptail command eye-watering sums, some classic vehicles have sold for even more. In 2022, a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe became the most expensive car ever sold, fetching over £104 million at auction.
For Rolls-Royce, the Droptail is more than a car — it is a celebration of craftsmanship, engineering, and the pinnacle of bespoke luxury.
