Rs 209 crore Rolls-Royce Arcadia Drop Tail revealed

Rolls-Royce has revealed the third example of its approximately Rs 209 crore coachbuilt roadster, the Droptail. Called the Arcadia Droptail, it was revealed at a at a private ceremony in Singapore and follows the Amethyst and La Rose Noire cars shown last year as part of a production run of four.

Rolls-Royce Arcadia coupe design and performance

The Arcadia is said to be inspired by the architecture and design from its commissioner’s favourite regions, including Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam. The car’s white paint features aluminium and glass particles to create “a level of intrigue upon further study”, according to Rolls-Royce. Unlike on the three other Droptails, the lower section of the Arcadia’s carbon fibre tub is painted, receiving the same silver finish. 

Inside, the Arcadia’s wood panelling was developed with reference to the commissioner’s favourite houses and classic cars. Santos Straight Grain rosewood was selected for its “rich texture” but, having one of the tightest grains of any timber thus far used in a Rolls-Royce, presented a significant engineering challenge. Apparently, it easily tears when machined and is prone to cracking while it dries.

A bespoke lacquer also had to be developed to protect the wood for the lifetime of the car in tropical climates. Superyacht coatings were initially considered but would have required regular reapplications, according to Rolls-Royce. In all, developing the coating and working the 233 pieces of wood took more than 8000 hours of development, the firm said.

The dashboard also features a clock of Rolls-Royce’s own design, said to be the most complex such part it has ever developed, requiring two years of research and five months of assembly.

The two-seat roadster is powered by the familiar twin-turbocharged 6.75-litre V12, fettled to produce an additional 30hp – giving total outputs of 601hp and 841Nm