High Roller
Rolls-Royce envisages a world where every motor car released from Goodwood is crafted in its owner’s image — a dream that began with the 103EX Vision Vehicle. Not everyone, however, is prepared to await this distant future. One particularly discerning patron of Rolls-Royce was so enamoured by the swept-tail treatment of the marque’s early 20th century vehicles that a commission was put forth for a contemporary reimagining of this feature. The result is what is now unequivocally the most expensive vehicle to grace public roads at almost US$13 million (RM60 million) and four years of developmental gestation.
Enter the Sweptail, an achingly gorgeous piece of machinery showcasing Rolls-Royce’s immortal coachbuilding expertise. A brushed aluminium piece frames the dignified face and leads into the hand-polished Pantheon grille. Along the sides, a combination of concave surfaces and mild flaring of the wheel arches lend a taut appearance which culminates in the central focus of the project: a convergence of drama between the aluminium-lined panoramic glass roof with the flanking bodywork. As this drops off over the swept-tail and its significant departure angle, one recalls the hull of a water-borne vessel and its similar single-piece execution.
Within, a mid-shelf replaces the rear bench while a hat shelf complete with luggage rails sits beneath the tapering end of the roof. Across the dashboard, a minimalist aesthetic is presented as switchgear is discretely hidden behind Macassar veneer panels and paired with open-pore Paldao. The panelling is set off by contrasting light Moccasin and Dark Spice leathers over the seats, armrests and dashboard tops. Additional delights include twin hidden panniers aft of the doors which contain matching attaché cases and a mechanism to deploy the client’s favourite vintage champagne from the centre console.
