It is probably the most exclusive bespoke from the garage of world's leading coach-builder brand and the realisation of a true connoisseur's dream who wanted more than 'just driving the extraordinary'.
Call it 'Sweptail' or 'Swept-tail', the ingenious creation from the house of Rolls-Royce was unveiled to the media at the Concorso d'Eleganza at Villa d'Este.
In the words of Torsten Muller-Otvos, CEO, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, "Sweptail is a truly magnificent car. It exudes the romance of travel for its own sale, and immediately places "Sweptail" in the pantheon of the world's great intercontinental tourers.Sweptail is proof, today, that Rolls-Royce is at the pinnacle of coach building. We are listening carefully to our most special customers and assessing their interests in investing in similar, completely exclusive coach built masterpieces. At the same time, we are looking into the resources, which will allow us to offer unique service to these discerning patrons of luxury."
The backstory
The unique coach building heritage was written all over 103 EX, when Rolls-Royce presented the car in 2016. The auto giant envisaged a personal luxury mobility solution where new technologies would allow customers to tailor cut a Rolls-Royce to suit their taste.
The company said the idea of "Sweptail" was planted by "one of its most valued customers" who wanted a one-off two seat luxury car.
The design team led by Taylor started working on his dream to bring the customer's vision to life. Inspired by the coach built Rolls-Royces of the 1920s and 1930s and luxury offerings from the marque's golden era (early 20th Century), Rolls-Royce describes the making of "Sweptail" as the automobile equivalent of Haute Couture. "It is a Rolls-Royce designed and hand-tailored to fit a specific customer," says Giles Taylor, Director of Design at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. "This customer came to the House of Rolls-Royce with an idea, shared in the creative process where we advised him on his cloth, and then we tailored that cloth to him. You might say we cut the cloth for the suit of clothes that he will be judged by."
Sweptail—a dream come true
The 'Sweptail' fits squarely into the marque's DNA. At the front of the Sweptail is the iconic Rolls-Royce Pantheon grille milled from solid aluminium and hand polished to mirror finish. The striking characters of Rolls Royce are unmistakable on the side windscreen and the roofline, accentuating the length of the luxury motor. The rear of the Sweptail pays homage to the world of racing yachts.
The highlight feature of 'Sweptail' is a panoramic glass roof, one of the largest, which allows the endless flow of natural light. Here, polished aluminium rails frame the glass of the roof.
Simplicity and minimalism hold sway inside the classic two-seater's cabin. The car has polished Macassar Ebony and Paldao with Moccasin and Dark Spice leathers that adorn the seats, armrests and dashboard top. The Macassar Ebony veneer is plenty on display around the cabin. The bespoke two identical panniers behind the coach doors have an attached case to house gadgets.
The registration number 08 is milled from bars of aluminium with hand-polished finish. Rolls-Royce has not revealed the details of powertrain. Be that as it may, the car has all the makings to sweep you off your feet.
