The coachbuilding department of Rolls-Royce has unveiled the third instalment in its Droptail lineup of only four vehicles. Called “Arcadia” after the semi-mythical country seen in Ancient Greece as the paradise on Earth and the place where people live in harmony with nature, it follows a rather elegant and simple design chosen by its owner.
The exterior white finish makes use of fine aluminum and glass particles to create an illusion of infinite depth. A contrasting silver shade from the Bespoke palette reflects sunlight and creates a juxtaposition between the lights and the darks. Unlike the other Droptails revealed so far, the Arcadia has its carbon-fiber trim finished to match the lower body. The radiator grille and 22-inch alloy wheels are polished to a high gloss.
The aerodynamic plate at the rear end wears a veneer application called Santos Straight Grain. The British automaker had to come up with a special lacquer coating formula to keep the wood from degrading in a variety of weather conditions, including tropical heat and humidity. The same wood veneer accents can be seen inside the cabin along with white and brown leather. The owner, who is reportedly a resident of Singapore, insisted that they needed the steering wheel on the left-hand side because they intended to drive the car abroad a lot.
A closer look at the dashboard reveals a watch face that Rolls-Royce calls its most sophisticated design to date. It took more than two years to design and five months to produce. The Guilloché pattern on the dial has 119 facets in honor of the recent 119th anniversary of Rolls-Royce. Apparently, the owner of the car ordered it around that date. The hour and minute hands, as well as all the notches sport a ceramic coating. All in all, the company had spent more than four years making this one-off vehicle.
