Rolls-Royce has showcased its Boat Tail, which is widely reported to be the most expensive new car ever made…

While most luxury car brandsare wondering how they might survive the automotive world's transition to battery-electric automobiles, Rolls-Royce is sticking with tradition.

The British BMW subsidiary does not sell many standard cars. To an extent, each Rolls-Royce is custom-made, with owners encouraged to make it an expression of their personality… and wealth.

For Rolls-Royce, the purest expression of its tailored business model is coachbuilding. Sporting unique body panelsthat aren't produced by the Goodwood-based company’s conventional stamping tools, coach-built Rolls-Royces are rare – and wincingly expensive.

The latest example is Rolls-Royce’s revival of the Boat Tail. A dramatic design, this Rolls-Royce uses the Phantom platform, but as you can discern from the attached images: it looks a lot more elegant.

Designed and fabricated to have an elegant silhouette, reminiscent of the luxury speedboat design, the Boat Tail’s most distinguishing feature is its centre-hinged rear decklid.

Although the Boat Tail is not amphibious, it is configured to be the ultimate lakeside picnic car. Open the read decklid and you will find carbon-fibre stools and a deployable umbrella. Drinks glasses and all other utilities required for an aristocratic picnic, are also stowed in this Rolls-Royce’s rear area.

The company has built three Boat Tails, as part of a new commitment to its coachbuilding enterprise. Why is Rolls-Royce doing this? Because it can.

With potentially huge profit margins to be made with its coach-built vehicles, and no demand for any electrification from those customers, it is a great way for Rolls-Royce to keep making good money.

The Boat Tail also proves that a traditional 2- or 4-door luxury carwill always have a greater presence and elegance than an SUV. In a market where all 5-door SUVs essentially look the same in profile, something like the Boat Tail is notably different – and desirable, for its rarity value.

Is it quick? Well, it should be. Rolls-Royce uses the Phantom’s 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12 to power its Boat Tail. Peak power rates at 420 kW, which should ensure that your Boat Tail "sails" most briskly.

Pricing is appropriately ridiculous, with the Boat Tail commission costing all of R380 million. Is it worth all of that? Hmm, if you have to ask…

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