Crossover between the worlds of car design and boat design is not uncommon, and while the two disciplines share trails of thought and philosophy, they have typically remained separate. Until now. With its latest release dubbed Boat Tail, Rolls-Royce is blurring the boundaries between car and boat more than ever before. 

Measuring almost 5.8 metres in length, the Boat Tail extends far out at the back to create a deck-like area. Its cladded in an open pore wood veneer with a linear wood grain, producing an aesthetic reminiscent of the wooden rear decks of traditional boats.  

Elsewhere, the nautical design influence is hinted at with the wrap-around windscreen, the sweeping negative line of the side skirts and bodywork, and the hand-painted gradated bonnet. 

The commission-led design is the culmination of a four year collaboration with what Rolls-Royce describes as “three of our most special clients.” Speaking to Car Design News, Alex Innes, head of coachbuild design at Rolls-Royce, provided more detail on the project. 

Car Design News: What design details of the Boat Tail really stand out for you?

Alex Innes: Boat Tail represents a contemporary projection of the Rolls-Royce iconography, progressing so many of the familiar design tenets.