The Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail showcases extraordinary craftsmanship, combining thousands of hand-placed wood pieces, custom engineering and one-of-a-kind luxury details.

The Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail is one of the most exclusive automobiles ever created. Designed as a one-off commission, the handcrafted roadster reportedly carries a value of around $32 million and showcases an extraordinary level of personalization that goes far beyond traditional luxury.

Moreover, nearly every element of the vehicle was developed specifically for its owner, from the body structure to its remarkable interior artwork.

1,603 Wood Pieces Form a Rolling Work of Art

The centerpiece of the Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail is an intricate parquetry masterpiece inspired by the Black Baccara Rose, a flower known for appearing almost black in the shade before revealing deep red tones under direct light.

To recreate the effect of falling rose petals, a single Rolls-Royce artisan hand-positioned 1,603 individual wooden triangles, combining 1,070 black sycamore veneer pieces with 533 hand-painted red elements.

Furthermore, the craftsperson worked in complete silence inside a sound-insulated room, completing only one-hour sessions to maintain maximum precision. The assembly alone required more than nine months, while developing the complete parquetry project took nearly two years.

The interior artwork consists of 1,603 individually placed wood pieces inspired by falling rose petals.

A Bespoke Roadster Built From the Ground Up

The Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail is much more than an ultra-luxury convertible.

Instead of adapting an existing platform, Rolls-Royce created an entirely new structure using steel, aluminum and carbon fiber. The custom monocoque allowed designers to develop the car’s sweeping rear bodywork, removable carbon-fiber hardtop and unique aerodynamic profile.

Power comes from a 6.6-liter twin-turbocharged V12 producing 593 horsepower, delivering effortless performance while maintaining the refinement expected from the British luxury brand.

The La Rose Noire Droptail features a bespoke carbon fiber, aluminum and steel architecture developed exclusively for the project.

Luxury Extends to Every Detail

Every surface of the Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail reflects obsessive attention to detail.

The exterior paint required more than 150 development iterations to reproduce the changing appearance of the Black Baccara Rose. Depending on lighting conditions, the finish shifts between deep black and rich pearlescent red.

Inside, the owner also commissioned a unique Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept watch that can be removed from the dashboard and worn as a wristwatch. Meanwhile, a handcrafted Champagne chest, crystal flutes and numerous bespoke finishes reinforce the vehicle’s status as one of the most personalized Rolls-Royce models ever produced.

A removable Audemars Piguet dashboard watch highlights the extraordinary personalization of the La Rose Noire Droptail.

Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail Redefines Coachbuilding

The Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail represents the pinnacle of modern coachbuilding.

Overall, years of engineering, handcrafted artistry and limitless customization transformed this exclusive roadster into far more than a luxury automobile. From its painstaking woodwork to its bespoke architecture and one-of-a-kind details, the La Rose Noire Droptail stands as one of the most remarkable custom cars ever created.

Andretti has revealed a special Liberty Walk-inspired livery for the Tokyo E-Prix, blending Formula E technology with one of Japan’s most recognizable tuning brands.

The Andretti Liberty Walk collaboration is bringing a fresh look to the Formula E grid ahead of the Tokyo E-Prix. Andretti has unveiled a special silver-and-blue livery created with renowned Japanese tuner Liberty Walk, celebrating the race’s return to the streets of Japan’s capital.

Moreover, the one-off design pays tribute to Japan’s legendary car culture while highlighting one of Formula E’s biggest events of the season.

Liberty Walk Brings Its Signature Style to Formula E

Known worldwide for its bold widebody creations, Liberty Walk has partnered with Andretti to give both Gen3 Formula E race cars an eye-catching appearance for the Tokyo event.

Instead of the tuner’s more recent white-and-red color schemes, the special edition features a chrome silver and blue finish inspired by classic Japanese performance cars. As a result, the cars combine modern electric racing technology with styling cues that have become iconic among automotive enthusiasts.

Andretti’s Formula E cars receive a special Liberty Walk-inspired silver-and-blue livery for Tokyo.

A Tribute to Japanese Automotive Culture

Founded in the early 1990s, Liberty Walk has built a global reputation for transforming performance cars with aggressive widebody kits and unmistakable styling.

Furthermore, the Tokyo E-Prix livery reflects that heritage by adopting colors reminiscent of legendary Japanese sports cars from the late 1990s and early 2000s. The design celebrates the country’s rich tuning scene while giving Andretti one of the most distinctive liveries on the Formula E grid.

The special livery honors Japan’s iconic tuning culture through Liberty Walk’s unique design language.

Tokyo’s Street Circuit Promises a Tough Challenge

While the new livery will attract plenty of attention, the drivers will still face one of the season’s most demanding street circuits.

The Tokyo layout features 18 corners packed into just 1.6 miles, leaving little room for mistakes. Consequently, precision will be just as important as outright speed as drivers navigate the narrow course lined with unforgiving barriers.

Meanwhile, Andretti enters the weekend running near the top of the Formula E Teams’ Championship, hoping the special edition design will accompany a strong on-track performance.

Andretti will debut the Liberty Walk livery during the challenging Tokyo Formula E street race.

Andretti Liberty Walk Creates One of Formula E’s Most Unique Liveries

The Andretti Liberty Walk partnership perfectly blends motorsport with Japanese automotive culture.

Overall, the collaboration delivers one of the most memorable liveries of the Formula E season while showcasing Liberty Walk’s unmistakable design philosophy on an international racing stage. If Andretti can match the striking appearance with a strong result, the Tokyo E-Prix could become one of the team’s standout weekends of the year.

Hyundai reported lower second-quarter earnings but reaffirmed its full-year guidance as the company prepares new vehicle launches and increased production in the second half of 2026.

Hyundai reported a challenging second quarter, with operating profit falling below expectations as weaker vehicle sales, production disruptions and rising material costs weighed on results. Nevertheless, the automaker maintained its 2026 outlook, expressing confidence that new model launches and higher production will support stronger performance during the second half of the year.

Moreover, Hyundai believes its upcoming products will help offset the difficult market conditions that affected recent financial results.

Second-Quarter Profit Falls Short of Expectations

Hyundai posted operating profit of 2.9 trillion won ($1.98 billion) for the April through June period, representing a 21% decline compared with the same quarter a year ago.

Although revenue increased 2% to 49.2 trillion won, the company’s earnings missed market expectations as higher manufacturing costs and production interruptions reduced profitability.

Additionally, Hyundai said a supplier fire disrupted production during the quarter, while rising prices for key raw materials (including plastics) added approximately 400 billion won in extra costs.

Hyundai reported lower second-quarter earnings while maintaining its full-year financial outlook.

New Models Expected to Drive Recovery

Despite the weaker quarter, Hyundai reaffirmed its full-year guidance and expects business conditions to improve over the coming months.

The company plans to increase production while introducing several important new models during the second half of 2026. Industry analysts believe the redesigned Hyundai Tucson and Hyundai Avante, two of the brand’s highest-volume global vehicles, will play a key role in supporting that recovery.

Furthermore, Hyundai expects stronger sales in the third and fourth quarters as production normalizes following earlier disruptions.

Hyundai is counting on new vehicle launches to strengthen sales during the second half of 2026.

Competition and AI Investments Shape Hyundai’s Future

Hyundai also faces growing competition in several key markets.

In South Korea, imported brands continue to expand their presence, while electric vehicle manufacturers and software-focused competitors are increasing pressure across the industry. At the same time, Hyundai has increased incentives in the United States and invested more heavily in Europe to remain competitive.

Meanwhile, the company continues investing beyond traditional vehicle manufacturing. Hyundai is expanding its work in robotics, software-defined vehicles and autonomous driving, including plans to deploy Atlas humanoid robots at its Georgia manufacturing facility beginning in 2028 after taking full control of Boston Dynamics.

Hyundai continues investing in robotics and advanced vehicle technologies alongside its automotive business.