It’s only August, and the auto industry has already given us some of the best and most luxurious iterations of the year. From Buggati’s historic tribute to its legacy to Ford’s first-ever street-legal racer Mustang, and of course, Rolls Royce’s groundbreaking La Rose Noire Droptail, the recent line-up of luxury car launches is beyond impressive. Take a look below.
Aston Martin DB12 Volante
Photo Courtesy: Aston Martin
Aston Martin’s DB series got a new iteration with the first DB12 Volante. The new car is a refined, top-down GT which the company refers to as a Super Tourer with a visually elegant design. The car’s rigid bonded aluminium structure body increases rigidity and torsional stiffness which is lost because of the open roof design. The team also paid special attention to the detail engineering and specification of all elements of the Volante’s underbody, including suspension mounting points, and engine cross brace. As for the performance, the DB12 Volante is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, which sends up to 680hp and 800Nm of torque to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The interiors remain unchanged. However, the new coupe gets a set of wood veneer or carbon fibre panels on the seatbacks matched to the door cards which adds visual interest and luxury when the roof is lowered.
Bugatti Chiron Super Sport ‘Golden Era’
Photo Courtesy: BugattiPhoto Courtesy: Bugatti
Bugatti laid out two very sleek gold-toned cars in time for Monterey Car Week. And only one of them has left us truly awestruck. It’s the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport ‘Golden Era’. A spectacular two-toned body, the colour fades from a metallic Nocturne Black to Doré gold. Along the doors of this car are sketches that portray the rich legacy of Bugatti. These comprised a total of 45 hand-drawn sketches that were directly drawn onto the car. About 26 of these reveal icons like the Type 41 Royale and the Type 57 SC Atlantic among others. The remaining 19 sketches portray the rebirth and enduring success of Bugatti since 1987, tracing from the EB110, through the Veyron and Chiron. The company described this one-off car as the most challenging bespoke project it has undertaken. Interestingly, the idea for the car came from an avid Bugatti collector who had a deep appreciation for the company’s history, more so for the intricate engineering of the W16 engine, and the car chosen for the project had to be a Chiron Super Sport!
Photo Courtesy: Bugatti
Cadillac Escalade IQ
Photo Courtesy: Cadillac
Cadillac attempts to reshape the landscape of luxury SUVs with its new, all-electric version of its iconic Escalade SUV. A complete reimagination of the luxury SUV, the new Escalade IQmaintains a familiar silhouette that is sleeker than its predecessor with pushed-out wheels, a longer hood, and a lower, flatter interior floor. The new model is said to borrow most of its design cues from the company’s Celestiq model, which inspired the front face, the vertical lighting signatures, and the flush side glass among other features. Promising a range of around 450 miles, the Escalade IQ features a 200 kWh battery pack supported by a dual-motor setup with an all-wheel drive configuration that develops a peak output of 750Hp and 1064Nm of torque.
Ford Mustang GTD
Photo Courtesy: Ford
Precisely two years ago, Ford’s President and CEO, Jim Farley decided to build a Mustang racer to compete in next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans but insisted on building a street-legal version of the car as well. And lo and behold the 2025 Ford Mustang GTD –a limited-edition, ultra high-performance street legal performance car bearing the soul of a Mustang. The car gets an all-new, carbon-fibre-clad body that is four inches wider than a Mustang GT. The entire design is driven by purpose and functionality. This is evident in the rear-mounted 8-speed dual-clutch transaxle and lightweight carbon fibre driveshaft which give the car an ideal weight distribution. The GTD’s exceptional performance is further enhanced by a semi-active suspension that incorporates Multimatic-designed DSSV adaptive-spool valve dampers and coil-over springs which provide two unique ride-height settings, with Track mode. Another significant change is the placement of a semi-active suspension, a hydraulic control system, and a transaxle cooling system instead of the trunk. The car’s engine is loosely based on Ford’s 5.0 Coyote V-8, featuring a supercharged 5.2-litre V8 engine. The output is yet to be confirmed, although it is expected to be at least 800Hp.
Rolls-Royce ‘La Rose Noire’ Droptail Roadster
Photo Courtesy: Rolls Royce
Rolls-Royce never fails to disappoint us with impressive creations. Remember the Boat Tail? The company has once again wowed us with a masterpiece, the Rolls Royce Droptail Roadster also named La Rose Noire. The rich red tone is the most prominent aspect of the car, among other things. The vibrant tone was achieved by doing a base coat, followed by five layers of clear lacquer, each coat blended with a distinct tone of red. The petal pattern on the aft deck mirrors the interior parquetry. Interestingly, the car has a total of 1,603 wood pieces that were hand-finished and hand-placed over a period of two years. On the inside, a custom Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept is the first thing to notice. Built into the dashboard, the timepiece can be removed and worn and later adjusted back into the dashboard. Coming to the engine, the Droptail features a 6.75-litre V12 engine, which produces 601hp and 840Nm of torque. Adding to the jazz of the vehicle, the La Rose Noire also comes with a specially curated Rolls-Royce Champagne Chest. Opening at the press of a button, the chest reveals an intricate champagne set with hand-blown crystal champagne flutes. A truly limited edition collectable, there are only four editions of the car, each priced at a hefty US$30 million dollars.
