Where we mortals color-coordinate and style-match our outfit pieces or, at the very least, a pair of them on a fine day, the world's multi-millionaires and billionaires do things on a whole different scale. The Rolls-Royce Regatta is how the one-percenters mix and match.
The Rolls-Royce Regatta is an astounding yacht-inspired custom Rolls-Royce Wraith, elevated to the level of fine art and drizzled in outrageousness. It's also the perfect companion – tender, as it was described at the time of its introduction – for a classic superyacht or, even better, for the custom Embraer Flagship Lineage 1000E private jet known as Skyacht One.
Much like the Skyacht One, the Rolls-Royce Regatta never made it past the design stage, though, arguably, you could still get it today if you wanted to – and had enough cash to throw around.
The Rolls-Royce Regatta was unveiled in the summer of 2016, some time after the big reveal of the concept Skyacht One by SottoStudios. We covered the private jet in a separate story, but to sum up, it was an Embraer Flagship 1000E designed to rival custom Rolls-Royces and Bentleys with a nautical theme. The premise behind it was the most billionaire thing: why can't your private jet be as gorgeous and sophisticated as your car or your superyacht? Why, indeed.
Photo: SottoStudios
Had it been built, Skyacht One would have been the most bonkers and decidedly striking private jet ever, but it never was. Eddie Sotto, the founder of SottoStudios, says that the Regatta followed the design of the jet, with the idea taking form after the jet was done. Looking back at the Rolls-Royce, he then realized it was lacking the pizzazz of the aircraft it had inspired.
So Sotto set out to bring it up to par, in the process crafting what he described as "the perfect tender" for the discerning billionaire. Forget about matching accessories, matching your car to your private jet was THE thing.
Aside from the desire to create a cohesive look for an entire fleet of luxury "toys," the Regatta had as inspiration the original Rolls-Royce Boat Tail. With its exposed wood and nautical vibe, the Boat Tail still is, to this day, an instance of excellent craftsmanship and ultimate luxury.
Photo: SottoStudios
Sotto wanted the Regatta to mark a similar return to the heritage of Rolls-Royce, while in keeping with the distinctive aesthetics of the Skyacht One. The Wraith was chosen because it was deemed the best to "capture the feel of the superyacht," and it received the wood "treatment" extensively.
Sotto didn't just line the interior in mahogany and veneers but even redid the hood, the roof, and the trunk in solid mahogany. Elsewhere, the interior featured fine Italian leather, a vintage dashboard, and a bejeweled command center.
Like the spaces onboard Skyacht One, finishes included real gems and physical buttons and levers for everything, together with brass and chrome. Map-like tapestry was also used for the rear of the cabin, tying in with the main exploration theme of the private jet. The result was an over-done, excessive interior, and that, too, was probably on purpose.
Photo: SottoStudios
SottoStudios noted that a custom vehicle like Regatta would come with a 6 to 9-month lead time, getting Aria Group, most famous for the custom Singer 911, to partner on the venture, once firm orders were secured.
Pricing was never made public because this is a niche of the market where the saying "if you have to ask, you can't afford it" applies, but speculation online had it that there was a $1 million starting sticker – that's approximately $1.3 million in today's money, adjusted for inflation. Getting the car and the matching private jet was, quite unsurprisingly, a $100+ million deal but one that would have been guaranteed to make you stand out from the crowd, no matter how many other billionaires were around.
From the interview below, it's clear that Sotto was positive at least one such vehicle would be built. He said the Regatta would come with 3D parts and machined components but would feature the "human touch" where it mattered the most, in the handcrafted wooden joinery, marquetry, and all the embellishments.
Photo: SottoStudios
The Rolls-Royce Regatta could also be had in a series of color options and combinations, both for the exterior and the interior. That is to say, even multi-millionaires who maybe couldn't afford or didn't want the Skyacht One private jet could still get the Regatta as their luxurious, one-of-a-kind daily driver.
Despite the advanced level of the design and the amount of details provided in terms of the inspiration and the styling, SottoDesigns never went into the specifics of the build. Details about the drivetrain, what – if any – mods it would have, or how the car's safety rating would be impacted by adding wood on the body were never addressed.
Seeing how the Rolls-Royce Regatta remains, to this day, a billionaire's dream, they will probably never be. That's ok, too: dreams can afford not to be bothered about issues like practicality or feasibility.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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