Could this be the most beautiful engine bay of any production vehicle?

Rolls-Royce just released photos and information for its new Phantom Drophead Coupe Waterspeed Collection. This unique version will be available only in the UK and Europe and will make its public debut at the Concorso D’Elegenza at Villa D’Este on Italy’s Lake Como.

Inspiration for the car traces back to the famous Bluebird K3 boat piloted by Malcolm Campbell to set the waterspeed record on Lake Maggiore in the late ‘30s. That craft was powered by a Rolls-Royce R engine.

For the first time in Rolls-Royce history, the car’s exterior paint scheme extends to the Phantom’s 6.7-liter V12 German-built engine. Nine layers of specially developed Maggiore Blue paint are squirted on the body before the hand sanding and lacquer finish. We’re not sure if the intake and valve covers get the same treatment, but they sure come close to matching the silky exterior cues.

The 412ci engine is rated at 453 horsepower at 5,350 rpm and boasts peak torque of 531 lb-ft at 3,500 rpm — grunt certainly needed to motivate a 6,000-pound coupe. Not much else is disclosed about the engine, other than it’s direct injected and has 3.62 x 3.33 cylinder dimensions. The Rolls-Royce V12 is built alongside BMW V12 engines but makes use of numerous specialty components.

According to the Rolls-Royce news release, the car has a unique “power reserve dial.” As the driver presses on, the dial moves backwards into a yellow and blue zone, which is supposed to mimic Campbell’s K3 boat “going into the blue” at max engine revs. Not sure how that feature is supposed to enhance the driving experience, but the engine bay sure looks good when checking the oil!