If there’s one thing more satisfying than a Rolls-Royce car, it’s a Rolls-Royce engine. A Merlin engine, specifically, of the sort that once powered Spitfires, Hawker Hurricanes and all manner of other fighter aircraft and bombers during the second World War.

The engine has found its way into several other vehicles since, even being re-adapted for tanks, but perhaps its most elegant home is its most recent—the Aeroboat. Designed by yacht specialists Claydon Reeves, Aeroboat is set to make its debut at Salute to Style, a luxury and fashion event at The Hurlingham Club in London this July. With a 27-liter (1,650 cu-in), V-12 piston engine, the Merlin-powered Aeroboat is sure to make the biggest splash, as it were—unless someone turns up in an actual Spitfire.

The Aeroboat’s Merlin has been detuned to 1,100 horsepower. Yes, detuned—it wasn’t unusual for Merlins to produce as much as 1,500 horses at sea level, though their thirst makes Bugatti Veryons look like Smart cars. All that power is put to good use, propelling the boat to a top speed of 75-95 knots—around 86-109 mph, presumably dependent on prevailing conditions and the captain’s cojones.

The boat’s styling draws inspiration from the Merlin’s most famous home, with an air intake scoop, aircraft-inspired controls and shock-mounted seats—”a nod to the Spitfire’s own landing gear”. Its construction is a lot more advanced though, carbon fiber and Kevlar rubbing shoulders with lightweight wood veneers. Pricing is in the “if you have to ask, you can’t afford it” category and only twelve will ever be made, specified to the lucky buyer’s tastes. Luckily, other water-themed Rolls-Royce powered models are available, with a full complement of wheels. Salute to Style runs from July 17 through July 19, 2014.

Rolls-Royce has finally unveiled its new special edition Phantom Drophead Coupe built to commemorate the triumph of Sir Malcolm Campbell in his Rolls-Royce-powered Bluebird K3 boat in setting the world waterspeed record back in 1937, a time when Rolls-Royce-powered vehicles held speed records on air, land and—thanks to Campbell’s efforts—water.

It was unveiled today at a private event held at the site of the original Bluebird Motor Company (now the Bluebird Restaurant) in London and will be shown in public for the first time at the 2014 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa D’Este on May 23. The Lake Como event is fitting as it was on the adjacent Lake Maggiore where, on September 1, 1937, Campbell established his legend, setting a record of 126.33 mph (his highest speed achieved was 129.5 mph).

The car is finished in a specially developed Maggiore Blue exterior paint, named after the lake where the record was set and inspired by Bluebird’s original color scheme. Nine layers of paint are applied before an exhaustive process of hand-sanding and the application of a special powdered lacquer. For the first time in Rolls-Royce history the exterior finish extends to the engine and even the wheels.

But that’s not the only Rolls-Royce first featured here. Echoing the cutting-edge technology employed in the construction of Campbell’s Bluebird K3, Rolls-Royce has selected a number of materials never used previously on one of its cars. One is brushed steel, which features on the deck and was also used on the original Bluebird K3. The deck alone takes 80 hours to produce, while the coachline, complete with Bluebird motif, takes another four hours to apply by hand using a squirrel hair brush.

Inside, a number of elements matching the Maggiore Blue exterior finish can be found. There are also hand-engraved door sills and armrest accents, Abachi wood dash accents, and a hand-embroidered panel for the glove box expressing the records Campbell achieved. Other highlights include the power reserve dial made to match the one on Campbell’s Bluebird K3 and a clock adorned with Bluebird’s infinity symbol. Finally, the steering wheel is presented in two-tone for the first time.

No performance-related changes have been made in the powertrain department, so all 35 Phantom Drophead Coupe Bespoke Waterspeed Collection cars will come with a 453-horsepower 6.75-liter V-12 mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The appeal of Rolls-Royce’s Ghost is twofold: one, it’s a Roller, and two, it’s far more inviting to drive than the small house it appears to be lets on. Powered by a fortified variation of BMW’s 6.6-liter twin-turbo V-12, it complements the Phantom upper-luxury sedan quite nicely, slotting into the entry-opulent segment somewhere between Bentley’s Flying Spur and Mulsanne. Now, five years into the Ghost’s life, Rolls will introduce a refresh for its most plebeian offering.

Dubbed the Ghost Series II, it’s a slightly modified and updated variation of the current model, and will make its debut at the Geneva auto show in March. This image from Rolls-Royce provides us a glimpse of the redesigned headlights, which now feature a visual step—not unlike the shape of the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s peepers—as well as a slightly more streamlined fascia.

Rolls-Royce has revealed a sketch of the upcoming Bespoke Waterspeed Collection, a series of 35 Phantom Drophead Coupés, which according to the automaker, pay tribute to “British daring and endeavor.”

More specifically, the collection is dedicated to the water speed record set on September 1 1937 by Sir Malcolm Campbell on Lake Maggiore on the Swiss-Italian frontier.

Using a Bluebird K3 hydroplane boat powered by Rolls-Royce’s R-Type engine, Campbell set a record of 129.5 mph (208.4 km/h), breaking the United States’ five-year stranglehold on the world waterspeed record.

As homage to Campbell and his boat, the Waterspeed Collection for the Phantom Drophead Coupé will feature “the finest contemporary materials never used before on a Rolls-Royce,” including brushed steel complementing an exclusively developed Maggiore Blue color scheme, and hand-crafted wood inlays on the bodywork.