An experimental Rolls-Royce, built to celebrate the company’s one hundredth anniversary, will make its Asia-Pacific premiere at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney in October.

The 100EX two-door drop-head convertible follows in the tradition of experimental Rolls-Royces built between 1919 and 1957 to test new systems, components and features.

The new design features a dramatic bonnet milled from a single aluminium block and brushed to a high sheen.

The windscreen-surround and A-pillar, triangulated for exceptional strength, are also machined from solid aluminium.

As part of a strong maritime theme, hand-crafted bleached teak decking is used inside and out, most notably behind the rear seats where it forms a cover for the retractable roof.

“The overall impression is intended to be of an elegant motor yacht at speed,” said exterior designer Marek Djordjevic.

“Visually, we wanted to build on the Rolls-Royce tradition of ‘waftability’ - the sense that the car has the power to whisk passengers swiftly to maximum speed in a truly relaxed manner.”

Volkswagen, also at the motor show, will unveil its first entry into the chauffer-driven stakes - the long wheelbase Phaeton V8.

Easily the biggest and most luxurious Volkswagen ever made, the Phaeton features a 4.2 litre 246kW quad-cam V8 engine powering all four wheels.

Other technical highlights include electronically controlled air suspension and four-zone Climatronic air-conditioning which automatically maintains different air temperatures for all four passengers.

Volkswagen Australia says it will maintain the exclusivity of the Phaeton V8 by importing just 30 a year.

It already has two firm orders, even though the car does not go on sale until March next year.

The Volkswagen and the Rolls-Royce are among dozens of new, updated and revised production and concept cars which will debut at this year’s Australian International Motor Show on October 7.