Today, England officially has a new luxurious family member: the Rolls-Royce Dawn. Unveiled in a press release by the marque, this new model is “like no other Rolls-Royce to date.” It gets its name from the incredibly rare Silver Dawn, which was only built 28 times from 1950 to 1954.
Based on the smaller Ghost and Wraith models, this new 2+2 convertible is, as the press release describes, the “sexiest Rolls-Royce ever built.” Most convertibles with four seats see a compromise in the rear, with a reduction in legroom for passengers. But, Rolls-Royce has never had a compromising attitude and decided to give the Dawn enough space for four adults to “travel together in the pinnacle of style.” And, while the new English ultra-luxury model may only have two doors, each one adds to the strength and stiffness to the body, allowing for an uninterrupted A-pillar.
Being a Rolls-Royce, the cabin is teeming with luxury. From the leather interior, to paneling created by the fine craftspeople in the Woodshop at the home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, there is not a surface inside the Dawn that is not striking.
On the outside, Rolls-Royce has given the Dawn an appearance that is surprisingly aggressive. In fact, it looks to be one of their sportiest models yet. One specific design line, accentuated by an orange pinstripe in the example pictured, runs in a relatively straight line until it reaches the rear wheels, where the Dawn’s wide rear tapers off. The press release notes that the rear track is 24 mm wider when compared to the Ghost.
These design aspects definitely upgrade the car, but what makes it its own is the retractable roof. According to the press release, the “only choice for a Rolls-Royce was a fabric roof for reasons of aesthetics, romance and brand appropriateness.” I’d have to agree with this sentiment, as there is nothing quite like a luxurious ragtop.
Rolls-Royce’s engineers wanted to create a quiet convertible experience, whether the roof is raised or lowered. They state that two techniques were used to accomplish this feat. The first is the tailored “French Seam,” which refers to the ragtop’s perfectly smooth surface that ensures air can flow freely across it without creating wind noise.
The second is the opening and closing mechanism itself. The time it takes to raise or lower the roof is only 22 seconds, and each of these seconds is incredibly quiet. In fact, the engineering team invented a phrase for what they achieved – The Silent Ballet.
Under its hood is a twin-turbo 6.6-liter V12 engine, a well-known powerhouse. It provides the new convertible with 563 bhp and 575 lb-ft of torque.
The Rolls-Royce Dawn is set to be a fine automobile that will make its namesake proud.
Gallery
(Source: Rolls-Royce)
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