20150916

2015 Frankfurt - Rolls-Royce goes topless with the new Dawn


A new Rolls-Royce motorcar makes its official debut. In automotive parlance, things just don’t get bigger than this. Amidst the glitz and grandeur of the ongoing 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, Rolls-Royce decided to go topless for the first time in full public view. Needless to say, it must have been a sheer joy watching the whole episode unfold.


An ode to the Silver Dawn drophead, a rare and unique name that Rolls-Royce applied to just 28 cars between 1950 and 1954, the new Dawn is a four seat convertible that promises unparalleled open-top luxury motoring. Let's not forget the Dawn was previewed at the 2015 World Dealer Conference in Los Angeles, California in March this year. Sharing a lot of its underpinnings with the Ghost sedan and Wraith coupe, the Dawn could be dismissed as a Wraith with its roof chopped off. But that’s not the case according to Rolls-Royce, with the British brand claiming that 80% of the Dawn’s body panels are unique.


Externally, the Dawn is a typical Rolls-Royce motorcar that would not be mistaken for anything else. The trademark design elements that we associate with Rolls-Royce like the beautifully-detailed kinked headlights, the massive radiator grille embellished with chrome, the long sculpted hood, the pinstripes running the length of the car, the tapering rear and the classy chrome-outlined taillights makes the Dawn stand apart. The sweeping shoulder line that flows over the rear wheel arches are particularly impressive, giving the car a bold and athletic stance. Polished wheels, stainless steel waistline finisher and chrome inserts in the front and rear bumpers that Rolls-Royce calls ‘bumper jewellery’ look classy and adds to the overall appeal.


As with every other Rolls-Royce, the interiors are an epitome of luxury and oozes class any which way you look at it. Generous application of rich wood and finest quality leather makes this convertible the most luxurious moving thing on earth without a roof. While the classic ‘coach’ doors aid easier ingress, four cosseting bucket seats offer complete luxury for the occupants. Rolls-Royce highlights that the Dawn is a proper four-seat convertible and not the regular 2+2 convertible offered by many other brands. Rolls-Royce’ bespoke audio system and the trademark ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’ Rotary Controller ensures the occupants are kept entertained while an array of creature comforts and safety features cocoon and pamper them simultaneously.


Under that long hood sits a 6.6-liter, twin-turbo V12 engine that churns out 563 bhp at 5250 rpm and a whopping 780 Nm of torque from as low as 1500 rpm. With such figures, it is no surprise that the Dawn is the most powerful four seat convertible ever made. The Dawn gets the same Satellite Aided Transmission that made its debut in the Wraith. Utilizing GPS data to read the road conditions ahead, the unit anticipates driver inputs and selects the most appropriate gear from the 8-speed ZF gearbox resulting in an effortless and seamless drive experience. 

The Dawn is the fourth model in the Rolls-Royce lineup, complementing the Phantom limousine, Ghost sedan and the Wraith grand tourer. Expect the affluent around the world to queue up for the Dawn for experiencing the ultimate open-top motoring nirvana!

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