Rolls-Royce is bringing back an iconic nameplate once more with the introduction of the Dawn—it’s newest 2+2 ultra-luxury open top grand tourer. A contemporary take on what the company calls the ‘Casino’ lifestyle, the Dawn is designed to attract people with relish both freedom and sophistication.

The company refuses to call the Dawn simply a Wraith drophead (the company’s term for a convertible). 80 percent of the body panels are new on the Dawn and are actually designed to accommodate Rolls-Royce’s new design language. That said, the traditional cues are all there: the long hood, high shoulder line, long rear overhang, and the 2:1 wheel height to body height ratio. Some of the Dawn’s trademark exterior cues include the wider rear track, a tapered ‘wake channel’ on the hood, more recessed grille, extended front bumper, and many more.

The Dawn’s soft top closes with a silent mechanism that lowers or raises the roof in just 22 seconds. Careful consideration was done to preserve the lines whether or not the roof is up or down. In addition, engineers made sure to give it generous space that doesn’t intrude into the cabin since Rolls-Royce believes that cars are more than just a means of transport; they are a means of social interaction and made sure that the occupants, front or back enjoy ample space.


Inside, the Dawn takes on the appearance of a power boat with the vast amount of high-quality wood and leather present. The instrument panel features applied polished metal chaplets evoking the precision design of hand-made luxury watches. The new Bespoke Audio system ensures the correct balance and clarity whether or not the top is up or down. This is done by engineers who employed the use of a highly sensitive microphone to monitor ambient exterior noise and adjust the system accordingly. The Dawn has 16 speakers including two subwoofers and 7 tweeters.

The Dawn has a 6.6-liter twin turbo V12 engine making 563 horsepower and 780 Nm of torque. In order to make it feel much more dynamic, the throttle pedal has a 30-percent increase in response rate. It has a Satellite Aided Transmission which uses GPS navigation data to anticipate an upcoming corner or curve and allows the 8-speed automatic to adjust thereby providing a seamless drive.