Few would consider a Rolls-Royce sexy, for it is an extravagant, ultra luxurious four-wheeled private jet. It turns out that all you need to do to make a Rolls-Royce ‘sexy’ is to decapitate the top, and that dear readers, is how the Rolls-Royce Dawn was born.
The Dawn is essentially a convertible version of the Wraith, and it succeeds the Phantom Drophead Coupe. It’s built based on the previous generation (F02) BMW 7-Series and shares quite a number of mechanical components as Munich’s flagship limo, the V12 engine included. Not surprising there, because BMW owns Rolls-Royce.
QUICK FACTS
Name | Rolls-Royce Dawn |
Engine | 6,592cc; twin-turbo V12, DOHC |
Transmission | 8-speed ZF auto |
Max Power | 563 hp @ 5,250 rpm |
Max Torque | 780 Nm @ 1,500 rpm |
0 – 100km/h; Top Speed | 5.0 seconds, 250km/h (electronically limited) |
Price | from RM4,000,000.00 |
EXTERIOR
Despite being closely related to the Wraith, Rolls-Royce insists that close to 80 percent of the Dawn is new and exclusive to the model. Several design tweaks have been made to give the Dawn a sleeker silhouette, beginning with the recessed front grille and the raked windscreen. The Flying Lady ornament, or more fondly known as the Spirit of Ecstasy, can be deployed or hidden away through the push of a button that’s housed within the centre console.
Its fabric-top is made of six interwoven layers, which gives it the characteristic pin-drop silence of a typical Rolls-Royce. This is of course when the roof is up, and getting that done takes about 22 seconds (operable at speeds no more than 50km/h). Standard features on the outside include full LED headlights with LED daytime running lights, 21-inch wheels shod with run-flat tyres and quad exhaust pipes masked by the two trapezoidal tips.
INTERIOR
The cabin is upholstered in appropriately exquisite leather; the one you see here is finished in a tangy brown tone which Rolls-Royce calls Mandarin. Legend has it that all wooden parts of the cabin are carved from the same tree trunk, and that gives unparalleled grain symmetry, texture and colour. None of the wooden panels are fake, and they have all been treated to withstand the abuse of weather and time.
The Dawn is strictly a four-seater limousine, and the lower recesses of the car gets draped in ultra plush fabric. Each occupant will get his/her own climate control and heated seats.
PERFORMANCE
The Dawn is only available with one engine, that is the BMW-sourced 6.6-litre V12 motor. It is twin-turbocharged to make 563 horsepower and 780 Nm of torque, slightly less than the F02 7-Series’ 624-pony count. Drive is sent to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox manufactured by ZF.
It may weight in excess of 2,600kg, but it’s powerful enough to sprint from standstill to 100km/h in 5.0 seconds before reaching an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h. The combined fuel consumption is rated at 14.3 litres per 100km, but this obviously won’t concern buyers.
WHAT ELSE?
As with any Rolls-Royce, the Dawn is entirely built by hand at the company’s manufacturing plant in Goodwood, England. The team is 1,400 large, and can produce up to 20 Rollers a day.You can personalise the Dawn to the very limits of your taste, so let your journey begin at the Ground Floor of Quill 9, Petaling Jaya, with a personal tour of the RM4 million handmade convertible.
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