After a highly successful online global launch and unveil of the new Rolls-Royce Dawn at the 2015 Frankfurt International Motor Show, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced the start of formal order-taking of the world’s most uncompromised super-luxury drophead motor car in Japan.
“It is always darkest just before the dawn”
Rolls-Royce’s new Dawn delivers a cool, contemporary interpretation of what a super-luxury four-seater convertible motor car should be – rare, refined and the most social super-luxury car there is. It takes inspiration from the Silver Dawn, a famous and rare Rolls-Royce name that was only ever applied to 28 very special dropheads between 1950 and 1954.
In the most challenging times, the phrase “It is always darkest just before the dawn” resonates as a beacon of hope. This early morning darkness, where apparitions such as phantoms, ghosts or wraiths have been imagined, and where one’s apprehensions lurk, is brushed aside by an energising burst of early morning sunlight as one awakens to a new dawn and the endless possibilities of a new day.
No compromise engineering for true four-seater space
Rolls-Royce’s design ethos has created a car that conveys all the hallmarks of the brand’s peerless craftsmanship combined with a philosophy of effortless, yet invigorating driving experience.
“At Rolls-Royce, we pride ourselves as creators of fine motor cars that also serve as social spaces,” comments Rolls-Royce’s Design Director, Giles Taylor. “The idea of creating a car like Dawn that can be used in comfort by only two adults on a day to day basis is anathema. In creating Dawn we have accepted no compromise to the comfort and luxury of four adults who want to travel together in the pinnacle of style.”
Rolls-Royce’s engineers have paid great attention to Dawn’s roof, which delivers the silence of a Wraith when up and operates in just over 20 seconds at a cruising speed of up to 50km/h. Working with a fabric roof configuration, the goal was to make the quietest convertible car in the world today. This quest for silence applied to all aspects of the roof’s engineering and by extension the new motor car. The engineering team even went so far as to invent a phrase for what they wished to achieve with the roof mechanism: The Silent Ballet.
The roof tops a graceful, beautiful and sensuous design, whilst remaining one of the largest canopies to grace a convertible car – second only to that of the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé.
Moving automotive sculpture
Rolls-Royce Dawn © BMW AG
The new Rolls-Royce Dawn stands apart from its stable mates, featuring 80% unique body panels.Dawn’s highly contemporary, four-seat super-luxury Drophead is an evolution of Rolls-Royce’s design language, with one clear objective: to make a car that looks as beautiful with its roof up as with it down.
Roof down, the sensuous lines of Dawn are evident. From the side, the steep rake of the windscreen, the swage line that flows over the rear haunches and the high beltline that rises along the profile give the impression of effortless dynamism. The very same rising beltline wraps around the rear passenger cabin to create a cosseting effect.
The deck continues Rolls-Royce’s excellence in modern craftsmanship. Open-pore Canadel panelling traces the horse-shoe shape of the rear cabin, whilst the wood on the deck, which can be chosen to suit individual taste, flows down the ‘Waterfall’ between the rear seats, and around the cabin clothing the interior door panels – enticing an owner or passenger to enter.
Discreet technology for an effortless drive
In addition to the undisputed leaps forward made in the engineering of soft-top cars by the Rolls-Royce team, the new Rolls-Royce Dawn introduces several other tailor-made engineering innovations.
The challenge in designing any convertible lies in retaining a high degree of torsional rigidity throughout the body while keeping weight down. Torsional rigidity is vital to minimise the scuttle shake associated with most convertible cars and to help maintain the car’s dynamic composure.
A newly designed suspension configuration takes care of the specific behaviour of this open top motor car in the areas of body stiffness and mass distribution, guaranteeing ultimate cruising comfort and the expected Rolls-Royce ‘magic carpet’ ride.
Information from the significantly updated Multimedia Interface and Navigation system is displayed beautifully on a new 10.25” high-definition screen, controlled by the Spirit of Ecstasy Rotary Controller. This Spirit of Ecstasy Rotary Controller presents a touch pad, with the ability to write Japanese characters by finger.
New software for the radar and camera – located in the front bumper valance and centre upper windscreen respectively – provides faster system response times, including faster pre-conditioning of the brakes to expect emergency pressure. Should the worst of circumstances arise, Dawn will deploy a concealed roll-over protection system from behind the rear head restraints in just a fraction of a second.
The most recent developments in LED lighting technology have also been applied to the Rolls-Royce Dawn. The way this light is managed is significantly enhanced by adaptive technology.
In addition, automatic dipping of full-beam headlights has been replaced with revolutionary new glare-free technology. Night-time driving safety is boosted by the head-up display and heat detection system.
It goes without saying that the beating heart and soul of Dawn, like any Rolls-Royce motor car, is the beloved twin-turbo 6.6-litre V12 powertrain. Paired with an 8-speed, Satellite-aided automatic transmission, which utilises GPS data to allow the car to see beyond what the driver sees, Dawn’s driving experience is exceptional.
