Rolls-Royce's New Convertible, Dawn, Arrives in Japan | Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce Dawn

Rolls-Royce's New Convertible 'Dawn' Arrives in Japan

Debuting in September 2015 as Rolls-Royce's fourth model, the 'Dawn' is the company's signature opulent convertible, which has now arrived in Japan for its unveiling.

Text by OTANI Tatsuya

Quietness and Comfort Unchanged from Wraith

A luxurious and elegant 2-door, 4-seater convertible model, befitting the Rolls-Royce name, has been born. Its model name, 'Dawn,' signifies the break of day.

From a hardware perspective, the Dawn shares its foundation with theGhost II and theWraith. While its exterior dimensions are very similar to the 2-door Wraith, its V12 6.6-liter twin-turbo engine produces 570ps and 780Nm, the same as the Ghost II (the Wraith produces 632ps and 800Nm). Furthermore, the Dawn, equipped with a drophead coupe, weighs 2,560kg, a substantial 200kg more than the Ghost II or Wraith (all figures are for European specifications). The price starts at 37.4 million yen.

However, the increased weight of the Dawn has a clear reason: "Even as a drophead coupe, it must ensure the same level of quietness and comfort as the fixed-head coupe Wraith." This was Rolls-Royce's strict development policy for the Dawn. Consequently, when the soft top is closed, the cabin noise in the Dawn is identical to that of the Wraith.

Another surprising aspect of the soft top is the near-silent operation of its opening and closing mechanism. Even with the engine off, the sound of the soft top is virtually imperceptible. Of course, silence is a Rolls-Royce tradition, even when driving,—yet the soft top's ability to form a beautiful, flush curve against the body when closed is another of the Dawn's charms. The top can be opened or closed while driving at speeds below 50 km/h, and despite its exceptionally quiet operation, the process takes only 20 seconds.

Rolls-Royce Dawn

New Convertible 'Dawn' Arrives in Japan (2)

A Special World Crafted from the Finest Materials

Yet, consider the sheer luxury and meticulous craftsmanship of its interior and exterior. The long-pile carpets are not only fitted to the cabin floor but also to the luggage compartment, so exquisitely made that one hesitates to step on them with shoes. Naturally, all wood, leather, and chrome used in the interior are of the highest quality. Even without touching them, one can perceive, through sight and the subtle ambiance they exude, that they originate from a world far beyond our daily lives.

Incidentally, the car's name, Dawn, is inspired by the "Silver Dawn" produced from 1949 to 1955. In the post-World War II era, Britain faced economic hardship, and earning foreign currency was paramount. Rolls-Royce, popular in America, developed the Silver Dawn, a 4-door saloon with a body built in-house, primarily for export to the "New World." While 760 units were produced, only 28 drophead coupe versions were made through traditional coachbuilding (where specialist body manufacturers, rather than car makers, individually construct bodies based on owner requests).

It is also a Rolls-Royce tradition for car names to be derived from spectral beings; however, the Dawn uniquely bears a name associated with the break of day, a concept shunned by the Phantom, Ghost, and Wraith. This is said to reflect the British people's yearning for a brighter future amidst economic struggles.