Rolls-Royce Dawn breaks cover

Rolls-Royce range has added a soft-top convertible to its model line-up. The Dawn, which will sit alongside the Wraith coupé, in its bodywork is 80 percent new compared to the coupé on which it is based. It is 5,285mm long, 1,947mm wide, 1,502mm high and has a wheelbase of 3,112mm, dimensions similar to the Wraith's, but weighs 2,560kg, some 200kg more.

The new Rolls-Royce Dawn gets same twin-turbo 6.6-litre V12 used by the Ghost. The engine produces 563bhp at 5,250rpm and 79.5kgm of torque at 1,500rpm. Power is driven to the rear wheels through an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox, which links with the sat nav to automatically pre-select the next appropriate gear for the road ahead. The Dawn can get from 0-100kph in 4.9 seconds and reach a limited top speed of 250kph.

The company claims that the Dawn is the most rigid-bodied four-seat convertible in the market, something in part achieved by a new suspension system with new air springs and revised anti-roll bars. Rolls-Royce says it has also worked hard to ensure that the Dawn is as smooth and quiet as its models despite the absence of a fixed roof, delivering on the firm’s famed ‘magic carpet’ ride. The car is being claimed to be as quiet as the Wraith with the roof up, making it the quietest convertible in the market. The roof retracts in 21 seconds at speeds of up to 48kph.

The Rolls-Royce Dawn goes on sale globally early next year.