Used 2018 Rolls-Royce Dawn

The 2018 Rolls-Royce Dawn is the most expensive 4-seat convertible available. Would you expect anything less from a Rolls-Royce? The very name of this fabled British brand is synonymous with the best of the best, the cream of the crop, and any other phrase you can utter that describes the very best things money can buy. To buy this one, you’ll need a lot of it, starting with over $350,000 and rising from there. That buys you the freshest and most youthful convertible Rolls-Royce has ever made, powered by a twin-turbo V12 engine and hand-built to your desires. Other, more powerful and more tech-savvy ultra-luxury convertibles are out there, like the Mercedes-AMG S 65 Cabriolet and new Bentley Continental GT, but even those can’t match the provenance of a Rolls-Royce.

The 2018 Rolls-Royce Dawn is an exquisite dichotomy. It is a massive convertible that weighs over 5,600 pounds, yet somehow breezes from 0-60 mph in under five seconds. Its ride is Rolls-Royce serene, yet feels controlled over a variety of road surfaces. One of its best feats is that, although it has a traditional soft top, the Dawn is exemplarily quiet. In fact, Rolls-Royce boasts that when setting out to create the Dawn, it mandated that with its fabric top up, this convertible must be as quiet as its sibling, the Wraith coupe. As with other Rolls-Royces, the Dawn shines on long, wide roads. But its 17-plus feet of metal and wide girth make it a handful in tighter confines. This is simply one huge car. The new Black Badge Dawn increases the 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12’s output by 30 horsepower, to 593, and tweaks the suspension for what Rolls dubs “a more spirited driving experience.” Still, the Dawn is hardly a canyon-carver. Nor should you expect such a thing in a Rolls-Royce. This is a cruiser through and through. For the times you seek more adolescent-minded shenanigans, grab the keys to one of the other playthings in your garage.

The Rolls-Royce Dawn convertible, like its hardtop sibling the Wraith coupe, has four individual seats that can fit four adults. The brand said that getting the rear seats right was a priority, as it aimed to make "the most social of super-luxury drophead motor cars." Like every Rolls-Royce, the Dawn’s handcrafted interior is customized to each client’s taste, but regardless of color combination and wood type, you can be sure it will boast the most exquisite leather and other materials. Dials and controls are easy to spot and use, with a main rotary controller derived from parent BMW to control audio, navigation and other functions on a 10.25-inch central screen. Rolls-Royce says it deliberately made the screen a non-touch interface, as that “might leave unsightly fingerprints at driver and passenger eye level.” There is a USB input, but it’s deep in the central storage console.

Rolls is adamant in saying the Dawn isn’t a Wraith with the top cut off. In fact, the ultra-luxury automaker points out that 80 percent of the Dawn’s body panels are new to this model. Still, family resemblances abound, from the massive vertical grille and the Spirit of Ecstasy emblem that rises above it, to the strong and handsome rear. As is customary for a Rolls-Royce, the Dawn features coach doors that are hinged at the rear. And in true Rolls form, those doors hide a pair of umbrellas that can be popped out when needed. Even with its fabric top up, the Dawn looks well-proportioned. But topless is how this Rolls is designed to roll.

COACH DOORS
Few traits outside of gullwing doors make a statement like those that open wide and outward from the rear. With the Rolls-Royce Dawn’s coach doors, one can’t help feeling like royalty when entering or exiting. Practically speaking, these also make those acts easier.

QUIET CONVERTIBLE OPERATION
"The Silent Ballet." That’s the phrase the Dawn’s engineering team used in creating the roof’s mechanism. The result is a captivating mechanical performance that takes place in 22 seconds and can be done at speeds up to 31 mph.

At over $350,000, the Rolls-Royce Dawn is one of the most expensive new cars you can buy. That money obtains quite a few tangible features, but perhaps more is what it gets you beyond the physical. Among the former are a V12 engine and a transmission that uses GPS data to plan shifts, all in the name of a cloud-soft ride. Then there are the finest leathers and woods, massaging front seats, universal garage-door opener, self-closing doors and trunk, and the Driver’s Assistance Systems One that bundles lane-departure warning, high-beam assist and a head-up display. But truly speaking, you don’t buy a Rolls-Royce Dawn to have the most technologically sophisticated convertible. It’s not. What it does grant is the prestige of owning and being seen in a Rolls-Royce. And that’s priceless.

As with all Rolls-Royces, the Dawn is hand-built. Unlike an ordinary car, you don’t buy a Rolls; you commission it. Thus, its crafters in Goodwood, England, await your inspiration. Some broader suggestions include a 16-speaker Bespoke audio system, ventilated front seats, gold- or silver-plated Spirit of Ecstasy ornament, the famed umbrellas that fit inside the doors, and a driver-assistance package that includes night vision and active cruise control. However, you won’t find other driver-assistance and tech features such as blind-spot monitoring or Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration — features that are becoming so common that they are easily found in a Kia Forte.

The 2018 Rolls-Royce Dawn uses the same twin-turbo V12 engine as its Wraith and Ghost counterparts. Here it is tuned to make 563 horsepower, slightly less than the Wraith, but no-nonsense all the same. In the olden days, such speak of horsepower would be frowned upon, with a mere mention that the power is "adequate." It certainly is here. Power is sent to the rear wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission. If you opt for the Black Badge treatment, the engine is tuned to make 593 horsepower. As for efficiency, at 14-mpg combined, that’s not one of the Dawn’s attributes.

6.6-liter twin-turbocharged V12
563 horsepower @ 5,250 rpm (593 horsepower for Black Badge models)
605 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 12/18 mpg