The sun sets on the Rolls-Royce Dawn as production ends

Published on May 03, 2023 at 3:35 PM (UTC+4)
by Adam Gray

Last updated on May 05, 2023 at 1:45 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by Kate Bain

The Rolls-Royce Dawn is heading off into the sunset.

The British luxury automaker has announced that it is ceasing production of the drophead.

So, what’s next?

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Well, we’ve got the Rolls-Royce Spectre to look forward to, but before we look to the future, let’s look back at the Dawn’s illustrious history.

The modern-era Dawn debuted in 2015 following the success of the larger Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe.

Its primary responsibility was to appeal to an emerging “youthful, universally self-confident and social client base” that was “drawn to the Rolls-Royce brand.”

The Rolls-Royce Dawn was a sales success, becoming the best-selling drop-top in the company’s history.

No surprise really, as the luxurious four-seater convertible with its fabric roof and hinged doors was a thing of beauty.

Although the Dawn shares common styling cues with the closely related Wraith coupe and the discontinued first-gen Ghost sedan, the company insists 80 percent of the body panels were “entirely unique”.

What’s more, a unique blend of materials, including fabric, cashmere and high-performance acoustic composites, made the Dawn the world’s quietest convertible.

Under the hood, it’s powered by a twin-turbo 6.6-liter V12 producing 563hp.

The Black Badge variant, which followed in 2017, was slightly more powerful than the standard trim, with an output of 593hp. 

Ceasing Dawn production marks “the end of a glorious, glamorous era,” according to an official statement.

It means there’s no convertible alternative to the Dawn in Rolls-Royce’s current line-up, though.

Although the brand remains tight-lipped about future plans, nobody expects them to stay without a convertible offering for long.

It may sound obvious, but a drophead variant of the fully electric Spectre could well follow in the future.

From the Phantom Drophead Coupe to the Dawn, Rolls-Royce has a knack for making the most refined convertibles in the business.

Watch this space.

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Adam Gray is an experienced freelance motoring journalist and content creator based in the United Kingdom. Using his media accreditation with manufacturers’ press offices, Adam test drives the latest cars and attends new vehicle press launches, producing written reviews and news pieces for a variety of lifestyle and business publications. Here at Supercar Blondie, Adam applies his journalistic skills penning social-first content around current news and trends. When he’s not behind the wheel of the latest car or writing up another viral story, Adam can be found at his local rink playing ice hockey or at the Riverside Stadium supporting his beloved Middlesbrough FC.