After a seven-year run, production has officially ended for the Rolls-Royce Dawn convertible, as the final model rolls off the Goodwood production line.
Rolls-Royce announced in 2022 all of the remaining Dawn convertibles and Wraith coupes were spoken for, and orders had closed worldwide.
The brand removed its best-selling two-door models to make way for the all-electric Spectre grand tourer, which is set to launch globally during the fourth quarter of 2023.
The Dawn, which initially arrived in Australia back in 2015, was originally introduced to appeal to the “increasingly youthful, universally self-confident and sociable” Rolls-Royce customer that had initially been attracted to the glamour of the brand’s seventh-generation Phantom line-up – which included Coupe and Drophead convertible versions.
Rather than creating a stablemate to the Phantom Drophead, or repurposing the Wraith that had launched several years prior, Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös challenged the designers to create a model that offered a refreshed approach to luxury convertibles.
The Dawn strayed from traditional convertible design principles, providing full seating for four passengers rather than the standard 2+2 configuration which eliminates rear comfort.
Rolls-Royce claims the Dawn was the world’s quietest convertible thanks to the discreet Silent Ballet roof mechanism, which discreetly lowered the noise-isolating soft roof made from a blend of fabric, cashmere, and acoustic composites.
The Dawn nameplate, while representing new beginnings, originated from one of the brand’s heritage models – the Silver Dawn convertible, of which only 28 units were produced between 1950 and 1954.
Inspirations for the design of the Dawn’s simple and timeless form include the fifties and sixties fashion, as well as the Italian saying ‘la dolce vita’ – ‘the sweet life’, as well as the classic sixties film of the same name.
The Dawn was powered by Rolls Royce’s 420kW 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12 engine.
Rolls Royce also introduced a premium Black Badge variant of the Dawn in 2017 which included a new exhaust system to provide a deeper engine note, an extra 22kW of power, and torque boosted to 840Nm.
The twilight of the Dawn model was celebrated in 2021 with the Silver Bullet special edition, which was finished in Brewster Silver and featured an Aero Cowling sitting over what would normally be the rear passenger seats.
Dawn Silver Bullet 
“The Dawn is a testament to the modern art of living, recalling ‘la dolce vita’ spirit in every detail. This beautiful motor car perfectly embodies contemporary luxury while celebrating the marque’s founding principles and heritage,” said CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös.
Mr Müller-Ötvös has emphasised the incoming Spectre will not be a direct replacement for its previous two-door models, saying: “It is not in any way the successor of the Wraith. It’s a different proposition for our clients. It will feel very different, it will look very different”.
The imminent Spectre coupe will be the brand’s first step to becoming an all-electric brand, with the ultra-luxury British marque pencilling in a 2030 deadline to go full-EV.
Demand for the model has been so high, Rolls-Royce is reportedly considering increasing the production run.
