2020 Rolls-Royce Dawn

Overview

Luxurious, exclusive, exquisite: Take your pick of adjectives to describe the lovely 2020 Rolls-Royce Dawn. Basically a Wraith coupe under the skin, the Dawn has sheetmetal that curves and swoops, making it, according to Rolls (and we don't necessarily disagree), the "sexiest Rolls-Royce ever built." Like the rest of the lineup, the Dawn provides an opulent cabin crafted from the finest materials but with an alfresco twist that makes it the vehicle of choice for wealthy sun worshippers. While it may not be the most technologically advanced convertible on sale today, its undeniable beauty, road presence, and cachet make it highly desirable.

What's New for 2020?

Other than an optional dark brush-metal inlay for the interior trim, the 2020 Dawn carries over from 2019 unchanged.

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Pricing and Which One to Buy

Buyers can create a custom Dawn through Rolls-Royce's Bespoke program or they can choose between three distinct collections that the company came up with. We're particularly fond of the Serenade, which pairs a navy-blue exterior with an ice-blue leather interior for a rather nautical effect.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Under the hood sits a twin-turbocharged 6.6-liter V-12. It pumps out 563 horsepower, making the Dawn as fleet as it is sexy. At the test track, the Dawn rushed to 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds. It moves gracefully and deliberately, and it cossets passengers even when driving over the harshest potholes. The eight-speed automatic transmission is tuned for tranquility. It uses GPS to determine when it should change gears, considering whether the car is going uphill, downhill, or around corners. That said, if you want a sharper, more athletic grand-touring convertible, perhaps look at the Bentley Continental GT, which is both faster than the Dawn and sportier to drive.

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Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

Like the rest of the Rolls-Royce lineup, the Dawn isn't particularly fuel efficient. Its EPA fuel economy ratings of 12 mpg city, 18 mpg highway, and 14 mpg combined match those of the Ghost sedan, and its highway rating is slightly lower than the flagship Phantom's. We'd love to put the Dawn through our fuel-economy test—who wouldn't want to spend 200 miles cruising on the highway in this luxury boat?—and if we ever get the chance, we'll update this story with our results.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Rear-hinged doors provide easy access to the Dawn's cabin, which seats four adult passengers. Occupants will be dazzled by the gorgeous butter-soft leather and acres of real wood trim. Buyers can opt for a massaging function for the front seats and thick lambswool floor mats that pamper the tootsies of anyone lucky enough to come along for the ride. As for storage space, the Dawn's trunk is on the small side for a large car—blame the convertible top for that—but it should provide enough space for a pair of carry-on suitcases.

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Infotainment and Connectivity

Touchscreen infotainment is standard and Rolls-Royce offers a TV tuner as an option so that passengers can watch their favorite programs while on the go. Navigation with real-time traffic updates is also provided as standard, and an 18-speaker stereo system provides enough sonic punch to drown out the wind and road noise when you're cruising with the top down.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have crash-tested a Dawn, and it's unlikely that they will. But the Dawn isn't just about old-school luxury, it's also a technological powerhouse: A suite of driver-assistance features is offered and includes a novel night-vision system to help drivers see animals or pedestrians when driving after dark. Key safety features include:

• Standard forward-collision warning
• Available lane-departure warning
• Available adaptive cruise control with night vision

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

The Dawn, like all Rolls-Royce models, is protected by a four-year/unlimited-mile warranty and maintenance plan.

• Limited warranty covers four years or unlimited miles
• Powertrain warranty covers four years or unlimited miles
• Complimentary maintenance is covered for four years or unlimited miles

Specifications

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 2-door convertible

PRICE AS TESTED: $402,300 (base price: $339,850)

ENGINE TYPE: twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 48-valve V-12, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection

Displacement: 402 cu in, 6592 cc
Power: 563 hp @ 5250 rpm
Torque: 575 lb-ft @ 1500 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 122.5 in
Length: 208.5 in
Width: 76.7 in Height: 59.1 in
Passenger volume: 100 cu ft
Cargo volume (top down/up): 9/10 cu ft
Curb weight: 5776 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 4.3 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 9.9 sec
Zero to 150 mph: 24.1 sec
Rolling start, 5-60 mph: 5.1 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 12.8 sec @ 114 mph
Top speed (mfr's est): 155 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 162 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.83 g

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 12/19 mpg
C/D observed: 15 mpg

More Features and Specs