At the upcoming 2015 Frankfurt auto show, the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet will share the stage with another ultra-luxury droptop, the 2017 Rolls-Royce Dawn. As the second convertible in Rolls-Royce’s lineup, the Dawn slots in below the Phantom Drophead and is based on a platform shared with the Wraith coupe and Ghost sedan.
Though the 2017 Rolls-Royce Dawn is closely related to the Wraith, Rolls-Royce asserts that 80 percent of the exterior body panels are new, including a revised front grille and bumper design and the rear deck that accommodates the power-operated soft top. Even still, the look is similar, with a squared-off front chrome grille, rear-hinged side doors, and an upright rear end with triangular tail lights. The sumptuous interior similarly shares a design with the Wraith and Ghost, with excessive amounts of wood and leather and plenty of classic Rolls-Royce touches like an analog clock and polished metal-look dials.
Rolls-Royce is aiming for the Dawn to be the quietest soft top convertible in the world, and thus worked hard to optimize the car’s aerodynamic profile with the roof up. The cloth top is also heavily insulated, and the mechanical raising and lowering is said to be graceful and quiet like a “silent ballet.” The rear seat is also said to provide plenty of space for two adults.
Under the hood of the 2017 Rolls-Royce Dawn is the same 6.6-liter, twin-turbo V-12 from the Wraith and the Ghost. Putting out 563 hp and 575 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic, the big engine can move the hefty, 5,644-lb convertible from 0-62 mph in a surprisingly sprightly 4.9 sec.
