Rolls-Royce Dawn
2016-2023 · Rolls-Royce Dawn — Grand Tourer, V12 Twin-Turbo, designed by Giles Taylor.
The Story
The 2015 Dawn was Rolls-Royce’s return to the four-seat luxury convertible, and the company made no secret of its ambition: CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos called it ‘the sexiest Rolls-Royce ever built.’ Mechanically it shares the Wraith’s twin-turbo V12 and Ghost underpinnings, but Rolls-Royce insists the Dawn is its own car – it claimed roughly 80% of the body panels are unique to it.
What sets the Dawn apart is refinement with the roof down. Its fabric ‘Silent Ballet’ top stows in around 22 seconds at speeds up to ~30 mph and, closed, makes the Dawn quiet enough to rival a fixed-roof saloon. Four genuine adults fit. A Black Badge edition added darker style and more potency. For many it remains the most glamorous open-top Rolls of the modern era.
The Numbers
Benchmarked against its class
Each dial ranks this car within its Grand Tourer class — fuller means higher, and the tick marks the class midpoint.
Signature Colors
The Designer
Giles Taylor
Coventry- and RCA-trained; chief designer of the Jaguar XK and XJ lines (to 2011) before joining RR, where as Director of Design (2012-2018) he shaped the Wraith, Dawn, Phantom VIII and Cullinan. Now global design VP at FAW’s Hongqi.
Studio Motors POV
Depreciation has turned the Dawn into one of the great car-for-the-money experiences in open-top luxury – buy a well-specced example and enjoy the drama the first owner paid dearly for.
The Engine
BMW N73 / N74 V12
Lineage
Where it sits in the bloodline
Market & Value
Values on cars like this move monthly. Our brokers price from real transactions.
What Reviewers Said About Dawn
Worth Knowing About the Dawn
3 Things You Didn’t Know
- 1) Rolls-Royce says ~80% of the Dawn's exterior panels are unique to it, not shared with the Wraith. 2) The roof's multi-layer construction is engineered so the closed car is nearly as quiet as a hard-top saloon. 3) The fabric roof raises/lowers in ~22 seconds and can operate on the move.
5 Fast Facts
- 1) 563 bhp standard, 593 bhp Black Badge. 2) Full four-seat drophead (not a 2+2). 3) Roof operable at up to ~30 mph. 4) Named Top Gear Magazine's Luxury Car of the Year. 5) Produced 2016-2023.
Provenance
Owners & what to look for
Famous Owners
Kim Kardashian – widely reported to have owned a Rolls-Royce Dawn (per WION / autoevolution coverage of her car collection).
Studio Buyer’s Brief
Black Badge is the enthusiast’s pick. Verify the roof mechanism cycles flawlessly and seals are perfect. Depreciation has been steep then stabilising, so buy a high-spec, tasteful-colour car; check tyres and brakes given the ~2.6-tonne mass.
Full Specifications
- Make / Model
- Rolls-Royce Dawn
- Class
- Grand Tourer
- Production years
- 2016-2023
- Units built
- Not disclosed (RR does not publish per-model figures)
- Variants
- Black Badge
- Engine layout
- Front
- Engine
- V12 Twin-Turbo
- Engine family
- BMW N73 / N74 V12
- Displacement
- 6.6L (6,592 cc)
- Power
- 593 hp
- Torque
- 620 lb-ft
- 0–60 mph
- 4.9 s
- Top speed
- 155 mph
- Power-to-weight
- 232 hp/tonne · 9.5 lb/hp
- Transmission
- 8-speed automatic (ZF 8HP)
- Drivetrain
- Rear-wheel drive · Petrol
- Curb weight
- 5644 lb
Questions
Dawn FAQ
What engine powers the Rolls-Royce Dawn convertible?
The Dawn uses a 6.6-litre twin-turbocharged V12 producing up to 593 bhp in Black Badge trim, shared with the Wraith, and paired with an 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox.
How fast does the Rolls-Royce Dawn convertible roof open?
The Dawn’s multi-layer fabric roof opens or closes in approximately 22 seconds and can be operated on the move at speeds up to 30 mph.
Is the Rolls-Royce Dawn a true four-seat convertible?
Yes. Unlike most luxury convertibles that offer a 2+2 layout, the Dawn provides genuine four-seat accommodation in its open-top body.
When did Rolls-Royce stop making the Dawn?
The Dawn was produced from 2016 to 2023. Rolls-Royce has not announced a direct successor, making it the brand’s last dedicated four-seat convertible.
How much does a used Rolls-Royce Dawn cost?
Pre-owned Rolls-Royce Dawns typically trade between $200,000 and $300,000, reflecting their seven-year production run (2016-2023) and status as Rolls-Royce’s contemporary open-top model. Hagerty tracks ongoing valuations.
The Rolls-Royce Lineup
Explore every Rolls-Royce
Silver Wraith ’46Silver Dawn ’49
Phantom IV ’50Silver Cloud I ’55Phantom V ’59Silver Cloud II ’59
Silver Cloud III ’62Silver Shadow I ’65Phantom VI ’68
Corniche (1971) ’71Camargue ’75Silver Shadow II ’77
Silver Spirit / Silver Spur ’80
Corniche (2000) ’00Phantom VII ’03Ghost (1st Gen) ’09
Wraith ’13Dawn ’15Phantom VIII ’17Sweptail ’17Cullinan ’18
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