Luxurious, exclusive, exquisite, the all-new 2020 Black Badge Dawn is the convertible version of the Rolls-Royce Wraith, which according to Rolls, “the sexiest Rolls-Royce ever built”. In Rolls speak, Black Badge means ‘the fast one’. So like the Black Badge versions of the Wraith and Ghost, the Dawn Black Badge gets more power. An extra 30bhp has been added from the 6.6 litre, twin-turbo V12, making the total power delivery to a massive 593bhp. 0-62 mph takes 4.9 seconds and the top speed is limited to 155mph. Like the rest of the line-up, 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.
Rolls wants this highly desirable car to appeal to a young customer base. It sees the label as an expression of the marquee’s assertive alter ego, hence the many aesthetic difference between the Black Badge and the regular Dawn. About 80% body panels are new. The doors carry over, but the chin is pulled forward by 53mm compared to the Wraith and the grille is recessed by 43mm. The belt-layer arches up around the back of the cabin and the soft-top is a six-layer canvas roof that folds down beneath a wooden deck. It takes 22 seconds to open and close the roof, and it can be done in speeds up to 50 kmph. The chrome is darker and moodier, and the colour in which this car is finished in, is the deepest, darkest and most intense black to ever grace a production car surface.
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 vast real wood trim. A massaging function for the front seats is optional. Touchscreen infotainment is standard and the Car is offered with a TV tuner option so that the passengers can watch their favourite programme while on the go. Navigation with real-time traffic updates is also provided as standard, and an 18-speaker provides enough sonic punch to drown out the wind and road noise. The Dawn comes with some notable features like acoustic front windshield, cargo area light, adaptive LED headlights, radar cruise control, 12V sockets-front only and moving object detection system among others.
Under the hood sits a twin-turbocharged 6.6 litre V-12 engine which makes driving the Dawn a pleasant as well as exciting experience. It moves gracefully and deliberately. The eight-speed automatic transmission is tuned for tranquillity. It uses GPS to determine when it should change gears, considering whether the car is going uphill, downhill or around the corners. It remains visually customisable, with a choice of 20-inch and 21-inch wheels and an unlimited palate of colours for the paint, leather and trim. A suite of driver assistance features is offered and includes a novel night-vision system to help drivers to see animals or pedestrians when driving after dark. Key safety features include standard forward collision warning, available lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control among others.
