The Rolls-Royce Black Badge series now includes the Wraith and Dawn models, and the British seemed pretty content with keeping things this way. At this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, we’ll get to see the latest addition to the gang, the new Dawn Black Badge model.
The announcement was made today and it also comes with a rather ominous-looking ad, published on the company’s Youtube account. As far as the Dawn Black Badge goes, it seems like the drop top will get a new exhaust system for its massive V12 engine as well as a small bump in power too, raising the levels up to 593 HP and torque to 840 Nm (620 lb-ft). The gearbox software was apparently also changed as was the throttle response, to offer an overall better package for the driver.
The changes continue when it comes to the beefier brakes installed as well as a claimed faster rack for the steering, that would enhance the driving of this 5,000 lbs luxobarge. To be more precise, the rotors, for example, have grown in diameter by a full inch, which goes to show that the engineers over at Rolls-Royce were really serious when they decided to give the Dawn the Black Badge treatment.
In terms of design, the general sober theme of the rest of the Black Badge models applies here as well. Multiple layers of paint and lacquer have been applied and hand-polished in a process that amounts to the most exhaustive painting and polishing process ever used for a solid paint color according to Rolls-Royce. On top of that, the roof, which opens in what the Brits call ‘Silent Ballet’ is also only available in black canvas, whilst the rear deck is finished in black leather. The Spirit of Ecstasy emblem is now made out of black chrome just like every other trim of grille installed on the standard car that used to come in ‘regular’ chrome before. From the Pantheon grille up front to the boot lid finisher, exhaust pipes and air inlet finisher, everything is now black.
Since this is Rolls-Royce we’re talking about, the level of craftsmanship is well above the expectations, with all sorts of intricate details thrown throughout the cabin here and there. Threads of aircraft grade aluminum, a delicate 0.014m in diameter, are woven together and then bonded in carbon fiber, for example. Surfaces are finished with six coats of lacquer before being left to cure for 72 hours and hand-polished to Rolls-Royce’s hallmark mirror finish. The result is a highly contemporary finish, perfectly attuned to the darker more menacing aesthetic today’s patrons of luxury demand.
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