Not wanting to mince its words, Rolls- Royce CEO Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes says this about the Dawn: "Quite simply, it is the sexiest Rolls-Royce ever built." Based on the Wraith coupe, the soft-top convertible boasts 80% new bodywork, with the doors, rear bumper and grille surround the only exterior parts to carry over. Noteworthy design features on the new model include the rear fenders that Rolls-Royce poetically describes as "the feminine hips of Dawn," (use your imagination here), Ghost II headlamps and new 20- and 21-inch wheels.

The lines of the drophead Rolls are simply stunning, something the carmaker wants to highlight with the use of a subtle yet striking pinstripe. Inspiration, says Rolls, comes from the 1952 Silver Dawn Drophead, the last coachbuilt Rolls. The roof operation is described as "a silent ballet," taking 21 seconds to retract, and with the Dawn as quiet as the Wraith with the roof up, Rolls-Royce says it's the quietest convertible in the world. Unwilling to compromise on the populist 2+2 seating configuration, designers managed to retain the coupe's rear-seat legroom and thus created "the world's only true modern four-seater super-luxury drophead."

Open the rear-hinged coach doors, and passengers will be treated to material opulence. The Dawn seen here sports Mandarin leather interior, beautifully complementing the Midnight Sapphire exterior (think night becoming day). Open-pore Canadel paneling covers the deck and flows spectacularly down between the rear seats and around the cabin. Power comes from the Ghost II's 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 rated at 563 hp and 575 lb-ft of torque, mated to the Wraith's "satellite aided" eight-speed auto unit that utilizes the GPS to prepare the proper ratio for upcoming hills and curves. Orders are now being taken, with prices set to be close to the $400,000 mark.