One of the lots at the upcoming Naples Winter Wine Festival charity auction will be the chance to own the very first North American example of Rolls-Royce’s new luxury convertible.
Revealed at the Frankfurt motor show in September, the Rolls-Royce Dawn is one of the most remarkable and certainly the most stunning car to roll out of the Goodwood, England facility since BMW became the brand’s custodian in 2003.
In the words of company CEO Torsten Mueller-Ӧtvӧs: “It promises a striking, seductive encounter like no other Rolls-Royce to date, and begins a new age of open-top, super-luxury motoring.”
And of course, being a Rolls-Royce, the lot in question promises to feature a host of bespoke elements, commissioned specifically for the event. These include an Arctic White exterior finish paired with a red fabric roof with similar contrasting colors used to dress the vehicle’s leather interior. It will also boast full Santos Palisander Chanadel Panelling created from hand cutting, hand matching and hand finishing open pore Indian Redwood. It will adorn the dashboard fascia, door panels and deck lid.
The finishing touch will be unique tread plates that state it is the first car delivered to the continent and details of the winning bid itself.
“I couldn’t think of a more fitting way to celebrate the first new Rolls-Royce Dawn for North America than through this auction,” said Müller-Ӧtvӧs. “The NWWF epitomizes the social life of our owners. We are proud to make the introduction at this event and help benefit children in need.”
Even with a base price of $335,000, the new car is expected to be one of the most successful models in the company’s history. What makes it so special is that despite its proportions — it is roughly the same size as a BMW 7-Series yet has a much longer hood and requires space between the truck and the seats for stowing its fabric roof — it is a true four-seat convertible.
“The idea of creating a car like Dawn that can be used in comfort by only two adults on a day to day basis is anathema,” said Giles Taylor, the company’s Director of Design. “In creating Dawn we have accepted no compromise to the comfort and luxury of four adults who want to travel together in the pinnacle of style.”
The auction will be held on January 29-31, 2016 at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida with proceeds benefiting the Naples Children & Education Foundation.
