Test drive Rolls-Royce Dawn Black Badge

In 116 years of history, Rolls-Royce has built fewer cars than Hyundai's Ulsan plant in a month. This means that outside of some specific destinations like Monaco and St. Vlas, Rolls are a pretty rare sight on the streets.

But obviously not rare enough. As customers of this brand have a habit of visiting the same places, the feeling of exclusivity begins to fade. And urgent measures are needed to get him back.

Almost every car company has its own tuning studio: a small division that takes regular models and makes them a little faster, more fun, and usually a lot more expensive.

Black Badge is not such a division.

Other similar cars constantly measure their horsepower and seconds from 0 to 100 km / h. But such proletarian emotions do not excite Rolls-Royce. The goal of Black Badge, the new top line in this line, is not to change the behavior, but the appearance and style of the car.

In the minds of most people, Rolls is a car for rich but elderly gentlemen. However, in real life, the average age of buyers of this brand is constantly falling and is currently less than 40 years old - much lower than, for example, Mercedes. Black Badge is a way to stand out among traditional customers. And also, so as not to merge with the crowd in front of the casino in Monte Carlo. In this regard, the modified Dawn convertible is the best example of this.

Frankly speaking, this car has the most characteristic feature of tuned versions - it is much more expensive than usual. The regular Dawn is relatively cheap, like a Rolls-Royce - only about 320000 euros. The Black Badge package adds €43 to that – the same as a new and well-equipped BMW 000 Series. The color surcharge alone is around 3 euros, like a new Dacia. With all the extras, the Dawn Black Badge easily exceeds the €10 limit.

Of course, in exchange for this premium, you will not just get Spirit of Ecstasy painted black on the hood.

The powerful V12 under the hood in question has also been modified and now has a maximum output of 601 hp. And as much as 840 Newton meters of maximum torque. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h takes 4,9 seconds - the same as the famous Seat Leon Cupra of the previous generation.

So far, everything looks like a regular tuning: Black Badge is more expensive and more powerful than a regular car. The big difference with the others is that he doesn't try to be more athletic in any way. It is surprisingly stable on the road - two and a half tons, and the steering wheel is quite accurate. But the feeling remains of a large and luxurious yacht, not a car.

As with any Rolls, there is no tachometer here, just a dial showing what percentage of the available power you are currently using. Despite impressive acceleration, the car is set to calm down and do everything as smoothly as possible.

That's why this Dawn isn't brimming with new technology at first glance. It has active cruise control, a head-up display with an infrared night vision camera and a number of other such devices. But he is in no hurry to introduce autopilots. Its purpose is to relieve you, not burden you. Even the automatic air conditioning system is still controlled by the good old wheels - blue at one end and red at the other.

The reason you pay such a staggering price is not the engine or the technology. The reason for this is the fantastic attention to detail.

The carpentry shop in Goodwood employs 163 people who are among the most skilled craftsmen in the world. One of them faces the daunting task of constantly traveling the world in search of wood and leather worthy of Rolls-Royce quality. Even high-tech materials, like the carbon composite elements in our Dawn, are made differently here.

Each such element is varnished six times, then dried for 72 hours, after which a manic polish begins. The whole process takes 21 days.

In the time Rolls-Royce spends on this little dashboard detail, the aforementioned Hyundai plant produces 90 vehicles. The elegant orange line on the body is not drawn by a machine, but by a person.

If you're really into cutting-edge technology, you'll find them in the audio system - with 16 different speakers and multiple sensors that constantly monitor ambient noise and adjust the sound accordingly. Even with the roof down, the acoustics are perfect.

It's true that many of the components here - from the multimedia to the ZF gearbox - are the same as in the BMW XNUMX Series. But as a feeling, these two are infinitely different.

One is just a very good and comfortable car. The other is an experience that is remembered for a lifetime.

Rolls-Royce trademark: thick lambswool rugs. One pair in front costs 1200 euros.

The purpose of all technology is not to disturb the owner unnecessarily. The air conditioning is controlled in the simplest way - blue - colder, red - warmer (but with separate controllers for the top and bottom of the cab).