Whisper-quiet Rolls-Royce 'Dawn' convertible unveiled

GOODWOOD , England, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- Rolls-Royce Motor Cars unveiled its newest product Tuesday, the four-seat convertible "Dawn," whose styling is an homage to its 1950-era cars.

The new model features a turbocharged, 6.6-liter (402 cubic inches) V-12 engine producing 563 horsepower, a capability of 155 mph and a price tag, without options, of around $325,000. Billed in a Rolls-Royce announcement as "the quietest open-top car ever made" with six layers of insulation in its roof, the car and its name are a tribute to "Silver Dawn" models, a nameplate given to 28 models between 1950 and 1954.

Although Rolls-Royce sells about one-third of its annual production in North America, the new car is ""a contemporary take on the 'casino' lifestyle," said Giles Taylor, the company's design director. "It is a contemporary homage to a life on the Cote d'Azur."

Although it is meant to evoke the romance of driving across Europe, it also has a relatively large rear seat, a popular feature with Asian customers.

The Dawn will going into production early in 2016, with deliveries starting in late spring.