Rolls-Royce Dawn review

You don’t drive a Rolls-Royce, you experience it. It’s claimed to be the world’s stiffest four-seater convertible, and certainly feels very un-tremulous. It’s wider but shorter than the Ghost, with a lower centre of gravity, and has reworked suspension with active anti-roll bars. While it’s still not a car you’d be naturally inclined to hustle, if you do give it the hurry-up the Dawn disguises its weight and handles with amazing alacrity. Rather than steering with your fingertips, you engage with the Dawn.

The engine is the same silken twin-turbo 6.6-litre 563bhp V12 the Ghost uses: the feeling of gathering momentum is similar to the one you experience in an Airbus A380 on take-off, yet the Power Reserve dial is a reminder you’re using only six or seven per cent of what’s available. It’s also stunningly refined.