ROLLS-ROYCE BRINGS NEW DAWN TO BRISBANE
The future of Brisbane through the eyes of the super-luxury brand
Rolls-Royce, a name that has represented the pinnacle of luxury, not just automotive luxury, but luxury in every context of the word, has opened a new showroom in Newstead, Brisbane. With a growing range of vehicles, infinite possibilities for customisation and extreme attention to detail will it be able to attract younger customers to the brand?
First founded in 1906 by Charles Rolls and Henry Royce, the Rolls-Royce brand has continued to honour its history while remaining in touch with modern customer desires. Its portfolio of models has grown considerably since the introduction of the Phantom VII in 2003, the first vehicle produced under the BMW Group banner. With an SUV, convertible, coupe and second saloon customers have more choice than ever from the super-luxury brand. Andrew Jackson, Brand Manager for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Brisbane, highlighted the brand’s focus on delivering a completely bespoke experience for each customer. The colour palette and materials on display in the showroom is purely a way to get the creative juices flowing. In reality, over 44,000 colours are available to choose from, and if that still isn’t enough, you can have almost any surface colour matched to your preference.
Rolls-Royce vehicles are hand-built in Goodwood, England and are why owners can embed their identity into their vehicle. It also means purchasing a Rolls-Royce isn’t exactly an impulse decision, but more so a journey which can range from 9 to 18-months depending on the level of customisation.
For this article, we were able to spend time with the Dawn, the brand’s convertible, and suffice to say that the pure presence it emits is impressive. Even though it isn’t the largest Rolls in the range, it shares a similar footprint to a Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck. However, it’s anything but like the Chevy in every other regard imaginable.
Even though it boasts an impressive 6.6litre twin-turbo V12 engine producing 420kW of power and 820Nm of torque, you’d never tell. The Dawn is so quiet you’d mistake it for an electric car, and even when under full acceleration you have to listen closely to hear it working, let alone hear any road noise – and that was with the roof retracted.
Why would they want to mask the sound from the V12? Purely and simply because Rolls-Royce isn’t a Ferrari or Lamborghini, and they don’t want to be. Effortless power, silence and a ride that is likened to wafting along a magic carpet are what the website for Rolls-Royce promises and in our short time in the Dawn delivered perfectly.
Every surface inside and out feels considered, and crafted with purpose. Technology is everywhere in the cabin, but you have to go searching for it.
While you can open the coach doors (Rolls-Royce doesn’t like calling them suicide doors) with a push of a button, the driving experience is still very much an involved, albeit effortless one, classic almost, in the day and age of semi-autonomous vehicles.
It’s pompous, extravagant, and entirely over-the-top but when you’re paying approximately $1million for a car that’s probably exactly what you’re wanting. However, after experiencing it first-hand, it feels like that price tag has been earned.
During the media launch for the new Newstead location, I spent close to an hour with Paul Harris, Director of the Asia Pacific Region at Rolls-Royce, going through the newly released Black Badge Cullinan and it felt like we barely scratched the surface diving into the design nuances of the most expensive SUV ever. Each part has a story, a history, and it’s stunning. I never understood why people would want to own a Rolls-Royce over any other car, but now it all makes sense.
Rolls-Royce Brisbane now open at 33 Breakfast Creek Rd, Newstead