Rolls-Royce Wraith and Dawn axed in Australia

Two of Rolls-Royce's most exclusive models – the 2022 Rolls-Royce Wraith and Dawn luxury two-doors – have been axed for the Australian market, the company has announced.

Following news last year the Wraith and Dawn would depart the US market, Rolls-Royce's division in Australia has confirmed the super-luxury coupe and convertible are no longer on sale in Australia – with the line-up now cut to the Ghost and Phantom sedans, and Cullinan SUV, said to be better-selling models.

"Sadly, Wraith and Dawn are now fully booked out for Australia and will no longer be available to order," Rolls-Royce Motor Cars said in a statement shared with Drive.

"Global demand and production for Phantom, Cullinan, Ghost, Wraith and Dawn are at an all-time high, after a record year in 2021. Phantom, Cullinan and Ghost have been given priority allocation in Australia."

Drive understands only a few pre-built cars remain in the dealer network.

While production for Australia has ended, the Wraith and Dawn will soldier on overseas.

Prior to confirming the two-doors had been axed in Australia, Rolls-Royce Asia-Pacific regional sales manager, Ian Grant, told Drive in a statement: "On a global front, Wraith and Dawn have not ceased production."

"Within Australia, we are seeing very strong demand for Rolls-Royce Ghost and Cullinan which is supported by the Black Badge models and of course our flagship Phantom. As production at Goodwood is at an all-time high, we have however reduced our Wraith and Dawn production in favour of the models above for Australia.

"This reflects the current demand for 4-door models with the new spaceframe aluminium structure, 6.75 litre V12 twin turbo charged (sic) engine, coupled with the latest in bespoke treatments and technology."

This is despite the two-door models (Wraith and Dawn sales combined) holding the title of the best-selling Rolls-Royce model family for six of the last eight years, according to VFACTS data – though the Cullinan SUV is believed to be the best-selling individual model.

The end of Wraith and Dawn production for Australia paves the way for the arrival of Rolls-Royce's first electric car, the Spectre coupe, in late 2023 – which will fill the Wraith's space in the line-up.

The decision to end Wraith and Dawn production for Australia comes as manufacturing of the current BMW 7 Series prepares to end – the only other vehicle powered by the 6.6-litre 'N74B66' twin-turbocharged V12 engine used in the Rolls-Royce duo, capable of up to 442-448kW and 850Nm.

Rolls-Royce's other models employ a larger 6.75-litre 'N74B68' twin-turbocharged V12 – production of which is likely to continue until close to the end of the decade, once the entire Rolls-Royce range has switched to electric power (by 2030).

In addition to an older engine, the Wraith and Dawn are the company's final models not underpinned by its Architecture of Luxury platform, instead sitting on an older BMW 7 Series platform dating back to 2008 – the same year the iPhone hit shelves in Australia (one year after the US).

It's believed these models have no more than a few years left on sale, given the Wraith's place in the Rolls-Royce range will be assumed in late 2023 by the Spectre, a two-door, Wraith-sized coupe that will become the company's first modern electric vehicle.

However, the Spectre won't be a direct replacement for the Wraith, with company CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös telling industry publication Automotive News: "It is not in any way the successor of the Wraith. It's a different proposition for our clients. It will feel very different, it will look very different."

Autocar reports future generations of Rolls-Royce's core models (Phantom, Cullinan and Ghost, plus a possible Dawn replacement) will ditch petrol engines in favour of electric power.

Rolls-Royce posted an all-time global sales record in 2021, selling 5586 new vehicles to the ultra-wealthy – as the rest of the world battled with COVID-19, and the effects of the semiconductor shortage on the car industry.