- Refined, effortless 6.75-litre V8 engine
- The finest interior materials and craftsmanship
- Supremely comfortable ride
- Out-dated engine not powerful for its size
- Sheer mass and soft suspension tune make for boat-like handling
- High running and maintenance costs
Overview
Released in October 1996, the Rolls-Royce Mk.IV Silver Dawn was a prestige saloon. Manufactured in Crewe, England, the rear-wheel drive Mk.II Silver Spur was powered by a 6.75-litre V8 petrol engine that was mated to a four-speed automatic transmission.
V8 engine
The 6.75-litre V8 petrol engine had an aluminium-silicon alloy cylinder block, aluminium alloy cylinder heads, electronic fuel injection, two valves per cylinder and Bosch Motronic M3.3 engine management. Supplied by General Motors, the electronically-controlled four-speed 4L80E automatic transmission was used due to its high torque capacity.
Dimensions
The Silver Dawn was 5395 mm long, 2110 mm wide, 1485 mm tall and had a 3162 mm long wheelbase; kerb weight was 2450 kg.
Suspension
The Mk.IV Silver Dawn had independent front suspension with lower wishbones and independent rear suspension with semi-trailing arms and a self-levelling function. The Silver Dawn suspension also featured an Automatic Ride Control (ARC) system which used electronically-controlled dampers. The ARC system used vertical and longitudinal accelerometers to measure body movement – interpreted by a micro-processor – and automatically engaged one of three damper settings: comfort, normal or firm. Firm mode was always employed when the car was stationary.
| Engine | Trans. | Years | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mk.IV Silver Dawn | 6.75-litre petrol V8 | 4sp auto | 1996-98 | 183 kW at 4000 rpm (est.) | N/A |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the Mk.IV Silver Dawn included dual front airbags and ABS.
Features
Standard features for the Mk.IV Silver Dawn included 16-inch alloy wheels, a ten speaker Alpine sound system with a radio, cassette player and a CD player with a six-disc CD stacker, climate control air conditioning, leather upholstery, power adjustable and heated front seats with memory settings, cruise control, central locking, power windows, power mirrors and a tilt-adjustable steering wheel.
Related links
