In 1900, Rolls-Royce co-founder, Charles Rolls, prophesized an electric future for the motor car recognizing the clean, noiseless alternative to the internal combustion engine – providing there was sufficient infrastructure to support it. Today, more than 120 years later, the time has come for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars to fulfil the prophecy of its founding father with the first fully-electric Rolls-Royce, Spectre.

Spectre marks the start of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars full electrification. Technology has reached a standard that can deliver the Rolls-Royce experience, enhance the experience. The instant torque, silent running, and the sense of one imperceptible gear have defined the characteristics of an extraordinary canon of products dating back to the very first Rolls-Royce. Due to these developments, Rolls-Royce has confirmed that by 2030 its entire product portfolio will be fully electric.

DESIGN
In unveiling Spectre, Rolls-Royce sets a new precedent in the creation of an entirely original class of motorcar, the Ultra-Luxury Electric Super Coupé. This designation refers to Spectre’s indulgent proportions, specified in response to a commitment that there is no greater luxury than that of space. The brand’s designers are deeply rooted in the context occupied by their motor cars. Therefore, their inspiration is drawn from worlds far beyond automotive, including haute couture, modernist sculpture, nautical design, tailoring and contemporary art. In conceiving the principal sketches, the brand’s creatives were drawn to modern yacht concepts, specifically the clarity and precision of line, intelligent use of reflection and application of taper to emotionalize silhouettes.

From the front, Spectre’s split headlight treatment is intersected by the widest grille ever  on a Rolls-Royce. The vanes of the Pantheon grille are now smoother in section and a flusher fit, designed to help guide the air around the motor car’s front. Along with an aero-tuned Spirit of Ecstasy figurine the grille delivers Rolls-Royce’s most aerodynamic motor car, ever. The grille is softly illuminated, with 22 LEDs lighting the sandblasted rear side of each of the vanes.

The silhouette’s most dramatic feature is its fastback. The proportional demands of scale required the vehicle to be the first production two-door coupé to be equipped with 23-inch wheels in almost one hundred years. This design treatment marries the iconography of Spectre’s spiritual successor, the Phantom Coupé to a contemporary Rolls-Royce design.

ALL-ALUMINIUM ARCHITECTURE OF LUXURY
Built on the ‘Architecture of Luxury,’ Spectre delivers the iconic Rolls-Royce drive. A new, highly flexible all-aluminum spaceframe architecture, has been tailored for electric drive. It also underpins today’s Phantom, Cullinan and Ghost, and Coachbuild projects. Royce 2.0. The electric drive technology is advanced enough to fulfil the Rolls-Royce experience. The brand’s engineers ensured the continuity of experience from its current portfolio.

PLANAR SUSPENSION
Planar suspension is the integration of systems with precisely defined responses to driver inputs and road conditions, made possible by the latest software and hardware developments, delivering Rolls-Royce’s hallmark ‘magic carpet ride.’

DIGITAL ENGINEERING
Spectre is the most connected Rolls-Royce in history, harnessing the power of the motor car’s remarkable Decentralized Intelligence processing. Engineers working on the project describe the experience offered by Spectre as akin to “Rolls-Royce in high definition” on account of the speed and accuracy of the motor car’s response to a worldwide spread of road and weather conditions.

POWER, RANGE, AND DIMENSIONS
The final power, acceleration and range figures are still being refined, as the fine tuning of Spectre enters its final phase. Preliminary data shows that it will have an all-electric estimated EPA range of up to 260 miles and offer 664 foot-pound of torque from its 577 hp powertrain. It is anticipated to achieve 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds (0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds).

With many months of testing and optimization of Spectre still ahead, these figures are subject to change ahead of official confirmation prior to market launch in Q4 2023.