From the 1900s prophecy of Rolls-Royce co-founder, Charles Rolls, foreseeing an electric future for the motor car to more than 120 years later, when Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is about to fulfill the prophecy with Spectre.
Last year Rolls-Royce CEO, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, made a public commitment to electrification by announcing Spectre as a symbol of a bright, bold future as Rolls-Royce progresses into an all-electric era.
With Spectre, Rolls-Royce has harnessed a revolutionary ‘Decentralised Intelligence’ system that allows for the free and direct exchange of information between more than 1,000 vehicle functions, further elevating the marque’s celebrated quality of ride.
DESIGN
In unveiling Spectre, Rolls-Royce sets a new precedent in the creation of an entirely original class of motor car; 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 marque’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.
From the front, Spectre’s split headlight treatment is intersected by the widest grille ever bestowed on a Rolls-Royce. The vanes of the Pantheon grille are now smoother in section and have a flusher fit, designed to help guide the air around the motor car’s front.
The silhouette’s most dramatic feature is Spectre’s fastback, which recalls the most evocative motor cars and watercraft in history. The seamlessness of the greenhouse surfacing significantly contributes to achieving the lowest drag coefficient ever for a Rolls-Royce.
Following the roofline back, the tail lamps are set into the largest single-body panel ever produced for a Rolls-Royce, which extends from the A-pillar to the luggage compartment.
Alongside the extraordinary, illuminated surfaces, Spectre is equipped with a completely redesigned digital architecture of luxury named SPIRIT, presented in quintessential Rolls-Royce style. Not only will SPIRIT manage the motor car’s functions, but it is seamlessly integrated into the marque’s Whispers application, allowing clients to interact with their car remotely, and receive live information curated by the marque’s luxury intelligence specialists.
For the first time ever, clients can now extend their bespoke commission beyond the physical world and into the digital architecture that underpins SPIRIT. Inspired by the marque’s clients’ love of bespoke timepieces, the colour of the dials can now complement the interior hue of the motor car.
POWER, RANGE AND DIMENSIONS
The final power, acceleration and range figures are still being refined, as the extraordinary undertaking of finessing Spectre enters its final phase before concluding in the second quarter of 2023. Preliminary data shows Spectre is expected to have an all-electric range of 320 miles/520 kilometres WLTP and offer 900Nm of torque from its 430kW powertrain. It is anticipated to achieve 0-60mph in 4.4 seconds (0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds).
With many months of testing and optimisation of Spectre still ahead, these figures are subject to change ahead of official confirmation prior to market launch in Q4 2023.
MARKET DEBUT
Spectre is available for commission immediately, with the first client deliveries commencing in Q4 2023. Spectre pricing will be positioned between Cullinan and Phantom.
