In a historic moment for one of the world’s oldest automotive brands, Rolls-Royce has taken the wraps off their first-ever electric production car. The new model will be called the Rolls-Royce Spectre, and along with its reveal, the luxury carmaker has also outlined plans for the electrification of their model lineup by 2030.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars have for long been considered as the epitome of luxury car making, and with the Spectre, the British marque is moving towards an electric future. While Rolls-Royce hasn’t given us a complete glimpse of the Spectre yet, images of the car decked in camouflage suggest that the Spectre will be rather similar to the Rolls-Royce Wraith. Closer inspection reveals that the Spectre will likely be a two-door coupe, complete with Rolls’ iconic suicide-doors. One thing remains constant and unmistakable is the Spirit of Ecstasy perched proudly at the front of the Spectre.
The company has also remained tight-lipped about the specifics of the Spectre’s powertrain, confirming only that it will be an all-electric car and not a hybrid of any sort. It will be interesting to see how an electric motor complements a Rolls-Royce when driving, since the inherent qualities of an e-motor ideally make it perfect for a luxury car of Rolls-Royce’s stature. Unlike the company’s 102EX electric concept which was a prototype based on the Phantom, the car that you see here is a near-production version with Rolls-Royce announcing the commencement of a rigorous testing program that will span 2.5-million kilometres – the longest ever for a Rolls-Royce motor car. Customers will be able to take deliveries of their Spectre from in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Rolls-Royce dropped another kicker at the reveal of the Spectre – announcing that the company’s model lineup, which currently includes the Phantom, Ghost, Wraith and the Cullinan luxury SUV, would be fully electrified by the year 2030. With the switch to electric powertrains, it is likely that Rolls-Royce just might move the goalposts of comfort and refinement way ahead of their rivals in the luxury car segment, giving the company a potential ace up their sleeve.