Rolls-Royce is hard at work on its first all-electric model called the Spectre, a large four-seater coupe that will follow the template of the Wraith, but replace its twin-turbo V12 for an all-electric powertrain.
Expected to launch at the end of 2023, it’ll signal the beginning of Rolls-Royce’s total adoption of electric powertrains across the range that initially will sit alongside its existing V12s, before they’re phased out by 2030.
While specifics of the powertrain remain predictably vague, new spy shots have surfaced giving us a much better idea of what the new Spectre will look like. First of all, in addition to a silhouette that looks very similar to the current wraith, we can see some substantial changes to the rear end specifically, which has a much more tapered ‘boat-tail’ aesthetic, with a pinched bootlid and slimmer tail lights that almost wrap around the rear quarter panels.
This tighter surfacing quality at the rear is accentuated by its visual disconnect from the lower rear bumper and sills – a technique used by the one-off Rolls-Royce Boat Tail and more recently the latest Range Rover that lifts the body off the ground, removing some of the visual weight. The body side is more conventional, with a gentle beltline that fades into the front wheel arch, that is until you see the large scallop at the base of the door that once again will lighten the body over its visually disconnected sills.
The front aspect will also see plenty of change with an application of new split headlights, giving the new Spectre a more distinctive look in comparison to the Ghost and other models in the range. Typical Rolls-Royce elements like the Pantheon grille and rising spirit of ecstasy remain, the former now likely little more than a styling feature thanks to its all-electric powertrain.
Commenting on the Spectre’s development, Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös did reveal that its two year test programme will cover over 2.4 million kilometres and provide engineers with the equivalent of 400 years of simulated use. ‘This is not a prototype. It’s the real thing, it will be tested in plain sight and our clients will take first deliveries of the car in the fourth quarter of 2023.’
The Spectre will be underpinned by a bespoke spaceframe chassis, with the powertrain building on the development currently being completed on BMW’s new i7 all-electric 7 series. Müller-Ötvös continued: ‘…our forthcoming electric car benefits from the Rolls-Royce architecture and therefore the extraordinary experience of a Rolls-Royce on the road. Free of any group platform sharing strategy, we were able to integrate our plans for an electric powertrain into the architecture’s initial design and ensure that this extraordinary new product meets the extremely high expectations of our clients.’
Along with the announcement of a new model came the news that Rolls-Royce will only sell all-electric models by 2030, with the Spectre marking the beginning of that journey. Müller-Ötvös added: ‘With this new product we set out our credentials for the full electrification of our entire product portfolio by 2030. By then, Rolls-Royce will no longer be in the business of producing or selling any internal combustion engine product.’
Keyword: 2023 Rolls-Royce Spectre revealed as first EV Roller
Rolls-Royce is hard at work on its first all-electric model called the Spectre, a large four-seater coupe that will follow the template of the Wraith, but replace its twin-turbo V12 for an all-electric powertrain.
