This is an interesting moment in the history of Rolls-Royce. It isn’t surprising to see Rolls-Royce dip its toes into electrified water. However, it will be interesting to see how it’s perceived. Rolls has said in the past that it wouldn’t do an electric car until the technology was up to par with its incredibly high standards. Now, the Rolls-Royce Spectre is here but can it provide the levels of luxury and opulence the brand’s customers expect?
Electric powertrains actually suit the Rolls-Royce brand better than internal combustion engines. An electric motor can provide a level of smoothness, refinement, and instantaneous torque that the world’s best engines couldn’t dream of. So switching to electrification is a no-brainer from a luxury standpoint. However, how will Rolls-Royce customers feel about charging an EV, searching for charge stations, and having to deal with an infrastructure that’s far less convenient than filling up a gasoline car? It’s going to be fascinating to find out with the new Spectre.
It’s natural to assume that the Rolls-Royce Spectre is just an all-electric Wraith replacement. The Wraith was Rolls’ previous two-door GT car and now that it’s gone, the Spectre is Rolls’ two-door GT car. However, it seems that the two cars will have different flavors, aside from the different powertrains. While the Wraith was very much like a two-door Ghost, the Spectre seems like it’s own unique car with its own unique character. Dare I say, it’s even a bit sportier than the Wraith?
Rolls-Royce Spectre Exterior Design
Like all modern Rolls’, the new Spectre is built on the brand’s all-aluminum Architecture of Luxury platform. It’s a flexible platform, designed to accommodate either internal combustion or electric powertrains, and it’s both lightweight and stiff. In fact, due to the battery tray being integrated into the floor of the chassis, the Spectre is 30 percent stiffer than any previous Rolls-Royce. Interestingly, the battery also acts as 700 kg of sound insulation, making the car even quieter inside.
This is probably what everyone wants to read. Replacing the old 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged…
