Over the past year, Rolls-Royce has extensively teased its first-ever fully electric model, the Spectre. From winter testing in the arctic circle to on-road refinement in the French Riviera, the carmaker claims its first EV has covered over 1.5 million miles in testing, simulating up to 400 years of use.
Today we get our first proper look at the Spectre, and there’s plenty to share. For starters, it’s important to note that despite its early online debut, the Spectre is still a year out from its official launch, with the first customer cars set to arrive towards the end of 2023. As such, Rolls-Royce has yet to publish final performance figures or exact details on its electric powertrain.
As far as EVs go, the Spectre is one of the most stunning. It’s not immediately recognizable as an electric car and doesn’t rely on overly futuristic looks to set it apart. Its styling is sleek, elegant, and very Rolls-Royce. The brand’s first EV doesn’t seem to welcome the future by ditching the past. Instead, it takes a recognizable design language and streamlines it with aerodynamics and efficiency in mind. Take the front Pantheon grille as an example. It’s the widest ever fitted to a Rolls-Royce and employs similar vanes to those found in the carmaker’s other products but are purposely angled to channel air around the car’s front. It’s a subtle visual change that has a sizable impact.
According to Rolls-Royce, the Spectre is the Phantom Coupé’s spiritual successor. However, its fastback design also has subtle hints of Wraith, specifically its sloping roofline. It may only have two doors, but the Spectre is quite a sizable vehicle. Its 214.7-in length is 2 in longer than a Ghost and 4 in longer than a Cullinan. According to Rolls-Royce, 23-in wheels were necessary to keep its proportions in check. Although they showcase a multi-spoke fan blade style design, the carmaker has yet to comment on how they contribute to the car’s overall aerodynamic efficiency.
Inside, the Spectre builds on the brand’s existing interior design language with its prominent digital instrument cluster in front of the driver and a wide infotainment screen in the dashboard. Like with its exterior styling, Rolls-Royce didn’t follow common EV trends. It still employs physical buttons, switches, and many high-quality materials. Alongside the brand’s Starlight Headliner, the Spectre debuts new Starlight Doors, complete with 4,796 luminous stars, excluding those in the roof.
Although they have yet to release official figures, Rolls-Royce estimates that the Spectre will deliver around 577 hp, 664 lb-ft of torque, and an estimated EPA angle of 260 miles with the standard 23-inch wheels. It’s important to note that the carmaker has not published specifics on motor count, battery size, or charging speeds. However, we know that the Spectre will integrate its batteries into the car’s overall structure, making it at least 30 percent stiffer than any previous Rolls-Royce.
The Spectre rides on the same Architecture of Luxury platform as the Phantom, Ghost, and Cullinan. The architecture’s flexibility allowed engineers to place the car’s floor halfway between the sill structures instead of on top or underneath them. Additionally, engineers routed the car’s wiring and climate control piping between the battery pack and the floor to create a perfectly smooth surface. This allows the Spectre to offer a lower seating position while its battery pack results in “almost 700kg (1,543 lb) of sound deadening.”
Given its generous dimensions and hefty battery pack, the Spectre is now the heaviest Rolls-Royce model, with a curb weight of 6,559 lb. Despite this, it’ll match a Black Badge Ghost’s 4.4-second run to 60 mph. Like all other Rolls-Royce vehicles, it has a limited top speed of 155 mph.
Also Read: Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge Road Trip: 1000 Miles In A Billionaire’s $500,000 Daily Driver
To keep its weight in check through corners while still delivering the brand’s “magic carpet ride.” The Spectre counts on the latest iteration of the carmaker’s Planar suspension. It allows the large EV to de-couple its anti-roll bars, allowing each wheel to act independently. The goal is to prevent rocking motions and disturbances caused by road imperfections. For example, if one wheel hits a pothole, it won’t affect the other three.
As the Spectre detects a corner up ahead, it’ll re-couple its anti-roll bars and stiffen its dampers. Additionally, its four-wheel steering system helps to effectively shorten its wheelbase, allowing for more agile handling.
Alongside its online debut, Rolls-Royce officially opens its Spectre order books today. As mentioned earlier, the carmaker expects to deliver its first customer cars in Q4 2023. As of writing, Rolls-Royce has yet to announce official pricing figures. Expect more official announcements with greater detail as we near the car’s official launch in 2023.
