Rolls-Royce is a brand that knows exactly what it is and where it fits in the automotive world. Despite a resurrection in the late 1990s courtesy of BMW, the British carmaker has continuously stuck to its roots, embracing its heritage while looking toward the future. There is perhaps no greater example of this than the Spirit of Ecstacy figurine that stands at the front of every new Rolls-Royce today, as it has over the brand’s 111-year run.
However, times are changing, and the electrified future of the auto industry is all but undeniable. In keeping with its push forward, Rolls-Royce has redesigned its century-old figurine, emphasizing aerodynamics to ensure efficiency. The primary use case is for electric vehicles, which the brand plans to embrace with the upcoming Spectre, set to debut sometime in 2023.
According to Rolls-Royce, early prototypes of its upcoming EV achieved a drag coefficient of just 0.26 while sporting the updated Spirit of Ecstacy. Standing at just 82.73 mm tall, the new figurine is 17.28 mm shorter than its predecessor. Additionally, it features a tucked forward position with swept-back robes to provide greater aerodynamic efficiency. The result is a figurine that leans forward rather than stands tall.
While the current redesign is undoubtedly a big deal, Rolls-Royce claims it hasn’t finished its development. That’s because as the Spectre prototypes continue development, the figurine may be updated further to ensure proper efficiency. For now, we’ll have to wait until the Spectre debuts sometime over the next few years to see the finished figurine for the first time. In the meantime, feel free to check out all of the Rolls-Royce models currently available for sale by clicking the button below.
Source: Rolls-Royce Motorcars