Rolls-Royce has been quite busy developing its first electric vehicle, the Spectre, this past year.
The carmaker announced today that the EV is undergoing its second testing phase in the French Riviera. Aside from lacking an internal combustion engine, the Spectre is set to incorporate many other firsts for the brand, including added comfort, rigidity, and aerodynamic performance.
Following the Rolls-Royce Spectre’s first round of testing near the arctic circle, we learned that Rolls-Royce plans to simulate over 400 years of use during its development phases. This means covering over 1.5 million miles.
The second phase in France is set to cover 388,000 miles of that total figure. This includes track time at Autodrome de Miramas and the French Riviera’s mountainous roads. According to Rolls-Royce, the goal is to test the Spectre on the roads its owners are most likely to drive.
Rolls-Royce claims the Spectre’s massively improved processing power will also allow it to incorporate “a new suspension technology.” The new system aims to improve the brand’s current “magic carpet ride.” It’ll decouple the car’s anti-roll bars on straight roads, allowing its wheels to act independently. In theory, this should decrease body movement as one side of the vehicle encounters an imperfection on the road.
As the Spectre’s navigation system notices a corner is up ahead, it’ll recouple the anti-roll bars and stiffen up its dampers. According to Rolls-Royce, more than 18 sensors will monitor steering inputs, braking, and power delivery to retain maximum stability. This is programmed to happen in the background, delivering a better driving experience for its owner.
The Spectre’s structure supplements its suspension. Rolls-Royce added steel sections to its aluminum space frame architecture to boost rigidity. The battery’s structure also plays a part in the added stiffness. The result is a 30 percent improvement overall current Rolls-Royce models.
Following multiple rounds of wind tunnel and high-speed testing, the Spectre’s drag coefficient has dropped from 0.26 to 0.25. However, testing is far from over. The Spectre still has to cover over 621,000 miles before testing concludes. However, following this announcement, it’s clear that this EV’s goal is to be the most rigid, comfortable, and aerodynamically efficient Rolls-Royce ever. The carmaker aims to begin customer deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2023.
