Many automakers are shifting to an all-electric fleet, but few are as daringly opulent as Rolls Royce. The high-end manufacturer revealed on Tuesday that it is formally developing the Spectre electric “ultra luxury super coupe,” with a target release date of 2023.
Rolls-Royce committed to having an entirely electric fleet by 2030 a year ago. The co-founder of Rolls-Royce, Charles Rolls, predicted an electric future for the automobile in 1900, if there existed a suitable infrastructure. The Spectre may just be the ideal spark for the brand’s development into a more contemporary portfolio with its distinctive Rolls-Royce grille and sleek, aerodynamic appearance.
The new car is the reincarnation of the Phantom Coupé, a grand tourer that the manufacturer first debuted in 2008. While the Spectre isn’t quite as large as its inspiration, both vehicles share Rolls-all-aluminum Royce’s “Architecture of Luxury.” Both are two-doors with relaxed curves. The Spectre employs an updated version of the Ghost’s Planar suspension, which makes real-time adjustments to its air springs and adaptive dampers based on information from a camera system that monitors the road. The iteration of Spectre enables momentary antiroll bar decoupling, which results in a softer ride when negotiating road imperfections.
The Spectre’s all-electric drivetrain will generate 430 kilowatts of power and 900 Newton meters of torque, which will enable it to accelerate from zero to sixty miles per hour in just 4.4 seconds. While the Porsche Taycan Turbo S (2.6 seconds) and now-discontinued Tesla Model S Performance (2.3 seconds) are faster, the Spectre carries an additional 1,000 pounds, making it quite agile for its 6,000+ pound weight. In order to replicate more than 400 years of operation, a lengthy 1.5 million-mile test drive will be used to continuously evaluate the Spectre’s single-charge range, which Rolls Royce anticipates would be 320 miles.
The Spectre’s interior will continue the luxury and attention to detail that Rolls Royce devotees have come to anticipate. The brand’s Bespoke stitching, embroidery, and piping will be used in the new front seat design, and wood paneling is an option for the coach doors. The driver’s side and center panel of the vehicle will be covered by a digital dashboard that runs Rolls Royce’s SPIRIT software and features infinitely adjustable gauges. The Spectre will offer Starlight Doors, which feature 4,796 small lighted “stars,” a first for a Rolls-Royce in series manufacturing. When the car is running, a further 5,500 stars will shine on the passenger-side dashboard.
With initial fulfillment anticipated for Q4 2023, the Spectre is already available for pre-order (or “commission,” in Rolls-Royce parlance). The electric car will be expensive, just like the rest of the fleet of the manufacturer; the starting price of the Spectre is projected to be over $350,000, with additional costs pushing the final price to roughly $465,000.
