Rolls-Royce one step closer to launch of electric Spectre

The Rolls-Royce Spectre has just finished winter testing. Photo: Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce’s most important vehicle in its 118-year history is one step closer after the all-electric Spectre finished its winter testing.

In 2011, Rolls-Royce showcased a fully electric Experimental Phantom concept named 102EX. This was followed by 103EX, a dramatic design study that anticipated a bold electric future for the marque. These experimental cars prompted significant interest from Rolls-Royce clients. They felt that the characteristics of an electric powertrain would fit perfectly with the brand. Rolls-Royce Chief Executive Officer, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, responded to this with an unambiguous promise: Rolls-Royce will go electric, starting this decade.

And this is how the Spectre came into being. 

The all-electric Rolls-Royce Spectre has concluded winter Testing 55km from the Arctic Circle, where the marque’s products are subjected to temperatures as low as -40 degrees centigrade.  Here, rigorous tests in extreme conditions are carried out along with the beginnings of the refinement process - first ‘lessons’ in a finishing school that will form the foundations of a motor car worthy of the marque.

‘De-escalated time’ on the low traction surfaces of the arctic enables incredible accuracy and control in creating the Rolls-Royce experience using Spectre’s chassis control systems, powertrain management and electronics control. 

Following more than half a million kilometres of testing, 25perent of this process has now been completed.

Spectre is the most connected Rolls-Royce ever and each component within it is more intelligent than in any previous Rolls-Royce. It features 141,200 sender-receiver relations and has more than 1,000 functions with more than 25,000 sub-functions. By comparison, Phantom has 51,000 sender-receiver relations, 456 functions and 647 sub-functions.

As for design, a generously proportioned, highly emotional body style was selected using all-aluminium spaceframe architecture. The Spectre has been called an Electric Super Coupé. 

First customer deliveries are expected in the fourth quarter of 2023.