Rolls-Royce Spectre: the brand’s first 100% electric model revealed

One after another, the long-standing strongholds of petrol-powered motoring are falling - even at the most aristocratic end of the market. Rolls-Royce has now unveiled the Spectre, its first 100% electric model.

Just over a year ago, emotions were running high within the British marque. “Today is the most significant day in the history of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars since 4 May 1904. On this day, our founders Charles Rolls and Sir Henry Royce revealed they would build the best motor car in the world,” said Rolls-Royce chief executive Torsten Müller-Ötvös when he announced, in September 2021, that the Spectre was on its way.

Now, at the official reveal of the brand’s first fully electric car, the Rolls-Royce boss goes further, insisting that “the Spectre shows how this brand is perfectly suited to electrification, with a propulsion system capable of ensuring this brand’s continued success and relevance, while strengthening every characteristic that makes a Rolls-Royce a Rolls-Royce”.

And while silence and luxury have almost always been natural partners, Müller-Ötvös is unequivocal in clarifying that “the Spectre is, first and foremost, a Rolls-Royce and, secondly, an electric vehicle. A new chapter for this brand and for the luxury car segment, which leads me to believe the Spectre is the most perfect product Rolls-Royce has ever produced.”

Electric roots

Sir Charles Stewart Rolls, Rolls-Royce’s co-founder, was already voicing a prediction back in 1900 after trying an electric vehicle called Columbia: “the electric car is silent and clean, with no smells or vibrations. And it may become very important when technological progress allows for the widespread rollout of battery charging stations”. That was one of his conclusions.

Unlike many other manufacturers of its era, Rolls-Royce began experimenting with electric motors at the start of the 20th century, as Sir Henry Royce was captivated by anything powered by batteries. Early in his career, his first company (F.H. Royce & Company) produced dynamos, electric crane motors, and even patented lamp holders.

Jumping ahead to 2011, the marque revived the idea of electric propulsion for the first time, creating an electric Phantom - the 102 EX. Then, in 2016, the “Bavarian Britons” revealed the forward-looking 103EX during BMW’s 100th anniversary celebrations (BMW has owned Rolls-Royce since 1998).

Müller-Ötvös notes that “that concept already had the scalable aluminium architecture - the Architecture of Luxury - used exclusively in the brand’s models, but designed not only for internal-combustion cars, but also for electric vehicles.”

Alongside the Spectre coupé, the Goodwood brand has two further models under development - a luxury saloon and an SUV - both of which will also be able to draw on BMW’s electric propulsion technology.

It looks like a Wraith, but it’s here to take the Phantom Coupé’s place

Until now, the name Spectre was best known for the 2015 film which - like the entire saga featuring the world’s most famous secret agent - celebrated James Bond’s heroic exploits. From today, however, it is also the name of Rolls-Royce’s first electric car.

At first glance, it seems as though a Rolls-Royce Wraith is sitting in front of us. Yet while the design and proportions are strikingly similar, Rolls-Royce executives keep stressing that the Spectre is an entirely new car - and, naturally, an electric one - even if it remains elegant and outrageously expensive, like any model from the house.

In fact, it does not replace the Wraith at all, but rather the Phantom Coupé, which ceased production in 2016.

The radiator grille is wider and flatter than usual for a “Rolls”, framed by LED lights that are as distinctive at the front as they are at the rear. This electric colossus rides on substantial 23" wheels and stands out with an apparently endless glasshouse.

Like the Wraith, it features a neatly drawn fastback body, with a gently tapering tail - the Cx is just 0.25. And, of course, with its huge overall length of 5.45 m and a vast 3.21 m wheelbase, it offers seemingly limitless space for four occupants. Entry is via two lavish doors that open “backwards”, in pure Rolls-Royce fashion.

Inside, what may surprise is how traditional it feels, because digital screens, apps and connectivity are already familiar features in today’s Rolls-Royce models. The signature starlight headliner is joined by a starry LED constellation across the doors and side panels.

The weight of the numbers

The four-wheel-drive Spectre’s figures are enough to make you pause: its kerb weight sits only marginally below three tonnes (2975 kg) - inevitably influenced by a large-capacity battery.

Even so, the promise is that the Spectre will deliver supreme ride comfort, with the Planar suspension - first introduced on the Ghost - refined to cope with the additional mass.

And, for once, there is a figure that is relatively small given the sheer size of this long coupé: a turning circle of 12.7 m, thanks to rear-wheel steering fitted as standard.

The battery is a little over 100 kWh, electric range should be around 520 km, and average consumption is 21.5 kWh/100 km. Despite its mammoth mass, the new Rolls-Royce Spectre draws on 585 cv and 900 Nm to accelerate to 100 km/h in just under 4.5s, while top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h.

In other words, performance that sits comfortably alongside the sensationally smooth V12 engines currently found across the brand’s line-up - powerplants widely regarded as true jewellery-making within the industry.

When does it arrive?

Although first deliveries of the new Rolls-Royce Spectre to early customers are only expected in autumn 2023, any multi-millionaire clients can already place a deposit to reserve one, leaving the balance of the invoice to be settled a year from now.

Pricing will be above €450,000 and below €550,000, positioning it between the Cullinan and the Phantom.