When one thinks of Rolls Royce, words such as "Opulence", "Luxury", "Rich" come to mind. Of course one also associates it with Royalty but since there's too much drama going on at Buckingham Palace with the Windsor's, I'll exclude that one for this article as I am about to talk about something quite special from a special brand in the motoring world. Ever since the introduction of the Carbon Tax in Europe, vehicle manufacturers were forced to make their cars more green or introduce models that would have lesser impact on the environment than before. Rolls Royce had a major problem on their hand as most, if not all of their cars at the time had massive V12 engines fitted in them. They couldn't go down the route as their British counterparts Aston Martin and make a 1-litre car like the Cygnet, that would mock its very existence! Instead, with the help of their parent company BMW, Rolls Royce found innovative ways to work around this, until now that is. With the introduction of the first fully electric model named the Spectre, this would be a massive plus in their books. The Spectre was first showcased back in October 2022 with production models being ready by end of 2023. This week I was extremely fortunate enough to sample what this electric beauty has to offer and my word it is magnificent.
I think my history with electric cars has been mentioned one time too many, but I still get blown away when I see the progression in technology from the various brands. Rolls Royce being in a category I've never driven before, be it ICE or EV, I was in for something really special and you couldn't wipe the smile off my face even if you tried. Just standing and looking at the car feels special, the design of it echoes the brands styles but with a modern yet classic twist. The car exudes elegance in any angle that you look at it, the regal nature of its silhouette has onlookers shocked at its stature. Yes, it's a coupe but one that measures 5.475 meters, that is longer than the new BMW 7-series! Inspiration for the Spectre's design is drawn from worlds far beyond automotive, including haute couture, modernist sculpture, nautical design, tailoring and contemporary art. The Spectre features the widest grille ever on a Rolls Royce and the first which is illuminated, it is adorned with split headlights either side of it. The vanes of the Pantheon grille are now smoother in section and a flusher fit, designed to help guide the air around the motor car’s front. The profile of the car has classic lines from the Phantom Coupe, with the eye catching fastback rear design that mesmerizes you as the car glides by.
Stepping inside, you are greeted by a vast array of plush materials, from the shaggy pile sheep wool carpets, to real oak inserts on the dash. The long suicide doors feature a star light pattern that has over 4,000 inserts, this is married with various high quality leathers which is available in any colour of your imagination. No, really, the specification guide seems endless with the combinations available making each and every car made bespoke to the owners tastes. I've driven a lot of fancy cars that cost a pretty penny but this league is next level. I found myself flabbergasted seeing the details and feeling each and every panel and trim on the interior. There's no detail spared, and it shouldn't given the price tag. While the user interface and some of the controls feel familiar from the Germans, the the comfortable seats and plush surroundings make up for it. The car has loads of tech, all of which come from BMW but it has a few tricks up its sleeve too, the automated closing doors is definitely a feature I could get used to and a handy trick is that when the driver presses the brake pedal, the door automatically starts to close.
In 1900, Rolls-Royce co-founder, Charles Rolls, prophesised an electric future for the motor car. Having acquired an electric vehicle named The Columbia Electric Carriage, he foresaw its suitability as a clean, noiseless alternative to the internal combustion engine – providing there was sufficient infrastructure to support it. 120 years later, that vision is finally here. Rolls Royce boasted the quietest cabin noise as they viewed it as disruptive to listen to the mechanics of the engine in the car whilst driving. They strive for this silence and to an extent much of their line-up delivered through many sound proof layers in the engine bay, but with an all electric setup, its not required as the silence is guaranteed. The two electric motors pump out and equivalent power output of 577 horses and a max torque of 900Nm which gives it a 0-100km/h time of 4.5 seconds! Bear in mind this car weights just less than 3,000kgs thanks to the lithium iron batteries which have a 102kWh capacity and fully charges in 95 minutes using a DC fast charger. The maximum reported range from a full charge is 520km, this includes regeneration through braking. The term "floating on clouds" come to mind when driving this car, as it glides along any surface with ease, the rear wheel steering help navigate the long chassis with ease.
The Spectre is Rolls Royce introduction into the EV era and my word is it something, if this is the start the company is making into an all electric future, it does look like a bright one from the company. Starting price for the Spectre is in the region of R15 million.
