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Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will today (Sept 29th) announce that testing is now beginning on its first fully electric model.
Following the luxury marque’s tradition of giving its models ethereal names such as Ghost, Wraith and Phantom, the new electric car will be called Spectre.
This is not a prototype. Spectre will come to market by Q4 2023.
CEO, Torsten Müller-Ötvös believes that: “Today is a seminal moment, the most significant day in the history of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars since the company was founded in 1904. This extraordinary new product will elevate the global all-electric car revolution. We are creating the first – and finest - super-luxury product of its type.”
The announcement fulfills a prophecy for electric vehicles made by the marque’s founder, Charles Rolls, in 1900 and fulfills the promise by Mr Müller-Ötvös to bring a fully electric car to market this decade.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has been experimenting with an electric powertrain for several years. In 2011 it revealed the 102EX, a fully operational all-electric Phantom. Five years later it unveiled the fully electric concept 103EX, which represented its vision for the marque several decades into the future.
The luxury marque has not yet set a date when Spectre will be unveiled or when it will come to market. Before it does it will undertake the most demanding testing programme in Rolls-Royce’s history. It will cover 2.5 million kilometers – a simulation of more than 400 years of use for a Rolls-Royce on average – and will travel in all conditions and terrains around the world to push Spectre to the limit.
The use of electric motors is not a new concept for Rolls-Royce. Sir Henry Royce was fascinated by all things electrified, and his first venture, named F. H. Royce and Company, created dynamos, electric crane motors and patented the bayonet-style light bulb fitting.
However, it was Charles Rolls who truly prophesied an electrified future for automobiles. In April 1900 he experienced an early electric car named the Columbia and declared its electric drive to be ideal.
“The electric car is perfectly noiseless and clean,” he declared
- CEO, Torsten Müller-Ötvös: “This is the most significant day in the history of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars since the company was founded in 1904.”
- Fulfils the prophecy of founder, Charles Rolls, who declared a 1900 electric car to be ‘perfectly noiseless and clean’
- 2.5 million kilometres of testing is now beginning – equivalent of 400 years of use
- CEO available for interviews - face to face at the Goodwood factory or via satellite from 09.00-18.00 BST (embargoed pre-records before the 13.00 embargo lifts, lives after 13.00)
- B-Roll available
29 September 2021
