The transition to electric power spares no one. Even brands like Rolls Royce, which emphasize tradition and executing a product with the finest finish, are forced to move with the times. The 2023 Rolls Royce Spectre is a testimony to just that. The first fully-electric Rolls will arrive on sale in the fourth quarter of 2023 and aims to be the most exquisite BEV model on the market. The Spectre is Wraith’s logical evolution, given the times, and while power will still be more than adequate, there is a price to pay for electrification - weight. While Rolls-Royce models have never been lightweights, the Spectre is tipping the scales in a major way.
Being Heavy is Part of Being a Rolls Royce
Rolls Royce has always relied on large-displacement engines, and yet, performance was never at the top of the list of priorities. The engine output of earlier Rolls Royce models were quoted as "adequate" and nothing more, with the automaker seemingly asserting that hard numbers are for plebeians. To put things in perspective, the two-door Rolls Royce Wraith is powered by a 6.6-liter, twin-turbo V-12 (As opposed to the 6.75-liter V-12 in most other models). In terms of weight, the Wraith tips the scales at 5,368 pounds (2,435 kg).
The Spectre's fully-electric powertrain consists of at least two electric motors, meaning that the big Rolls has all-wheel-drive capability. The system output is rated at 585 horsepower (430 kilowatts) and 664 pound-feet (900 Nm). This allows for a 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) sprint in 4.4 seconds, which matches the time of its combustion-powered predecessor, the Wraith. With an electric range of 320 miles (520 km), the Spectre is more than capable as a long-distance cruiser. Electric powertrain, almost always, spells heavy, and the Spectre is no exception with a curb weight of 6,559 pounds (2,975 kg). On the plus side, the Spectre boasts a drag coefficient of just 0.26 Cd, so it should cut through the air like, well, a spectre.
Still Very Much a Rolls Royce
Unparalleled luxury is a par for the course with any Rolls, and the Spectre upholds this tradition. Just in case you have any doubts that the Spectre will be comfortable, there are 1,543 pounds (700 kg) worth of sound insolation. The Planar suspension has been refined in order to provide Rolls-Royce’s hallmark “magic carpet ride” while retaining adequate levels of athleticism for a two-door luxury GT. Being the brand's first electric vehicle, the Rolls Royce Spectre is not underpinned by an existing BMW platform, but by a brand new chassis. As for the Spectre’s price, it is expected to be positioned between the Ghost and Cullinan models, at around $350,000. This makes it "slightly" more expensive than the ambitiously-priced Cadillac Celestiq EV.