Peter Lyon
September 5, 2023
The Rolls-Royce Spectre, the brand’s first electric vehicle, has been introduced in Malaysia with a starting MSRP of RM2,000,000 before options. As Rolls-Royce is on a path to becoming a fully electric brand by 2030, this is only the first of a totally new lineup.
The Spectre realises the vision of its creator. The Honorary Charles Stewart Rolls stated that the electric car was clean and perfectly noiseless in 1900. They should become very useful when charging stations come about. It is the first ultra-luxury electric coupe in the world, effectively founding a brand-new sub-genre.
The Phantom Coupe’s spiritual successor, the Spectre, was conceptually inspired by racing yachts. The front grille may give the Spectre the appearance of an ICE Rolls-Royce from the outside, but the vehicle is entirely electric. With a drag coefficient of 0.25, the first electric Rolls-Royce is also the company’s most aerodynamic model to date. The Mercedes-Benz EQS, for example, has a drag coefficient of 0.2, whilst the Rimac Nevera boasts a Cd of 0.3.
Part of what contributes to the low drag coefficient of the Spectre is its grille, which may look like the standard ICE grille, but is actually closed off behind the vanes with a sand-blasted surface while the vanes have a slanted design to direct air to the sides of the car. A small but significant aspect that contributes to the aerodynamics is the new Spirit of Ecstasy which has undergone 830 hours of wind tunnel testing and design modelling to be the most aerodynamic Spirit of Ecstasy ever.
The Phantom Coupe’s spiritual successor, the Spectre, was conceptually inspired by racing yachts. The front grille may give the Spectre the appearance of an ICE Rolls-Royce from the outside, but the vehicle is entirely electric. With a drag coefficient of 0.25, the first electric Rolls-Royce is also the company’s most aerodynamic model to date. For comparison’s sake, the Mercedes-Benz EQS has a drag coefficient of 0.2, whilst the Rimac Nevera has a drag coefficient of 0.3.
With a length of over 5.4m, the Spectre is a true 4-seat coupe and not just a 2+2. And for the record, it weighs a massive 2,890 kg, thanks in large part to a huge 700 kg battery pack.
When it comes to the battery, the new EV has a 102-kWh battery with a 530 km (WLTP) range, which in the real world, should translate to around 450km. With AC charging, it can be charged at a maximum rate of 22 kW, and with DC charging, 195 kW. While the latter charges the vehicle from 10% to 80% in 34 minutes, the former charges the vehicle from flat to full in 5 hours and 30 minutes. Even while the range and charging speeds are remarkable by today’s standards, Rolls-Royce claims that it hasn’t given them much thought because the typical owner of a Rolls-Royce owns 7 vehicles on average and only travels 5,100 km in them annually.
OUR THOUGHTS
If those closing observations are not sobering, then I don’t know what is. Most Rolls owners possess 7 cars and only drive 5,100km a year?! So at least one or two of those vehicles are more artwork than transport. We’d suggest the Spectre leans towards the former. A nice place to be. Now in Malaysia, the Spectre starts at a price of RM 2,000,000 before options.
