Rolls-Royce’s first fully electric car, the Spectre coupe, is still working through its 2.5-million-kilometer testing process ahead of the first customer deliveries in late 2023. On Thursday it released a new set of images showing the Spectre on the lush roads of Southern France, and it confirmed a few new details about the electric coupe — some of which are pretty rad.
For starters, the Spectre will have a new take on electronic roll stabilization. Lots of cars have active anti-roll tech, but what sets the Spectre’s apart is the ability for the system to automatically turn itself on and off depending on the road condition.
Using the satellite navigation and Rolls-Royce’s road-scanning cameras, when the Spectre detects a turn, the car’s steering, braking, power delivery and dampers adjust so the coupe remains stable. When the road straightens out again, the system decouples the anti-roll bars. Rolls-Royce says this lets all four wheels act independently for a more solid straight-road ride.
Looks good.
Rolls-RoyceBeyond that, Rolls-Royce says the Spectre is the stiffest car in the company’s history, largely thanks to integrating the battery structure into the car’s platform. The company also says that while it originally quoted a drag coefficient of 0.26, the latest testing actually results in a slipperier 0.25, making this Rolls-Royce’s most aerodynamic car ever.
The Spectre’s shape is reminiscent of the now-departed Wraith, though Rolls-Royce insists this new car does isn’t a replacement for the old one. We’re still loving the weird camouflage wrap that features quotes from company founder Charles Rolls, and the Spectre will have Rolls-Royce’s updated Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament, too.
It’s unclear exactly when Rolls-Royce will show the production Spectre, with the automaker only confirming deliveries will start by the end of next year.
