Rolls-Royce chief executive Torsten Muller-Otvos says that the carmaker’s upcoming Spectre will not have a Tesla-like “Ludicrous” mode and offer a very different EV experience.
The British carmaker is in the midst of a comprehensive testing and development program for the Spectre that will see it cover some 1.5 million miles (2.5 million km). Much of this testing is being conducted in France at the Miramas automotive test center and along the stunning French Riviera. Performance specifications for the car aren’t yet known but it should be quite rapid.
“We will not put a Ludicrous mode like Tesla ever,” Muller-Otvos quipped to Autocar India. “That is not our intention. The Spectre will offer waftability in its most impressive form. It is best described by the experience of a Gulf Stream private jet taking off. This is exactly the feeling you will have in a Spectre.”
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As the first all-electric vehicle from Rolls-Royce, the Spectre will be a very important car for the brand. In fact, the company will go all-electric by 2030. Asked whether this decision has gone over well with its clientele, Muller-Otvos said that it has.
“Many of our clients are car aficionados and already own an electric car,” he said. “Feedback so far have always been very positive and I don’t see any negativity against us going electric. It fits quite naturally to Rolls-Royce. Electrics are silent, they’re torquey, they’re powerful. So as long as it delivers the true Rolls-Royce experience in all dimensions, I am not worried about it.”
The company’s boss added that Rolls-Royce is open to the idea of leveraging BMW’s experience and investment in hydrogen fuel cells.
While its powertrain will be new, the design of the Spectre will be quite familiar with a long hood, a sleek roofline, and pillarless doors. Muller-Otvos said the recognizable design is by intention.
“Our customers want the Spectre to be a Rolls-Royce first and then an electric. The Spectre will deliver that, but in a very modern way,” he said. “We are not into a cab-forward design even though the Architecture of Luxury aluminum spaceframe would allow all sorts of different shapes. It is a deliberate decision that the car carries quite a long hood and a lovely fastback coupe form. Our intention is to deliver a very emotional statement with the car.”
