Rolls-Royce Specter EV First Drive: elegant, discreet, quiet

Some years Before Charles Rolls met his future business partner, Henry Royce, he was open about the potential of the electric motor. Yes, back in 1900, electrification was very promising, and half of what would become the pioneering luxury car brand fully embraced the idea until the oil business did its nefarious deed and channeled a newfangled engine. industry towards gasoline.

To be clear, lead-acid batteries in those days were huge and not particularly efficient, and Rolls had doubts about the necessary infrastructure. This remains a problem 120 years later, depending on which part of the world you’re in, but it likely won’t bother the owner of a new Rolls-Royce Specter. Because, as Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Otvos told WIRED, the average Rolls customer Seven cars in their garage. In a life that is enviably bathed in luxury, being able to switch between a Ferrari, a Range Rover, or an electric Rolls-Royce is simply one of the less difficult decisions of the day. Then a car for all occasions.

The ghost appeared a long time ago. The company dabbled with BEV back in 2011, but so far Phantom disposable could offer a proof of concept, it also had a negligible range of less than 100 miles in the real world. In 2016, a full quota of brave pills resulted in a visually outstanding, outlandish Concept 103 EX. Just now, says Müller-Otvös, the worlds of Rolls-Royce and electrification finally convergent. Ghost this is the result.

It’s a giant four-seat super coupe, effectively replacing the old Phantom Coupe (now a prized possession) and the smaller Wraith. Rolls has successfully reduced the average age of its customers from 56 to 42 over the past decade, fueled by a booming demographic in the tech sector and the brand’s popularity among hip-hop leaders. The Specter will only speed things up as it is arguably the most beautiful car the company has made since its acquisition by BMW in the late 90s.

Silent running

Photo: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

This is a huge statement in every sense: 5 meters long and 2 meters wide. From behind the helm, the superyacht parallels are obvious: you’re not so much driving a Rolls-Royce as you’re issuing commands from the cockpit and plotting a course past little people. A certain degree of arrogance is needed here for sure.