Luxury British carmaker Rolls-Royce – famous for its V12 engines – has confirmed plans to completely electrify its range by the end of the decade, with the first EV due in two years.

The all-new 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre coupe will be the marque’s first zero-emission production model, with customer deliveries to begin in the fourth quarter of 2023.

The teaser images for the Spectre do not show the finalised vehicle, but rather a test model hidden under thinly disguised bodywork.

“I am proud to announce that Rolls-Royce is to begin the on-road testing program for an extraordinary new product that will elevate the global all-electric car revolution and create the first – and finest – super-luxury product of its type. This is not a prototype. It’s the real thing,” said Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Chief Executive Officer Torsten Müller-Ötvös.

“Electric drive is uniquely and perfectly suited to Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, more so than any other automotive brand. It is silent, refined and creates torque almost instantly, going on to generate tremendous power.”

The use of electric motors is not a new concept for Rolls-Royce, which have been trialling electric powertrains for some time.

In 2011, the brand revealed the 102EX, a fully operational all-electric Phantom. They then followed this in 2016 with the fully electric 103EX concept, which represented Rolls-Royce vision for the future.

Subsequent models to the Spectre are yet to be announced, however, fully electrified versions of the existing Cullinan SUV, and Phantom and Ghost sedans are all but guaranteed.

“With this new product, we set out our credentials for the full electrification of our entire product portfolio by 2030. By then, Rolls-Royce will no longer be in the business of producing or selling any internal combustion engine products.”

Source:

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1 October 2021