Rolls-Royce, the epitome of luxury automotive craftsmanship, recently unveiled its groundbreaking creation, The Spectre, at the prestigious Rolls-Royce Vancouver dealership. This unveiling marked a historic moment for the marque as it introduced its first ultra-luxury electric super coupé, seamlessly blending the artisanship synonymous with Rolls-Royce with cutting-edge electric technology. President & CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Americas, Martin Fritsches, CEO of OpenRoad Auto Group, Christian Chia and the VP of Regional Operations and Area GM for OpenRoad Auto Group, Aly Jiwani were present at the event. The evening unfolded with entertainment, exquisite cuisine and beverages attended by media representatives and esteemed guests. Offering deeper insights into the Spectre and its reception in Vancouver, Aly Kinani shares valuable information, shedding light on how the local community embraced the vehicle and its potential impact on the brand's future.
What inspired Rolls Royce to create the Spectre, its first electric super coupé, and how does it align with the brand's heritage of luxury and craftsmanship?
In 1900, motoring pioneer The Hon. Charles Stewart Rolls made a bold prediction in a magazine article: "The electric car is perfectly noiseless and clean. There is no smell or vibration. They should become very useful when fixed charging stations can be arranged," he declared. Those words were written four years before his historic first meeting with Henry Royce.
In September 2021, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars confirmed it had begun testing the first model in its history to be conceived and engineered from the beginning as an electric car. That testing programme extended to more than 2.5 million kilometres in every extreme of terrain and temperature, simulating over 400 years of normal use. A year later, in October 2022, Spectre was unveiled to the world. A prophecy fulfilled.
As the first fully-electric Rolls-Royce ever made, Spectre proves that battery-electric technology has come of age and can be successfully deployed at the apex of automotive excellence, luxury and performance. As Charles Rolls himself foresaw, it is the motor car Rolls-Royce has been driving towards since it was founded – an elevated expression of effortlessness, power and historical endurance.
Can you tell us more about the design philosophy behind the Spectre? How has the transition to electric technology influenced its exterior and interior aesthetics?
The Spectre combines dazzling power and effortless performance with limitless freedom. Built upon the Architecture of Luxury — a bespoke platform that enables adaptive engineering and peerless ride quality — it combines agile performance with the marque's signature magic carpet ride.
Interior and Comfort:
This is a Rolls-Royce first and an electric car second. No compromises have been made in terms of interior space, comfort, performance, or ride quality. Its intimate interior provides a perfect canvas for Bespoke personalization, complemented by a unique illuminated fascia and the first Starlight Doors ever - an extension of the Starlight headliner.
Exterior:
There are subtle styling cues throughout the exterior that highlight the electric power of the Spectre, such as the black piano side skirt that nods to the battery compartment.
Spectre's Pantheon grille is the widest ever fitted to a Rolls-Royce and softly illuminated with 22 LEDs lighting up the rear of the grille at night. The Spirit of Ecstasy figurine was specially created for Spectre. With a lower stance and more aerodynamic profile, perfected over 830 hours of design modelling and wind-tunnel testing, it contributes to the motor car's drag coefficient of just 0.25cd, making Spectre the most aerodynamic Rolls-Royce ever built.
What advanced technologies and engineering innovations have been integrated into the Spectre to ensure a seamless and exceptional driving experience for Rolls Royce enthusiasts?
Electric Drivetrain with Braking Recuperation - It is fitted with two separate motors. This equates to an internal combustion engine equivalent of (584 hp) with 900Nm of torque. In terms of acceleration, Spectre achieves 0-60mph in 4.4 seconds (0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds). By activating 'Brake Mode,' braking recuperation is increased, enabling single-pedal driving and even allowing the car to come to a complete stop if desired.
Battery - The battery's position gives it a highly beneficial secondary function: fully integrated into the motor car's architecture, it acts as 700kg of additional acoustic insulation.
The most connected Rolls-Royce ever - SPIRIT is a completely redesigned digital architecture that connects the Spectre owner with their car more closely than ever before. As well as managing the motor car's functions, SPIRIT is seamlessly integrated into the marque's Whispers app, allowing owners to interact with their cars remotely.
Planar Suspension System - When the system detects a corner, it recouples the components, stiffens the damper, and prepares to activate the four-wheel steering system to ensure effortless entry and exit. Individual sensors adjust the suspension automatically during cornering to maintain perfect tracking and stability. Spectre is built upon an All-Aluminum Spaceframe with 30% more rigidity; combining this with the planar suspension system is what gives Spectre the signature Magic Carpet Ride.
As the General Manager of Rolls Royce Vancouver, what excites you the most about introducing the Spectre to the local market, and how do you see it contributing to the brand's presence in Vancouver?
We are excited to be the exclusive retail showroom in BC to unveil what is the start of a bold new chapter for the Rolls-Royce marque and for our extraordinary clients, in such a thrilling way.
This is the Rolls-Royce that changes everything. The Spectre redefines luxury and is simply transportation in a league of its own. This elevates the motor car experience in Vancouver. It is the beginning of our entire product portfolio going fully electric by 2030.
How was Spectre received by guests or clients at the launch?
The Spectre has been boldly well-received. Spectre represents an unequivocal statement of intent, signalling to the world what Rolls-Royce stands for customers now and in the decades to come. Guests marvelled at witnessing the beginning of the future of Rolls-Royce.