Nobody sees a poltergeist. At best, acoustic signals testify to its hitherto unproven existence. But when the first fully electric Rolls Royce hits the road, it’s set to be the quietest automobile ever, despite its name Specter. At least that’s what Thorsten Müller-Ötvös, head of the British luxury retailer, says. The electric drive is a perfect match for a brand whose claim has always been to offer sufficient performance, but otherwise to keep the occupants away from everyday world events as soon as the heavy doors slam shut. The Specter won’t be on the road for a year, but some regular customers and journalists have already asked Rolls Royce for a visual and seat test.
It begins with the usual fuss at the premiere on a semi-dark stage. But once the light is fully on, the viewer lets out a sigh of relief. The first Rolls with a battery is also clearly a Royce, with no ifs or buts. There is a coupe of enormous proportions, two doors, rear-hinged, four full-size seats – after all, with an exterior length of five and a half meters, there is plenty of space. A long bonnet gives the car familiar proportions, although it doesn’t need all that space, after all, the electric motors are on the front and rear axles.