The Spectre is one huge milestone for Rolls-Royce – after all, it’s the first-ever all-electric production model from the British marque. With the Spectre, Rolls-Royce is embarking on the inevitable journey of electric mobility for the future. And since the Spectre is first-of-its-kind, it will pave the path for future all-electric models from Rolls-Royce.
Since the Rolls-Royce Spectre broke its covers, much has been talked about the way it looks inside-out and the quintessential luxurious appeal it comes written all over. However, beyond its unparalleled luxury, the Spectre is also featuring massive technological advancements over the current range of Rolls-Royce.
Apart from the all-new fully-electric powertrain, it comes with a host of enhancements to its architecture and suspension, thus making it a benchmark of technology at Rolls-Royce.
A Never-Seen-Before Powertrain For The Rolls-Royce Spectre
We are used to seeing nothing smaller or differing than a gargantuan V12 under the hoods of Rolls-Royce models. However, the Spectre is a car heading in an altogether different direction, as it ditches the gas-powered V12 for a new-generation all-electric powertrain.
Rolls-Royce is yet to decide on the final configuration of electric motors and battery pack for the Spectre and is fine-tuning them before the testing phase concludes in the second quarter of 2023. However, Rolls-Royce Spectre is said to have a claimed range of 320 miles (WLTP cycle) from its battery.
Also, its 430 kW powertrain claims to produce 900 Nm of torque output and enable the Spectre to cover the 0-62 mph sprint in 4.5 seconds.
Spectre Is The First Rolls-Royce To Have ‘Spirit’
Connected car technology is taking the automotive world by storm, and since the Spectre is the newest Rolls-Royce, it had to be the best in this aspect. The Spectre takes the decentralized intelligence processing capabilities of Rolls-Royce to a new level by featuring an all-new digital architecture of luxury.
Named ‘Spirit’, this digital architecture uses artificial intelligence to manage various functions of the Spectre and comes integrated into Rolls-Royce’s ‘Whispers’ application. This architecture features a dedicated control module, which features handmade controls for 141,200 sender-receiver variables for studying variations in speed, climate, vehicle status, road type, and driving behavior.
Using this new feature, the owners can interact with the car remotely and receive live information about it even if they are not seated inside it. In addition, the owners can also avail of bespoke commission through this new digital architecture, more details of which will surface when the car hits the showroom floors in 2023.
The Rolls-Royce Spectre Has A Modified All-Aluminium Skeleton Under Its Skin
Like the other current-generation Rolls-Royce models like the Phantom, Ghost, and Cullinan, the Spectre also gets a highly-flexible all-aluminum spaceframe architecture. Rolls-Royce developed this particular frame to accommodate an electric powertrain right from the beginning, and with the Spectre, Rolls-Royce is embarking on an all-new journey, which it is calling ‘Rolls-Royce 3.0’.
For the Spectre, Rolls-Royce has made extensive changes to the architecture to accommodate its all-new powertrain. The spaceframe architecture of the Spectre receives sophisticated extruded aluminum sections, which, along with the integration of the battery into the structure, has made the frame 30 percent stiffer than before.
In the Spectre, the floor is placed between the sill structures. At the same time, wiring and climate control pipework are stacked in the channel between the battery and the floor. All these changes have helped Rolls-Royce achieve a lower and more accommodating cabin and 700 kg of sound deadening in the Spectre.
Rolls-Royce Spectre Gets Advanced Planar Suspension For ‘Magic Carpet Ride'
While undergoing trial runs, the Rolls-Royce Spectre received a digitally-integrated, evolved version of the Planar suspension system. Already used in other Rolls-Royce models, Planar suspension uses a combination of various systems which study precisely-defined driver responses to driver inputs and road conditions using the latest software and hardware. The result is a supremely comfortable ride quality, which Rolls-Royce terms ‘magic carpet ride’.
For the Spectre, Rolls-Royce has used a new suite of hardware components, which work in combination with the digital architecture introduced. With the help of high-processing capabilities, the Planar system of the Spectre can detach its anti-roll bars, due to which each wheel of the car can act independently. It will help the Spectre to prevent rocking motion when it hits any undulation or pothole on the road, apart from ironing out the high-frequency ride imperfections on differing road surfaces.
In addition, if the Spectre hits a corner, the anti-roll bars will recouple using the same high-processing capabilities, followed by stiffening of the suspension dampers and activation of four-wheel steering, thus ensuring easy entry and exit on the corners. Once the Spectre hits a corner, 18 different sensors get activated, which monitor the steering, braking, power delivery, and suspension inputs to keep the car stable and give it effortless control.
Source: Rolls-Royce