All-electric Rolls-Royce Spectre revealed on global stage for first time

Petrolheads have been keenly waiting for its unveiling after the design was touted last year

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  The all-electric Rolls-Royce Spectre has been unveiled on the world stage. All photos: Rolls-Royce

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  The Spectre displays what Rolls-Royce calls its 'indulgent proportions'.

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  Rolls-Royce says the Spectre's design takes in haute couture, modernist sculpture and contemporary art.

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  Han Solo might be at home in there.

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  That's about as near to water as the Spectre should probably go.

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  It's all very modern, but the Spectre maintains some of the brand's old-school stylings.

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  The Spectre's speaker set up.

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  Step inside ...

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  An early design sketch.

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  A Rolls-Royce emblem on the tail light.

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  The Spectre's starlight ceiling.

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  The Rolls-Royce symbol on the Spectre's wheels.

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  Looking out from the centre console.

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  The Spectre badge.

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  The Spectre is being posited as the first 'ultra-luxury electric super coupe'.

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  You'd know the Spectre was a Rolls-Royce just by looking at the tail light.

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  The ever-present Spirit of Ecstasy figurine.

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  A dusky spectacle.

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  Straight from the drawing board.

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  Clean lines on the dashboard and steering wheel.

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  The car has all the stylings of a classic grand tourer.

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  An early shot of the Rolls-Royce Spectre, as teased by the company in September 2021.

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  They weren't giving much away.

Rolls-Royce is gearing up for the next chapter in automotive history with the Spectre, the manufacturer's first all-electric vehicle.

The motor was unveiled for the first time on Tuesday following much trumpeting from petrolheads around the world, who have been keenly awaiting its big reveal since the concept was first mentioned in dispatches last year.

In fact, Rolls-Royce describes the Spectre as being a “prophecy fulfilled”, citing one Charles Rolls, the company’s co-founder along with Henry Royce, who mentioned how much he valued fossil fuel-free propulsion — more than 120 years ago.

Electric cars, he said, had the potential to be a clean and largely noise-free alternative to those powered by internal combustion engines, as long as you had enough charging points — an opinion you might indeed think of as being seriously ahead of the game.

No surprise that the Spectre exudes elegance and style visually, but you’d expect nothing less from a brand that has done its best to incorporate such concepts into its very DNA.

The look of the new arrival might be said to most closely resemble its Wraith sibling, with the fastback roof (as automotive designers are keen to describe such things these days) being a prominent feature.

Rolls-Royce, however, says the composition of the Spectre has been influenced by “haute couture, modernist sculpture, nautical design, tailoring and contemporary art”.

The sleek shape of the Spectre leads automotive designers to refer to it as a 'fastback'. Photo: Rolls-Royce

The front headlights sit either side of the widest grille to have been put on one of the marque’s products, with the view of the car from the side purposefully resembling something along the lines of a luxury yacht.

The car has undergone some rigorous testing, which included more than 2.5 million kilometres on the road. That, Rolls-Royce suggests, simulates more than 400 years of use for one its products.

Some of this land testing, which is ongoing, took place in harsh climates — from the freezing temperatures in Arjeplog, Sweden, to the scorching sun in southern African — while other areas proved less challenging, such as the pleasantly warm French Riviera.

Rolls-Royce says the exact specifications of the Spectre are still being calculated, but early data shows the vehicle will have a range of 520km, around 900Nm of torque, and a 0 to 100kph time of 4.5 seconds.

Rolls-Royce’s chief executive Torsten Muller-Otvos says the Spectre possesses all the qualities that have given the brand the kudos it has built up over the years.

“This is the start of a bold new chapter for our marque, our extraordinary clients and the luxury industry,” he said.

The company has made the commitment to have a fully-electric portfolio by 2030.

As is usual with launches of this kind, no exact price has been mentioned but Rolls-Royce says this is likely to be somewhere between the Cullinan at £301,975 ($341,628) and the Phantom at £410,575 ($464,489).

The vehicles will be delivered next year, so there's still plenty of time for customers to heed Charles Rolls's words and seek out the nearest charging points.

Rolls-Royce Boat Tail: latest version of world’s most expensive new car unveiled — in pictures

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  The Boat Tail looking suitably at home by Lake Como in Italy. All photos: Rolls-Royce

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  The Boat Tail was unveiled at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d-Este event in northern Italy.

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  The rear deck is swathed in a walnut veneer.

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  Possibly the world's poshest picnic set.

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  The boat analogy stretches to a deck-like effect on the car's boot.

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  The front of the Boat Tail features what Rolls-Royce calls a pantheon grille.

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  The wood-veneer interior is matched with earth-tone accents.

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  The colour of the new Boat Tail is a blend of "oyster and soft rose".

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  The rear deck has a butterfly opening action.

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  Roof up, ready to roll.

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  The Spirit of Ecstasy figurine in rose gold.

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  The Boat Tail is hand-built, with the body panels being crafted from single sheets of aluminium.

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  Up close with the wood-veneer decking.

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  An early design sketch.

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  The Boat Tail's body shape was chiselled from wood before construction as a guide to the coachbuilders.

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  Even the statue seems impressed.

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  The Boat Tail has gold accents throughout.

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  The Boat Tail features a clock with mother-of-pearl accents.

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  Parasol only to be used when stationary.

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  The Boat Tail at dusk.