The Rolls-Royce Spectre made its Australian debut in Sydney today, as the spectacular coupe gets ready to enter showrooms as the first new-gen fully electric model from the legendary brand.
Rolls-Royce, like most auto makers, has set out plans to transition to a fully electric vehicle range, in this case by the end of 2030. This is the first to arrive, featuring a 102kWh battery pack and riding on the company’s ‘Architecture of Luxury’ platform like the new Phantom and Cullinan.
The stunning coupe uses two electric motors – one front and one rear. These are BMW eDrive units, with the front motor generating 190kW/365Nm and the rear motor adding 360kW/710Nm. Combined, the system develops a majestic 430kW and 900Nm.
That’s enough oomph to see 0-100km/h achieved in just 4.5 seconds, which is very swift for a large luxury land yacht like this. In fact, measuring in at 5475mm long and 2017mm wide, this is a massive coupe. And a heavy one, with a kerb weight of 2890kg.
With such a large battery though, range is not going to be an issue for most, with a WLTP rating of 530km. Charging can be done with a DC plug at up to 195kW, requiring around 34 minutes to go from 10-80 per cent capacity. Alternatively, the Spectre can take in 22kW of AC power, going from 0-100 per cent in 5.5 hours.
This is a significant milestone moment for Rolls-Royce as it kicks off its path to electrification. As you can imagine, the Spectre underwent an extensive development programme before it was launched, with around 2.5 million kilometres of testing across various regions, incorporating extreme conditions at both ends of the spectrum.
Speaking about the new model’s arrival in Australia, Irene Nikkein, regional director Asia-Pacific, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said:
“Australia remains a key market for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in the region and is one of the top 3 markets for the model in the Asia Pacific. Spectre has captured the imagination of many, representing as it does, the start of our brand’s bold electric future.”
Australia is seen as a very strong market for the Spectre, and is in the top three markets within the Asia Pacific region in terms of customer demand. The order bank currently spans through 2024.
Prices in Australia start from $770,000 (excluding on-roads). With that you get a Rolls-Royce wallbox home charger, a 10-year warranty on the battery, an included servicing plan, 24/7 roadside assistance, and even a 24/7 regional ‘flying doctor’ if the vehicle “fails to proceed”. Deliveries are set to commence in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2023.
