Rolls-Royce has taken its future Specter electric coupé to the far north, with a series of tests over 625,000 km at the Arjeplog test center in Sweden.
Traditionally, car manufacturers take their novelties under tarpaulin to Sweden for life-size tests in the cold. This time, it is Rolls-Royce which has embarked its future electric novelty Specter on the test center of Arjeplog.
Located just 55 km from the Arctic Circle, this location allows the vehicle to be tested in extreme conditions, with temperatures down to -40°C. Rolls-Royce is taking advantage of these tests to communicate on its electric coupe, with new photos of the vehicle still under cover. The program, which must simulate 400 years of use with 2.5 million kilometres, is now at 25% with 625,000 km covered. « And the results met our highest expectations says Torsten Müller-Ötvös, director of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
An electric coupe weighing almost three tons?
Intended as the spiritual successor to the Phantom Coupé, the Specter features a “fastback” look and spans over 5 meters in length. Its aerodynamics are very elaborate with a Cd of 0.26 for the first prototypes. It retains antagonistic opening doors, also called “suicide doors”, and offers a double-decker look framing a large mesh grille. The model will be electric only, in line with the brand’s new strategy. It carries 700 kg batteries, the capacity of which is still unknown.
The power of the electric motors is also not indicated at this time. As for the weight, it could reach heights, since we evaluated the total mass of the coupe at 3 tons. Rolls-Royce claims that the model contains 7 km of cables against 2 km usually, and 25 times more algorithms. The number of transceiver connections is greatly increased with 141,200 connections for all of its 1,000 functions, compared to 51,000 connections and 456 functions in the last Phantom.
First deliveries at the end of 2023
The test program will continue for a few more months, before the official presentation, which should take place by 2023. The first deliveries to customers are scheduled for the end of 2023. A first step towards total electrification, since Rolls-Royce is starting the switchover and will be a 100% electric brand by 2030.
Photos : Rolls-Royce.
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