Rolls-Royce explains why its first EV will be a coupe

Rolls-Royce has vowed to become a purely electric brand by the end of the decade, kick-starting its EV campaign in about two years from now with the Spectre. Speaking with Automotive News Europe, CEO Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes explained the reasoning behind the decision to opt for a coupe body style for RR’s first foray into the zero-emissions segment.

The man in charge at Goodwood explains “a coupe is very emotional and for us, it was very important that we make a statement.” While we usually associate Rolls-Royce with an older clientele, Mueller-Oetvoes says the British ultra-luxury brand has the youngest customer demographic among all BMW Group brands – including MINI – as the average RR buyer is 43 years old.

It is worth noting the Spectre will act as an indirect replacement to the Wraith, which has been pulled out of the US market because of more stringent emissions law. The coupe introduced in 2013 is one of the last models to ride on a BMW-sourced platform, along with its convertible counterpart – the Dawn. It’s too soon to say whether the Spectre will spawn a version with a folding top, but it seems very likely.

Technical details remain shrouded in mystery, with Mueller-Oetvoes only saying the range provided by the battery pack will be “sufficient.” He provided a similar answer regarding the Spectre’s power, so we don’t have any concrete details about the EV aside from the fact it will share the same platform as the latest Ghost and Phantom. The two sedans ride on the Rolls-Royce bespoke Architecture of Luxury that has also underpinned the Cullinan SUV.

Rolls-Royce’’s head honcho says the Spectre will not only “look very different” than the outgoing Wraith, but it will also feel “very different.” He went on to specify replacements for current models will switch to EV power and in eight years from now, there aren’t going to be any V12 models left. However, RR is not done with new combustion-engined models as there are still at least one on the way, claims Automotive News Europe citing sources familiar with the matter.

Source: Automotive News Europe