The connection between BMW and Rolls-Royce has become less obvious with the disappearance of V12s from the 7 Series range. However, we think the 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre is going to eco its Bavarian brothers in a number of ways.
As you’re probably aware, BMW is making a major switch to electric vehicles. The i4 M50 is amazing, making the i3 predecessor look like an utter joke of a car. But the EV that has the German industry on notice is the i7. It spearheads the development of the 7 Series family with which it shares underpinnings, and its tech obviously needs to trickle down to Rolls-Royce as well.
Despite everything, Rolls-Royce shipped a record number of cars in 2021, with sales going up by 49%. However, 5,586 models isn’t a lot, even when all your customers are multi-millionaires with lavish tastes. The Cullinan tapping into the SUV market is mostly responsible for growth, but RR fans still love the large sedans and coupes and may want a taste of the electric revolution as well.
Despite showing a prototype, the company decided to skip plug-in hybrids and is instead going full-electric with the 2024 Spectre coupe. It’s scheduled to debut next year, and we know only a few things about it. The emphasis of its design is aerodynamics, with a target coefficient of only 0.26.
The direct replacement to the Wraith has also been shown as a test prototype, featuring a psychedelic camouflage pattern that looks like the Joker’s graffiti. And based on that vehicle, the Russians at Kolesa were able to extract enough info for their usual twin renderings.
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From the front, we immediately spot the split design where the headlights and DRLs are separated into two elements. It’s almost identical to what’s coming to the 7 Series range, the i7, the X8, and potentially an X7 facelift. Also, the vanes of the Pantheon grille are angled inwards. This makes sense, considering it’s the first Rolls that doesn’t really need a grille.
The overall proportions are also sportier than the Wraith’s, capturing a little bit of that crazy 103EX design. The roof tapers right to the trunk spoiler, for example, so it’s not a 3-box look. When it comes to the interior, we’re obviously going to see the latest BMW tech hidden as much as possible under the best old-timer luxury materials. But Rolls-Royce obviously needs to offer sustainable options for everything in there.
As far as the powertrain is concerned, people aren’t able to speculate that much. The platform is not bespoke to EVs, but it’s such a huge car that batteries are obviously going to fit. We expect the Spectre to be unveiled in Q4 2022 and start deliveries around the middle of 2023. So the tech must already be available.
The iX M60 is a likely powertrain donor. It has an 111.5 kWh battery pack that should offer a range of up to 300 miles. And for the engines, this will use two of them with a combined output of around 600 horsepower. Like all Rolls-Royces, it won’t work as a dragster, so don’t line up against Teslas expecting to win.