Rolls Royce have concluded their winter testing of the brand’s new Spectre electric car due to be launched in 2023. The testing, which took place at a specialist facility in Arjeplog, Sweden just 55km from Arctic Circle, saw the new electric vehicle (EV) put through its paces in temperatures as low as minus 40˚C.
By driving on low traction surfaces such as snow and ice and destabilising Spectre, the engineers can create dynamic circumstances at low speeds that would ordinarily occur at high speeds.
This can be reviewed and guided in situ and in slow motion by the engineers. In doing so cold-weather vehicle performance in areas such as handling, controllability, stability and predictability can be dialled in and finessed perfectly.
The testing of the Spectre here represented 25 percent of the 2.5 million kilometre testing programme it will go through. Rolls Royce says this simulates 400 years of use.
The luxury car producer sees the Spectre as more than just another model for the brand and says it is a symbol for their bright, bold electric future and it represents a seismic shift in the company’s powertrain technology.
The company refers to the Spectre as ‘Rolls-Royce 3.0’ which represents the beginning of the marque’s bold electric future.
Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Rolls-Royce CEO, said: “Refining the all-electric drivetrain that underpins Spectre challenges the very definition of engineering. The departure from internal combustion engines allows us to significantly increase the processing power of our individual components and create a Decentralised Intelligence.
“We refer to this unprecedented era, where we benefit from a multi-control, multi-channel and highly interconnected electronic and electric powertrain architecture, as ‘Rolls-Royce 3.0’.”
“Our task is to teach each component and system how to think, behave and communicate like a Rolls-Royce, which sees much of the engineering pivot from workshops into the digital space. Here in Arjeplog we have built a significant foundation on which we will create a true Rolls-Royce.
“This is a big step forward for our brand, but also for electrification – even though Spectre is in its infancy, I can confirm that the technology is able to contain the Rolls-Royce experience.”
With the winter testing phase completed, Spectre will continue its global testing programme. The Electric Super Coupé still has to complete nearly two million kilometres before the marque’s engineers will consider this undertaking complete prior to first customer deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2023.
