Rolls-Royce has previously announced plans to become an all-electric automaker by the end of the decade. That journey will start with the Spectre EV, set to launch in 2023.
Not only will it be their first EV, it will also be their most aerodynamic vehicle ever.
In early tests the prototypes have achieved a 0.26 drag coefficient, a number Rolls-Royce expects will get even lower before production.
Wanting to get squeeze out every last ounce of aerodynamic efficiency, the luxury automaker has gone so far as to redesign its Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament.
The biggest change is to its posture, which now features a “lower, more aerodynamic stance” that is 0.7 inches lower than the current version (right below).
She also has a new stance, with one leg slightly in front of the other, resulting in an adjustment to the angle of her robes (not wings).
The end result makes her “a true goddess of speed, braced for the wind, one leg forward, body tucked low, her eyes focused eagerly ahead,” Rolls-Royce said.
Continuing with their tradition, each Spirit of Ecstasy is hand-finished after the casting process, so each one will be “minutely” different from the rest.
“One leg forward, a signifier of progression, she braces the wind with a lower, powerful stance. Her flowing robes — often mistaken for outstretched wings — have been subtly reshaped for a realistic look. These stylistic changes make her more aerodynamic — a true goddess of speed gliding toward the future,” the automaker says of the new design.
While they’ve unveiled the new design of the hood ornament, Rolls-Royce has not given us a look at the final design of the Spectre EV upon which it will debut, except for these few photos of a heavily camouflaged prototype.
