Rolls-Royce Rejects The Drivetrain Tech Every Automaker Is Backing

While the rest of the world is looking to hybridization as a bridging technology, Rolls-Royce is simply not interested. Want a big Roller? You’re getting an all-electric Spectre or a gas-powered V12. And there’s a very good reason for this – hybrid technology doesn’t provide the “waftability and effortless power” one associates with a Rolls, said newly-appointed CEO Chris Brownridge.

Speaking to Automotive News Europe, Brownridge said “a hybrid is not something we would envisage.” This is a rather interesting approach, as rivals Bentley and Mercedes-Maybach offer hybrids on the global market. The new Continental GT and Flying Spur gain motivation from powerful electrified V8 engines.

No Hybrid Tech For Rolls-Royce – V12 Or All-Electric, Thank You

So, if Rolls-Royce doesn’t want to go hybrid, what is it going to do? After all, the V12 won’t comply with emissions legislation forever. The answer is in battery-electric drivetrains. The Spectre has shown us that electrification is well-suited to the Spirit of Ecstasy. Rolls-Royce has previously said that it will launch three more models by 2028. This includes an unspecified full-size crossover and a large sedan. By 2030, the marque will have a fully-electric lineup and, by 2031, combustion-engined Rollers will cease to exist.

“We have the ability to go all-electric by 2030, but we will be led by our clients. Different regions of the world will progress in terms of their powertrain at different rates. So it’s important that we can accommodate that,” said Brownridge. In January 2023, Rolls-Royce said demand for the Spectre was so strong that it considered boosting production output. Initial wait times for US-market models were as high as 18 months, but it has since come down to six months (12+ months for complex custom builds).

Rolls-Royce Is All About The Customer, Not Volume

While the Spectre does without a creamy-smooth 12-cylinder, 584 horsepower provides strong performance. The 102 kWh battery also offers 264 miles of range on the EPA cycle, which is respectable for a car of this ilk. “That drivetrain amplifies the characteristics of a Rolls-Royce,” said the CEO. “I’m feeling very confident about the future because whatever our clients want, we can deliver it.”

Rolls-Royce notes that up to 80% of early Spectre orders have been heavily customized, resulting in an average price of $550,000 – about 30% higher than the base price. The automaker sold around 6,000 vehicles last year, which is less than half the sales volume Ferrari achieved last year. The Goodwood-based brand isn’t worried about this, though. “Our goal isn’t to grow volume. Our goal is to grow the value for our clients,” said Brownridge.

Source:
Automotive News Europe