One of the seven wonders of the automotive world is the Rolls-Royce V12 engine. It’s quiet, incredibly powerful, and acceleration is so smooth it’s EV-like, especially compared to the obvious gear shifts that take place in most internal combustion vehicles. Rolls-Royce drivers buy the British superluxury cars for the ethereal drive, not the look-at-me roar that emanates from a Lamborghini, Ferrari, or Aston Martin.
On the flip side, the higher-voltage system would have added more weight and complexity that would have affected performance and weight distribution. Squeezing the components into a two-door model was a challenge for the engineering team, but it made sense for the brand. “It could have been easy for us to electrify an SUV, or a saloon,” says Dr. Mihiar Ayoubi, the chief engineer to launch the Spectre and now BMW Group senior vice president.