
The Spectre is absolutely a full-size Rolls-Royce. A fastback coupe is an emotional car." Its job is effectively to replace the spectacular Phantom Coupe, absent from the range since 2016. "This is the beginning of a new era for Rolls-Royce and it needs a celebration. "The Spectre is as important for us as the Silver Ghost." Since the 40/50HP Ghost came out in 1906, he presumably doesn't say this lightly. Much to our delight, the first electric Rolls-Royce is a coupe, not some gallumphing SUV. The feedback on electric propulsion in general is very positive." So the Spectre doesn't have to introduce them to the idea of a charge cable instead of a hose of explosive liquid. On average they own seven cars and many already own an electric car. "In comparison between where the clients were and now, it has changed massively. Müller-Ötvös has been asking them for a decade what they think about EVs. After all, even though their numbers keep growing, there still aren't that many of them. Rolls-Royce knows those customers intimately. "The customers always said: it has to be a Rolls-Royce first, electric second."

So Top Gear asks Rolls-Royce's boss, Torsten Müller-Ötvös the obvious question: what kept you? His reply is emphatic. But this is changing: in a year's time, this rather fabulous all-electric Spectre will land with its first customers. Or perhaps more relevant a 2015 Tesla Model X – a powerful, heavy, car that goes a long way and charges fast. After 120 years of trying, no petrol Rolls-Royce has a powertrain as smooth or silent or responsive as that of a 2011 Nissan Leaf. There is no smell or vibration." Although, presciently, he did add that he had infrastructure concerns.

CS Rolls himself said it in 1900: "The electric car is perfectly noiseless and clean. There can hardly be a more suitable drive for a Rolls-Royce than electric motors.
