LUXURY GOES ELECTRIC - FOR THE BETTER

THE BENEFITS OF ROLLS-ROYCE'S ARRIVAL AT THIS TURNING POINT WERE FORETOLD MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO

- BASEM WASEF

The writing's been on the wall for 122 years. Smitten by his first drive in an early EV back in 1900, Charles Rolls enthused: "The electric vehicle is perfectly noiseless and clean. There is no smell or vibration, and they should become very useful when fixed charging stations can be arranged." What better time than the 21st century for his namesake luxury marque to jump to the inevitable conclusion?

The Spectre, Rolls-Royce's first fully electric production vehicle, won't be ready for prime time until late 2023. But the carmaker granted us early access to a development vehicle, lifting the veil on what it says is the company's most important milestone since Rolls met Henry Royce in 1904. Piggybacking onto the vehicle's cold-weather testing process in Arjeplog, Sweden-an industry winter evaluation playground at the edge of the Arctic Circle-we enjoyed an early taste of the manufacturer's first-ever electric production car, a shift so monumental it's been christened "RollsRoyce 3.0."

The Spectre is a barge in the flesh, even set against the vastness of these stark surroundings. Walk up to the big two-door, and it's difficult not to feel daunted by its imposing form. I stand 5 feet, 11 inches, and the roofline nearly comes up to my neck, the beltline to my elbows. Gaping arches will be filled with 23-inch wheels, the biggest fitted to a coupe since the monstrous 1926 Bugatti Royale, though our example was sitting on smaller 22s due to winter tire fitments.