The first electric Rolls-Royce Specter has already completed most of its test cycle. Resistance testing in extreme heat in South Africa is currently underway. However, attention is also paid to seemingly unimportant factors that would probably not be worth talking about in other car companies – and it perfectly demonstrates the meticulous attention to detail with which Rolls-Royce manufactures its cars.
Rolls-Royce Specter test cars have already covered over 2 million test kilometers
These factors include, for example, “detailed analysis of global sunlight dispersion to preserve color quality.” It is a matter of perfect tuning of the lighting of the dashboard, instrument panel, ambient lighting, but also the projectors of the car company’s logo located in the lower part of the doors.
The purpose is to make the lighting less than perfect, both on a dark night in the Scottish countryside and during the midday sun in Johannesburg. The 17-speaker audio system is also subject to substantial testing – staff listened to a specially selected playlist covering a wide range of different genres to achieve maximum sound quality.
Testing in extreme conditions is at its peak – the test cars have already passed the freezing temperatures of the Arctic Circle, where temperatures reach up to -40 degrees Celsius, and are now completing testing in the heat of southern Africa, where temperatures reach up to 50 °C for a change.
Rolls-Royce Specter – testing in South Africa
Rolls-Royce Specter – testing in South Africa
Rolls-Royce Specter – testing in South Africa
Rolls-Royce Specter – testing in South Africa
Rolls-Royce Specter – testing in South Africa
Rolls-Royce Specter – testing in South Africa
Rolls-Royce Specter – testing in South Africa
Rolls-Royce Specter – testing in South Africa
Rolls-Royce Specter – testing in South Africa
Rolls-Royce Specter – testing in South Africa
Rolls-Royce Specter – testing in South Africa
Rolls-Royce Specter – testing in South Africa
Rolls-Royce Specter – testing in South Africa
Rolls-Royce Specter – testing in South Africa
Rolls-Royce Specter – testing in South Africa
Rolls-Royce Specter – testing in South Africa
Rolls-Royce Specter – testing in South Africa
Rolls-Royce Specter – testing in South Africa
Rolls-Royce Specter – testing in South Africa
Rolls-Royce Specter – testing in South Africa
Rolls-Royce Specter – testing in South Africa
Rolls-Royce Specter – testing in South Africa
Rolls-Royce Specter – testing in South Africa
Rolls-Royce Specter – testing in South Africa
Among other things, the quality of the seals in terms of aeroacoustics is also examined for maximum comfort on board. However, the real comfort at Rolls-Royce starts when you get in – the engineers have set the exact speed of the automatic door closing so that this process creates the right amount of “positive noise”, as the automaker claims.
The big problem, however, was the recovery of the electric drive. Goodwood engineers spent a full 1,500 hours adjusting the rate and response of the regenerative braking, which tends to be quite unusual for first-timers with an electric car. So the goal was a compromise that would make the ride feel familiar.
The basis of the Specter type is a platform called Architecture of Luxury, in the bowels of which hides an unspecified system producing 585 horsepower and enabling a range of up to 520 km. The automaker states that the development is about 80% complete.
Also noteworthy is the fact that out of the planned 2,500,000 test kilometers, the test cars have already driven 2,000,000 km around the world – that is, about 50 times around the equator. Overall, the test program is designed to simulate 400 (!) years of normal use. The first cars are expected to arrive to customers at the end of this year.
