Rolls-Royce confirms its first ever EV — what we know about the Silent Shadow

Rolls-Royce Phantom Electric experimental

(Image credit: Rolls-Royce)

While the Mercedes EQS is aiming to beat the Tesla Model S Plaid in luxury, the German automaker has nothing on the new Rolls-Royce Silent Shadow

The British luxury brand, oftentimes constitute in music videos and Gray Poupon commercials, is the latest to announce (via Bloomberg) an EV currently in the works. Using the Phantom as its platform, Rolls-Royce has decided to embroider the name of its first EV by encapsulating one of the effectively benefits of electrification: silence.

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While we don't know when the auto is going to go far, Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes has confirmed that information technology's on the fashion. "Electrification fits perfect with Rolls-Royce — it'south torquey, information technology's super-silent," he said. "We are not known for roaring loud engines and exhaust noises whatsoever, and that is a large benefit."

Which is no doubt how the Silent Shadow got its proper name. Rolls-Royce is well known for picking spectral names for its cars, like Phantom, Ghost, Wraith, and and then on. And considering how serenity electric car engines are compared to internal combustion engines, and the fact in that location'south already a Silvery Shadow, calling the electric model the Silent Shadow is a genius bit of naming.

Yet, according to an older report from InsideEVs, the Silent Shadow won't exist a straight electric conversion of the Silver Shadow. Instead information technology is expected to be its own unique model, based on the Rolls-Royce's Phantom platform and developed alongside the BMW i7.

While some high-terminate car owners volition savour the roar of a powerful engine, which they'll miss after the transition to electric, Rolls-Royce owners manifestly won't. The cars are already known for existence tranquillity beasts, and scrapping the internal combustion engine is simply going to emphasize that. Rolls-Royce has previously confirmed that information technology will be skipping over hybrids, and jumping straight from gas-powered cars to all-electric models.

Unfortunately, that's most all we know about the Silent Shadow. Nonetheless knowing Rolls-Royce, it's going to be an exercise in excess. The company isn't known for half measure, and whatever the Silent Shadow ends up being like, information technology'southward going to be one of the almost luxurious electric cars coin can buy. And considering that the cheapest Rolls-Royce starts at $311K, the Silent Shadow will likely be the nigh expensive EV ever made.

Rolls-Royce vehicles are also not known to exist thin-and-light machines. The Silent Shadow will likely weigh over 6,000 pounds, meaning it will require a large bombardment pack to ensure decent mileage. At least that should mean it volition come equipped with fast charging, as there's lilliputian point in having a luxury EV if it simply goes fifty miles and requires a multi-hour recharge.

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Tom is the Tom'south Guide's Automotive Editor, which means he can ordinarily exist establish articulatio genus deep in stats the latest and all-time electric cars, or checking out some sort of driving gadget. It's long way from his days as editor of Gizmodo UK, when pretty much everything was on the table. He's unremarkably establish trying to squeeze another giant Lego set onto the shelf, draining very large cups of coffee, or complaining that Ikea won't let him buy the stuff he actually needs online.