Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is currently conducting its third round of testing for the Spectre, the brand’s first all-electric vehicle, in South Africa. Since September 2021, Rolls-Royce has been engaged in a Spectre testing program totaling 2.5 million kilometers, having successfully completed about 2 million kilometers of testing so far.
This latest program focuses on extreme hot-weather testing, with temperatures reaching as high as 50 degrees Celsius, taking place in two contrasting regions of South Africa. The Augrabies area in the Northern Cape is characterized by high, dry temperatures, while the Franschhoek region in the Western Cape has a humid Mediterranean climate, offering an ideal environment to experience summer driving conditions globally. Franschhoek has a mix of various road types that require technical driving, making it suitable for testing a luxury all-electric vehicle.
During this testing phase, Rolls-Royce engineers are reviewing and enhancing the systems, hardware items, and software protocols developed over the continuous 2 million kilometers of testing. This thorough evaluation process aims to ensure that the Spectre will provide the unique ‘Magic Carpet Ride’ experience synonymous with the Rolls-Royce brand.
The testing has meticulously calibrated around 25,000 performance-related features of the Spectre to deliver the most ‘Rolls-Royce’ experience possible. For example, refining the regenerative braking took over 1,500 hours, while the Rolls-Royce anti-roll stabilization function has been adjusted to reflect the dynamism of a super-luxury coupe while maintaining the utmost ride comfort. Additionally, the data recording device processes sensor inputs from braking forces to help maintain a quiet driving experience in any driving environment.
The rigorous evaluation of the Spectre extends beyond functionality to the finer details of both interior and exterior design. Rolls-Royce engineers assess the indoor lighting upon opening the coach doors, ensuring appropriate color quality and brightness levels are preserved.
To deliver a harmonious atmosphere indoors regardless of external light levels, all interior lighting elements, including the bespoke Starlight headliner, instrument panel, and Spirit interface, must blend perfectly. To achieve this, a detailed analysis of sunlight exposure ranges and types worldwide will be conducted to guarantee consistent color quality in every environment where the Spectre may be present.
At the end of the South Africa test program, additional adjustments will be made to sealing materials for Rolls-Royce’s unique aerodynamic-acoustic performance. Since the rubber sealing materials can perform variably with temperature changes, the aim is to find the optimal balance point that ensures effective noise insulation regardless of extreme cold or heat.
Moreover, fine-tuning and enhancements to the audio system will also be conducted. Featuring a total of 17 speakers, the audio system in the Spectre will reflect real-world driving conditions through the remaining testing programs in South Africa, along with specially curated playlists to deliver the best sound for various music genres.
Once data analysis and adjustment processes from the third driving test are completed, the Spectre will be about 80% finished, entering the final approval stages. Following this, additional trials will be conducted in the Arctic region’s Arjeplog and the mild Côte d’Azur to perform a ‘four-season compression’ testing program for final approval.
The last 500,000 kilometers of testing will focus on analyzing the lifestyle of Rolls-Royce customers. This lifestyle analysis test will be based on the exclusive super-luxury driving environments experienced only by Rolls-Royce customers. Through this, the plan is to meticulously assess whether the Spectre fulfills its primary role in settings ranging from the heart of global metropolises to luxury hotspots influenced by the preferences, habits, and lifestyles of Rolls-Royce owners.
Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, stated, “The Spectre is the model with the highest expectations in Rolls-Royce history, representing the brand’s excellence in super-luxury technology.” He added, “In line with this status, it will undergo vast and rigorous testing to provide an experience unlike any other.”
Meanwhile, with the first customer deliveries expected in the fourth quarter, the Spectre has been undergoing testing since September 2021. The testing program began with extreme cold-weather trials at a bespoke testing facility located 55 kilometers from the Arctic Circle in Arjeplog, Sweden, followed by summer tests completed in the Côte d’Azur region of France in 2022. The Spectre aims to accumulate over 400 years worth of simulation data while covering a total distance of 2.5 million kilometers to emerge as the most quintessential Rolls-Royce electric vehicle.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr