In 2024, Rolls-Royce achieved remarkably strong sales for its first all-electric product, the Spectre, and it made sense for Goodwood to pursue another EV. Sales have fallen sharply since then, with the company’s CEO saying customers are more interested in V12-powered products that are heavily personalized. But this downturn isn’t stopping the Spirit of Ecstasy from wafting its way down Electric Avenue, and the second, as-yet unnamed EV from Rolls-Royce, an SUV, has been spotted winter testing in Sweden wearing what appear to be near-production body panels and lighting systems. Initially expected to replace the popular Cullinan, our spies now report that this EV will grow the lineup.
Older Platform, Newer Batteries for the RR SUV
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The SUV will be underpinned by the Architecture of Luxury platform that is found beneath all existing Rolls-Royce products, from the all-electric Spectre coupe to the V12-powered Phantom sedan. But there will be newness, with parent BMW Group’s sixth-generation EV technology said to be integrated, potentially including the motors and batteries used in the impressive new iX3. That could mean up to 600 kilometers of range, or roughly 373 miles, though Rolls-Royce may offer less range since this new SUV will aim to compete with Bentley’s upcoming Urban Luxury SUV, designed for well-heeled city dwellers.
BMW’s essence will find its way to the user experience, too. Our spies are told that several features will be touch-activated, like opening the hood or tailgate, and BMW has previously said its self-branded Neue Klasse vehicles will be capable of operating most functions via touch or voice, so the German automaker’s influence in this new Rolls will be strong.
Styling: Blending Trends and Tradition
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The overall shape of this prototype closely matches that of the Cullinan, with a long hood, sharp shoulder and roof lines, and upright fascias front and rear. At the back, its taillights are dead ringers for those on the combustion-powered SUV, but the front is most intriguing. This features what appears to be a full-width LED strip within which numerous individual light accents add texture. Unlike a Cullinan, the outer extremities of the lighting design have a curve that looks almost Ford F-150 Lightning-like in these images, with square headlight clusters lower down.
Related: BMW Wants to Make Bentley Jealous With Its Next SUV
Some of this strange look can be attributed to the camouflage, and we can surely expect an interpretation of the Pantheon grille to help convey the EV’s Goodwood origins, but we’ll have to wait for the camo to come off before we can be sure how much of a departure this SUV’s styling will represent. The Spectre looks very similar to other Rolls-Royce products despite being an EV, but perhaps the company wants to evolve its look further. Hopefully, we’ll know more soon, and not just about this SUV — our spies concluded their report by noting that an electric sedan expected to replace the Phantom in 2028 is likely to begin testing in the wild soon.
