The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2024 - Issue 35

bitecars Inside the Cabin The marque’s timeless mystique night sky theme con- tinues in the Spectre with Starlight Doors incorporat- ing 4,796 softly illuminated stars for the first time on a series production Rolls-Royce. The coach doors can also be commissioned with a backdrop of Canadel Wood Panelling, a name derived from the cove in the South of France where Sir Henry Royce and his de- sign team spent their winters. The Spectre’s Illuminat- ed Fascia incorporates the nameplate surrounded by a cluster of over 5.500 stars. In addition to managing the vehicle’s functions, in- cluding the digital touch screen and dials colour de- signed to complement the interior hue, the redesigned digital SPIRIT architecture is integrated into Rolls- Royce’s Whispers application. This operation allows clients to interact with their cars remotely and receive live information curated by the marque’s luxury intel- ligence specialists. For the first time, owners can ex- tend their Bespoke commission beyond the physical world into digital architecture. As usual, the rear-hinged doors (an idea initially de- rived from horse-drawn carriages) open outwards, al- lowing the driver and passenger sufficient space to enter by turning to sit and exit by stepping forward and out. When stationary, the doors can be closed and opened automatically with a brake pedal press. Lus- cious interior features include chartreuse leather with a colour combination, thick and luxurious carpet and a transmission tunnel in the centre with rotary con- trols. On the Outside  The Spectre designers were drawn to modern yacht concepts by taking inspiration from other influences such as haute couture, modernist sculpture, nautical design, tailoring and contemporary art. Thus, the clar- ity and precision of line, intelligent use of reflection and application of taper emotionalise the Spectre’s silhouette. The ultra-luxury electric super coupé’s split headlight treatment is intersected by a wide Pan- theon grille, which is smoother and has a flusher fit to guide the air through the front. The sharp daylight running lights emphasise the Spectre’s imperious two-metre width offset with low- er lamp clusters that first appear darkened but have jewellery box-like chromium headlight housings. The grille is softly illuminated with 22 LEDs lighting up the sandblasted rear side of each vane, with its gentle glow reflected in the polished front surfaces for a sub- tle three-dimensional night signature. Its sharp, ver- tical bow line draws the eye to the monolithic flank’s lower waft line from a yacht design. As you follow the roofline backwards, the tail lamps are set into the most extensive single-body panel ex- tending from the A-pillar to the luggage compartment. The colourless precision and reduced dimension jew- el-like vertical tail lamp complement the generous bod- ywork flow from the muscular shoulders backwards into the tail section. Besides being the marque’s first electric model, the Spectre is also the first production two-door coupé equipped with 23-inch wheels in al- most 100 years. Final Word Rolls-Royce fulfilled their long-awaited desire to go fully electric and achieved a more silent, opulent and lustrous luxury car with the Spectre. Henry Royce, with business partner Claude Johnson, first attempt- ed the idea in 1905 with the V8 Landaulet and Legal- imit. Johnson advised that the internal combustion engine be mounted under the car to give a silent, vi- brationless, and smokeless capacity to compete with the popular electric cars used in towns.