Rolls-Royce has taken its iconic Spirit of Ecstasy emblem to the training ground. The sculpture has been made more aerodynamic as Rolls prepares to unveil its first electric car in the form of the Spectre. Being Rolls-Royce, there is a story behind the redesign.
“The figure has been remodelled with a lower and more dynamic stance that brings it much closer to the drawings made by its original creator, illustrator and sculptor Charles Sykes, in the early years of the 20th century,” the company said in its press release.
Most people shrink as they age, and the 111-year-old Spirit of Ecstasy is no different. The new emblem measures just 83 mm tall, 17 mm lower than the previous design, while the flowing robes behind her are now “more aerodynamic and realistic.”
“Previously, she stood with feet together, legs straight, and waist inclined. Now, she is a true goddess of speed, poised for the wind, with one leg forward, body down, eyes keenly focused forward,” it says.
Why spend so much time (and so many words) redesigning an emblem? Because poor aerodynamics are the enemy of good electric vehicle range, and Rolls-Royce will launch its first production electric car later this year.
The Spectre will have a drag coefficient of 0.26, a figure that the company claims is the best in its history. The production car with the least resistance is the Mercedes-Benz EQS, with a declared drag coefficient of just 0.20.
The electric Spectre won’t grace showrooms until 2023 at the earliest, but the company is already accepting deposits.
Rolls-Royce wouldn’t be interested in how many it has taken, either in terms of the number of deposits or their monetary value, as it traditionally does not like to discuss sales figures. However, Regional Sales Manager Ian Grant said there has been a “nice number” of deposits.
Interest in the company’s first electric vehicle has spanned the country and includes potential buyers both new to the brand and existing Rolls-Royce customers. The Spectre is set to be launched in the fourth quarter of 2023.
