Hitting the Books: The early EVs that paved the way for GM’s Ultium success

General Motors has been in business for more than a century, but in its 112 years, the company has never faced such challenges as it does in today’s rapidly electrifying and automating industry. The assembly line jobs from Detroit’s heyday have been re…

EV startup Arrival to refocus business on electric vans for the US market

In 2018, fledgling EV maker Arrival partnered with UPS to build a new generation of electric delivery vans, beginning with a pilot fleet of 35 vehicles, for use in both the US and Europe. The company quickly expanded its scope from there, working on pl…

Tesla’s chaotic third quarter saw profits climb but revenue falter

Tesla faced increasing transportation costs paired with “raw material cost inflation,” continued component shortages and a strengthening dollar in Q3, all of which which ate into its quarterly revenue ($21.45 billion vs $21.96 billion expected). Yet th…

What it’s like to drive a Lucid Air after its first major update

For decades, whatever you drove off the showroom floor was what you were stuck with. But now, thanks to over-the-air updates, your car can evolve on your driveway in myriad ways. Tesla has been doing it for years, and now Lucid and other automakers are…

SpaceX aims to put 350 Mbps satellite internet on planes with Starlink Aviation

SpaceX has revealed the official details of its Starlink satellite internet service for aviation, and it promises to deliver speeds of up to 350 Mbps for each airplane. Delta Chief Executive Ed Bastian admitted earlier this year that the airline conduc…

Rolls-Royce’s first EV is the $413,500 Spectre coupe

Rolls-Royce has officially begun its transition to electric cars. The luxury British manufacturer has unveiled its first ground-up EV, the Spectre coupe. The “spiritual successor” to the Phantom looks much like its stately gas-powered counterparts (apart from a low 0.25 drag coefficient), but promises to be even quieter and smoother thanks to its powerplant. The brand is still finalizing specifications. However, it expects the all-wheel drive machine to make a 0-60MPH dash in 4.4 seconds and achieve an EPA range of 260 miles. Those aren’t exceptional figures, but the emphasis here is on a pampered ride, not absolute performance.

That decision is reflected in the interior. The design includes the now-obligatory instrument and infotainment displays, plus a digital fascia for the passenger. In keeping with Rolls-Royce’s bespoke design philosophy, you can even have the company customize the color of the on-screen dials. An “Eleanor” assistant can handle in-car tasks, and a Whispers app can both send curated location recommendations (such as restaurants) as well as remotely control basic car functions like the locks and heating.

This isn’t just a reworked version of the company’s existing designs, either. The Spectre uses a new aluminum platform (the “Architecture of Luxury”) tuned for EVs, and boasts “starlight” doors with 4,796 points of light. It’s very large for a coupe at 16ft long and 6.6ft wide, and even required the company’s first 23-inch wheels in over a century. This is for leisurely soirées and trips to the golf club, not all-out blasts down country roads.

The Spectre is available to order now, with first deliveries expected in the fourth quarter of 2023. Pricing starts at $413,500 in the US, but that’s before the customization process — expect to pay considerably more to get the design just so, right down to the colors of the signature in-door umbrella. Even more so than rival ultra-luxury EVs like the Cadillac Celestiq and expected Mercedes-Maybach EQS, this is aimed at customers who will spend whatever it takes to get their dream car.