Rolls-Royce Confirms Name Of First Electric Car

As more automakerspledge to go electric看来,一些更适合新的powertrains than others. The screaming Chevy Camaro SS, maybe not so much. But with something big, quiet and luxurious from a company like Rolls-Royce, an electric motor fits in like a final puzzle piece.Previous rumors confirmed, the double R's first all-electric vehicle will be called the Silent Shadow, from the mouth of CEO Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes on Bloomberg TV.

The Silent Shadow is a play on Rolls' old Silver Shadow name, which ran from 1965 to 1980, sporting the company's L-Series V8s. Mueller-Oetvoes wouldn't be pinned down on a reveal date, though.

"That is still a secret. But it will of course obviously be abrand-new Rolls-Royce, rest assured."

"Electrification fits perfect with Rolls-Royce - it's torquey, it's super-silent," Mueller-Oetvoes said. "We are not known for roaring loud engines and exhaust noises whatsoever, and that is a big benefit."

As Rolls-Royce is under the BMW banner, we could point to a few possible powertrains, though we're not sure if the new Rolls is coming in this generation or the next. The new midgrade iX SUV is powered by BMW's fifth-generation eDrive technology making 496 hp and featuring two electric motors and a high-voltage battery. That would fit well with a name like Silent Shadow. And so would the upgradedpowertrain from the iX M60, which we've heard will produce around 560 hp. All-wheel drive makes sense, as does a range of around 300 miles.

Earlier this year we heard rumors of this new Rolls-Royce, and that speculation said it might take design cues from the wild 103EX concept that debuted in 2016. That one had free-standing wheels with skirts over the front half of them, and a swooping roofline that trails all the way to the back. It was part of the company's Vision Next 100 project, looking at the next 100 years of the company.

We're guessing we'll just see "cues" from this, and it won't be stolen whole cloth as the 103EX just looks too outlandish to be sold commercially. Not to mention what would happen to those outboard wheels in the event an accident. We don't know when this next one is coming, but it did just axe theRolls-Royce WraithandDawnin the US. A Silent Shadow would be perfect to pick up the slack.