Rumors of Rolls-Royce\u2019s pivot to electric drivetrains have been mounting for a while. The discovery that the company already has a working EV test-bed shows that its plans are now starting to come to life.<\/p>\n
[Read: How Netflix shapes mainstream culture, explained by data<\/span><\/a>]<\/em><\/p>\n Last year, BMW filed a patent for the name Silent Shadow<\/em>, a play on the name of the luxury car brands\u2019 Silver Shadow vehicle that was produced between 1965 and 1980.<\/p>\n Given EVs are virtually silent in operation, many thought this patent was the first real nod that Rolls was starting to shape its electric future.<\/p>\n What\u2019s more, unlike brands like Maserati, Rolls-Royce is totally skipping hybrid drivetrains and going straight to all-electric. In an interview, Rolls-Royce\u2019s CEO Torsten M\u00fcller-\u00d6tv\u00f6s confirmed the company would skip trying to develop hybrid tech, suggesting the reason was that it\u2019s not big enough to benefit from what looks to be a stepping stone to all-electric technology.<\/p>\n What is clearer though, is that Rolls-Royce\u2019s new EV vehicle lineup will borrow heavily from high-end electric BMW vehicles that are on the way, such as the iX.<\/p>\n The current Rolls-Royce Phantom borrows many drivetrain components from the BMW 7 Series, and it will no doubt be the case when both brands go electric and BMW launches its i7 luxury saloon.<\/p>\n Another thing is certain, it\u2019ll be wildly expensive, but that\u2019s not so much a byproduct of being electric, rather the lengths that Rolls go to, to offer bespoke vehicle customization, high-end features, and luxurious excess.<\/p>\n According to Autocar, we can expect a more official unveiling of the Rolls-Royce Silent Shadow before the end of the year, but don\u2019t expect it to be the finished product.<\/p>\n In reality, it looks like we\u2019ll have to wait until the BMW i7 is released, which isn\u2019t happening for at least another year.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a>SHIFT<\/a> is brought to you by Polestar. It\u2019s time to accelerate the shift to sustainable mobility. That is why Polestar combines electric driving with cutting-edge design and thrilling performance.<\/i> Find out how<\/span><\/i><\/a>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Published January 18, 2021 \u2014 11:22 UTC <\/p>\n![\"autocar,](\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/01\/5-rolls-royce-silver-shadow-render.jpg\")
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