2018 Rolls-royce Wraith on 2040-cars

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Rolls-Royce might 'enter into fuel cells'

Rolls-Royce released its first series-produced EV, the Spectre, in 2022, and the brand plans to launch additional battery-powered models in the coming years. It's not closing the door to other powertrains, however, and it's notably open to experimenting with hydrogen fuel cells. "Why not? I would say so when the time is right for us, and when the technology is so much advanced, that it is definitely something we would pursue as Rolls-Royce. Why not? We might exit batteries, and we might enter into fuel cells," company boss Torsten Muller-Otvos told British magazine Autocar. He stopped short of revealing whether engineers are currently testing hydrogen fuel cell-powered prototypes. It's too early to tell whether Rolls-Royce would develop a hydrogen fuel cell on its own or whether it would source some of the drivetrain's parts from parent company BMW, which has dabbled in this technology for decades. BMW notably began building an X5-based, hydrogen-powered prototype called iX5 in 2023, and it plans to ultimately funnel the feedback it gathers by testing the model into a production car. Muller-Otvos has already ruled out building a car powered by a hydrogen-burning engine, however. "I think a hydrogen combustion engine is nothing I would in any way look into, because that was tested already years ago. This is not the most efficient way to use hydrogen. If hydrogen will be used in the future, then it's fuel cells. And fuel cells are nothing different from a battery. It is just how you get the energy," he told Autocar, referring to the hydrogen-burning 7 Series prototype tested by BMW in the 2000s. Rolls-Royce, like nearly every brand looking at hydrogen technology, warns that the infrastructure needs to improve before the fuel cell can merge into the mainstream. "You can't obviously have hydrogen charging at home, whereas [with EVs] you have one big advantage, and all of our clients have big garages. There is lots of space at home and there is lots of space in office buildings to install charging," the CEO said. As it stands, Rolls-Royce wants to sell only electric cars by the end of 2030, and it hasn't announced plans to launch a series-produced hydrogen-electric model. It's not unreasonable to assume that this outlook could change during the second half of the 2020s, however.

Rolls-Royce Spectre EV spy photos show us the interior

Rolls-Royce has been testing its upcoming Spectre electric luxury coupe for a while now, and it's been wearing a camouflage wrap covered in marketing phrases. In both traditional spy photos and in manufacturer-provided ones, we've had a decent preview of the car. Now we finally get a look inside thanks to one of our spy photographers.  While some automakers have taken the opportunity to try bold new interior designs with their electric cars, Rolls-Royce seems to be staying the.course with the Spectre. The design is very traditional, with a tall, wide dashboard that doesn't stick out far from the windshield. The vents and controls look just like the ones in the current Phantom sedan. The steering wheel is very similar, but the upper spokes are now closer to 9 and 3. Perhaps Rolls-Royce designers felt it looked a little sportier. It does still have a column shifter, even as an electric car. The instrument cluster appears to be fully digital, though, which is one of the few less traditional aspects of the cabin. The Spectre will be built on the current Rolls-Royce architecture, which underpins all of the brand's models. It features loads of aluminum and will be the most aerodynamic Rolls-Royce yet with a coefficient of drag of 0.25. But specs such as power and range remain a secret. We should know more as we approach the car's launch date of late 2023. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Autoblog's top 50 car photos of 2016

This one shouldn't need much explanation. We like cars a whole lot, and that includes not just driving them but taking great pictures of them. We've collected our 50 favorite images from this year in the mega-gallery above. It's a mix of old and new, with a healthy dose of vintage and modern race cars mixed in, and not one single shot under the harsh lights of an auto show. So click through and enjoy. Featured Gallery Autoblog's Top 50 Photos of 2016 View 50 Photos Image Credit: Copyright 2016 Autoblog.com Audi BMW Chevrolet Dodge Ferrari Ford Lamborghini Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz Porsche Rolls-Royce Volvo Convertible Coupe Motorcycle Luxury Racing Vehicles Performance Supercars Classics