Chris Brownridge doesn’t think one would deliver the “waftability and effortless power” associated with the brand
It’s all or nothing when it comes to electrification at Rolls-Royce.
The storied British luxury marque has no intention of releasing a hybrid in the near- or long-term future. The reason is simple: the brand doesn’t feel it can deliver the driving experience its customers have come to expect with a partially electrified powertrain.
News of the automaker’s anti-hybrid stance comes from no less a reliable source than the top boss, Chris Brownridge. The executive was speaking to Automotive News Europe (via BMW Blog) when he revealed that a powertrain that combined a traditional internal combustion engine with an electric motor wouldn’t deliver the “waftability and effortless power” that drivers associated with the brand. He then added that it’s because of this that a “hybrid is not something we would envisage.”
Brownridge’s comments may seem a bit extreme, but they’re also not that surprising considering his role. Drive a hybrid enough and you’re guaranteed to feel a shudder at some point when the vehicle switches between all-electric to traditional gas mode. For a company that prides itself on delivering a smooth “Magic Carpet Ride” that noticeable transition—no matter how brief or subtle it may be—just won’t do. Rolls-Royce has spent 118 years refusing to make compromises and it’s not about to start now.
This stance runs counter to that being taken by many of the marque’s peers, including its closest rival, Bentley. Over the last 18 months, we’ve seen several premium automakers back off pledges made within the last few years to go all-electric, or very close to it, within the next decade or so. Those companies have instead are now trying to keep the ICE engine around a bit longer and have decided that combining the mills with some sort of electrical help is the most prudent way forward. Just look at the new hybrid V-8 setup that is replacing Bentley’s storied W-12 in the Bentayga, Continental, and Flying Spur.
The decision to skip hybrids means that Rolls-Royce will transition from making traditional gas cars to fully battery-powered vehicles—eventually. Brownridge told Automotive News that the marque has the capability to go all-electric by 2030—as his predecessor, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, previously said it would— if it wants to. Right now, it sounds like the automaker would like to keep some flexibility, although its debut EV, the excellent Spectre, suggests the transition won’t be as difficult for the company as others.
This story was first published on Robb Report USA
