Rolls-Royce's Electric SUV Will Have a Spectacular Frunk Opening

The Autoblog spy photographers have discovered a fascinating feature of the upcoming Rolls-Royce electric SUV: it'll have a two-piece hood opening, evoking the coachbuilt classics that an electric SUV with a Spirit of Ecstasy mascot seems, on paper, so far from. Since Goodwood can't impress buyers with the cylinder count, Rolls-Royce will instead create spectacle with the body, as nothing else on the planet has such a setup. Sure, it'll be less practical than a regular hood opening, but when the bellhops extract your luggage outside the Four Seasons, even Bugatti owners will be forced to take a look.

New Rolls-Royce SUV Will Win on Drama

With such a unique front end (which still incorporates a retractable and potentially illuminated Spirit of Ecstasy figurine to prevent customers from rioting), the Rolls-Royce electric SUV will surely beat the upcoming Bentley Barnato electric SUV for theater, and if you're going to buy a six-figure EV, it ought to feel special. Of course, while this particular hood opening has already been revealed in a patent, there's no guarantee that it will necessarily conceal the everyday Hermes bags of the owner.

Like the Boat Tail, it's quite possible that this front storage area could be filled with whatever the customer decides: fitted luggage, glassware and beverages, picnic baskets, or anything else. In fact, that's a distinct possibility because of what Goodwood said two weeks ago, words which automotive historians of the future will take note of.

Related: What Is the Most Expensive Rolls-Royce Ever Built?

Rolls-Royce recently announced the Coachbuilt Collection, a series of ultra-exclusive creations for the highest echelons of its customer base, allowing the imaginations of the ultra-wealthy to run at their wildest, with effectively no limits on customization prospects. What makes this relevant here is that the automaker also said the first creation from this program will be electric. Of course, something with two doors based on the Spectre seems more predictable, and this prototype's Cullinan-like shape isn't all that amazing, but perhaps plenty of this vehicle's design is being well-hidden by the camouflage.

Second RR EV Shares Spectre Underpinnings

Reportedly built on the Architecture of Luxury platform that underpins every current Rolls-Royce product, but with new BMW EV technology (which likely means Rimac technology), this SUV is expected to be capable of close to 400 miles of range, if not a little more. That should be plenty for the well-heeled city dwellers this is aimed at, and they'll be able to wow onlookers with the two-piece opening hood hands-free, as this and the tailgate are expected to be voice-activated, among other things. With this hood now evident and most of the other bodywork looking finished, we expect more vinyl camouflage to be peeled off soon, with a reveal before the end of this year.

View the full article