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 mon.