Electric Rolls-Royce 102EX

Geneva, Rolls-Royce showed off the 102EX, and insisted it could drive under its own power. As it was confined to the show floor, I had to take Rolls-Royce's word for it.


Now I have proof. Rolls-Royce had the car, the only one of its kind in the world, sitting curbside at the convention center. I got behind the wheel, adjusted the mirrors, and was ready to go. As I moved the stalk to drive, the car just sat there, Rolls-Royce having disabled its ability to creep. I gave it a little pedal and this massive machine moved forward with the slow grace of an ocean liner.


Wonder of wonders, it could move. And even better, the electric power train made it move quietly and smoothly, more so than the gas-engine Phantom. This silky drive quality is exactly what Rolls-Royce engineers have spent decades trying to engineer into cars.


Moving out onto the gritty streets of Los Angeles, I turned the wheel and was treated t