For the first time in over ten years, the best-selling Rolls-Royce Ghost has been completely redesigned for the 2021 model year, offering new levels of sophisticated luxury and advanced technology. While the exterior and interior are all-new, the new Ghost is still powered by a twin-turbocharged 6.75-liter V12 rated at 563 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. Rolls-Royce models are renowned for their refined, ultra-quiet cabins, so embracing electrification seems like the next logical step since the powertrain will be almost silent.

This week, CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos confirmed that we can expect the first fully Rolls-Royce to arrive sometime this decade, and now a new trademark filing has possibly revealed the name of the ultra-luxury EV.

As discovered by the VW ID Talk forum, BMW has filed a patent for the name "Silent Shadow." Submitted to the German Patent and Trademark Office, the trademark is filed under "Automobiles and their parts."

The name is obviously a reference to the classic Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow luxury model produced from 1965 to 1980 spanning two generations and would be a fitting way to honor Rolls-Royce's past while embracing the electric future. Potentially, the name could suggest the design of Rolls-Royce's first electric model will have retro-inspired design cues that pay homage to the original Silver Shadow.

We'll have to wait and see if the design will look as dramatic as the Vision Next 100 Concept that showcased what an electric Phantom could look like in the future. Technical details for the Silent Shadow are still unknown at this point, but the Vision Next 100 Concept is powered by two electric motors producing a combined 671 horsepower.

While Rolls-Royce's first electric model is reportedly already in development and is expected to ride on the same architecture as current models like the Phantom, Ghost, and Dawn, the company has no plans to launch a hybrid model. Potentially, the Silent Shadow could replace the Dawn or Wraith in the future.

As emissions regulations get increasingly tougher in Europe, Rolls-Royce has already admitted it will need to become a fully-electric brand by 2040.