What is it?
It couldn’t have been an easy day in the office for Rolls-Royce’s engineers when it was decided the brand would be developing a new electric car. After all, the British carmaker has honed its petrol-powered vehicles over several decades, pushing onwards to establish a reputation as a builder of some of the most sumptuous and refined cars around. How do you go about transferring those characteristics into something with a battery and motor?
Well, it seems they were more than up to the challenge as here we have Rolls-Royce’s first electric car – the Spectre. From the outside it’s a tried-and-tested Rolls-Royce, but underneath there’s a whole lot more going on. We’ve been driving it to see what it’s like.
What’s new?
There’s a lot to tackle with the Spectre. It’s a car which now sits in the place left over by the now-removed Phantom; it’s slightly shorter than a Ghost and longer than the Cullinan SUV, but wider than both of them. The Spectre costs more than either of those cars, too, with prices starting at well over £330,000 and, with options, it wouldn’t be hard to push it over the £400,000 mark.
As with all other Rolls-Royce models, the Spectre can be tweaked and changed using the brand’s near-infinite selection of paints, materials and finishes. Fancy a bright orange exterior with a red interior and an open-pore wood dashboard? There’s no reason why Rolls-Royce can’t make it – provided you’re happy to pay the extra.
What’s under the bonnet?
It’s underneath where the Spectre distinguishes itself best from the rest of the Rolls-Royce line-up. It’s underpinned by a dual electric motor setup – one at the front and another at the rear – which, when combined, brings 577bhp and an impressive 900Nm of torque. Zero to 60mph is dispatched in 4.3 seconds, which isn’t bad for something weighing over 2.8 tonnes.
Rolls-Royce claims that the Spectre should be able to manage up to 329 miles on a single charge – we saw closer to 250 during our cold-weather driving – while a maximum charge speed of 195kW would see a 10 to 80 per cent top-up take around 43 minutes at a suitably speedy charger.
What’s it like to drive?
You might think that electric power wouldn’t suit the Rolls-Royce experience but the two go far more merrily hand-in-hand than expected. You can waft along in perfect silence, the usual refinement of a Rolls-Royce being preserved perfectly. But it’s the acceleration of the Spectre which really surprises; give the throttle a decent prod and the whole car surges ahead with impressive agility, whisking forwards with little drama but a lot of pace.
Naturally, you do need to be mindful of the sheer size of the Spectre. Even positioning it inside a standard space is a struggle and, for the most part, you’re left looking for any open area that’ll make parking this car easier. But with its relatively light steering, the Spectre isn’t too tricky to move about, you just need to be conscious of its dimensions. The blind spot created by the wing mirrors is enormous, too, so you do need to take extra caution when approaching a roundabout or junction.
How does it look?
Rolls-Royce has managed to bring all of its usual design cues into the modern age with the Spectre. There’s the large front grille – illuminated, of course – and the classic Spirit of Ecstacy bonnet emblem which bring this battery-powered model closer to its petrol-powered forebears. The ultra-sharp headlights do hone the look of the Spectre, too, and give the whole car a more futuristic appearance.
There are plenty of real-metal elements across the Spectre’s exterior as well and these contribute to the high-quality feel that is so important in Rolls-Royce cars.
What’s it like inside?
You can’t fail to see the opulence on offer inside the Spectre’s cabin. Step through beyond the rear-hinged ‘suicide’ doors – which sweep open elegantly – and you’re met by an interior finished with some top-notch materials throughout, with the leather-clad seats being impressive both for their finish and comfort. As we’ve found on other Rolls-Royce models it’s a shame that the stalks for the wipers and lights are made from such flimsy plastic as they contrast the rest of the interior.
In total, there is space for four adults to sit comfortably in the Spectre, with those in the rear being treated to loads of legroom and headroom, despite the car’s sweeping roofline. There’s even a 380-litre boot which, given the size of the vehicle, is rather small but enough to accommodate some overnight bags or smaller suitcases.
What’s the spec like?
As we’ve touched upon, there are any number of personalisation options available to you if you’re going down the Spectre route. Different colours and trims are available, so you’ll easily be able to get the car looking just as you’d like it. However, standard features are good, too. The large central screen has all the key functions you’d need and there’s even a rotary controller – similar to BMW’s old iDrive system – which makes accessing key areas a little easier.
But it’s the little details which make the difference. For instance, the Spectre name is laser-etched into the dashboard section ahead of the passenger while the roof incorporates Rolls-Royce’s famous ‘starlight’ headliner which mirrors the night sky. You can personalise this to show the constellations of a night which is important you and Rolls-Royce can even stitch in ‘shooting star’ LEDs to help the roof come alive.
Verdict
The Rolls-Royce Spectre is a prime example of a brand acknowledging an electric future without diluting its character. The Rolls-Royce experience has always been about hushed refinement and in the Spectre, you’re getting that in droves.
It’s well-made, comfortable and more dynamic than you expect. But most of all, it feels like a true Rolls-Royce – so you could say that the Spectre is a resounding success.
- Model as tested: Rolls-Royce Spectre
- Price: £333,175
- Engine: Dual electric motor
- Power: 577bhp
- Torque: 900Nm
- Max speed: NA
- 0-60mph: 4.3 seconds seconds
- MPG: NA
- Emissions: 0g/km
- Range: 311-329 miles
- Maximum charging speed: 195kW