2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre: 8 things you need to know about a car that is and isn’t an EV benchmark
It’s long been the pinnacle of luxury and now Rolls-Royce has begun its journey shunning petrol in favour of electricity.
By the end of the decade every Rolls-Royce isn’t that leaves the famous Goodwood factory will be powered solely by electrons.
The Rolls-Royce Spectre is the first of its kind.
The sleek two-door packages two electric motors into a suitably opulent body dripping with Rolls-Royce touches, from the bold gleaming grille adorned with the spirt of ecstasy flying lady to enormous wheels and rear-hinged doors.
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So, does the Spectre live up to the expectations of the Rolls-Royce brand?
And is it the pinnacle of EV?
We dig deep for eight things you need to know about the new Rolls-Royce Spectre.
1. The Rolls-Royce Spectre is not small
Sure, the Spectre only has two doors and coupes are usually fairly compact, with an emphasis on pampering one or two people.
But the Spectre is anything but small and goes a lot further than regular coupes – in every direction.
At 5475mm long it’s 495mm longer – that’s almost half a metre – than a Toyota LandCruiser.
At 2890kg it’s also about 300kg heavier than Toyota’s chunky off-roader.
The Spectre also has a super-long wheelbase, at 3210mm; that’s longer than some limousines.
Those millimetres translate to interior space.
Up front there’s acres of room, although the high window line gives the impression you’re reassuringly cocooned within this sizeable machine.
Plush wool carpet reinforces that feeling of opulence.
Slide into the back seats and the Spectre effortlessly makes adults feel at home.
There’s ample space for long cruises and, as I learnt, the kids have zero to complain about!
2. The attention to detail flows through to the electronics
Rolls-Royce has been owned by BMW since 2003 and it’s no secret plenty of what goes on beneath the skin is shared between the two marques.
That flows through to the infotainment system, although the Spectre still goes to crazy lengths to add that little bit more.
The analogue-look instruments projected onto the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster looks thoroughly Rolls-Royce.
And there’s even a mock shadow from the virtual needles that makes it look like there’s a glow from the centre of the car.
The shadows on the needles even change throughout the day, although I couldn’t quite work out how, when and what was triggering the different shadows.
Still, it’s indicative of the efforts engineers – in this case software engineers – have gone to in creating a car like no other.
Yet there’s normality elsewhere, including the 10.1-inch central infotainment screen. There are plenty of bigger ones around, but in the opulence of the Spectre’s cabin it works beautifully.
3. Old school charm works
Yes, the Spectre is dripping in chrome and fine finishes, but it’s also got genuine thoughtfulness in its controls.
Instead of trying to pack everything into the infotainment screen designers have stuck with traditional controls.
You open and close the air vents by the push knobs, for example.
And the temperature adjustment for the ventilation is brilliant: red and blue with upper and lower slides on the circular selector to adjust the temperature for your body and feet.
And in the centre is a giant volume dial.
It all works effortlessly, nicely melding old school functionality with modern tech.
4. The Spectre has one heck of a light show
The Spectre is a maze of LEDs, all beautifully done.
On the outside all the lights are LEDs (no surprise) and inside there are hundreds more.
The stellar sky roof is a highlight, the twinkling lights representing a night sky. You can even extend that starlight roof pattern to the doors to really accentuate the celestial theme.
Plus there’s soft ambient lighting glowing from the doors and a “Spectre” display in front of the passenger.
All of which creates a dazzling array of lights that adds to the upmarket ambience.
5. There’s nothing plusher
The Spectre rides on hulking 23-inch wheels, which when paired with low-profile tyres usually isn’t a great combo for delivering on ride quality.
But the Rolls-Royce is different – very different. That’s in part because the tyres aren’t super low profile, with enough rubber between the rim and the road to create some cushioning from bumps.
Its air suspension is also ludicrously plush to the point where it wafts over lumps and bumps.
The long wheelbase no doubt helps – there’s more than 3.2 metres between the front and rear wheels – ensuring there’s less pitching over big undulations such as speed humps.
It makes for the best ride we’ve experienced in yonks from anything on four wheels.
That it also controls body movements brilliantly and can step up the pace when you call on it speaks to the vehicle’s talents.
Not that you’ll want to be blasting around the place regularly.
The Spectre is the sort of car that encourages a relaxed drive.
In response it delivers with serenity.
6. It makes all the right noises
The Spectre is also one of the quietest cars on the road. It could even be the quietest, such is the lack of engine noise and fastidious attention to detail in hushing anything from the outside world.
But it also has one of the finest sound systems fitted to any car on the road.
Branded as Bespoke Audio – Rolls-Royce oversees the development of all components, including the sound system – there are 16 speakers.
There are also two “exciters”, which look like speakers but sit under the seats to shake you when the bass hits. It may sound gimmicky, but it works (Bentley uses the same tech) and makes for an incredible audio experience.
7. It’s not cheap
No prizes for guessing the Rolls-Royce Spectre ain’t cheap. But no Rolls-Royce is.
Since the turn of the century the brand has offered cars costing close to a million bucks, sometimes more.
The Spectre doesn’t quite hit that level, but at $770,000 plus on-road costs it’s still a sizeable sum.
And that’s before you start ticking option boxes, which can easily add up to the price of a darn fine supercar.
But you’re paying for a car like no other – and one that seriously ramps up the EV luxury.
Besides, if you have to ask…
8. Performance of the Spectre is adequate
We couldn’t work out how to pop the bonnet of the Spectre. Not that there’s any need to.
There’s no engine there, with an electric motor at either end and a whole bunch of batteries packed in
Those two motors make a combined 450kW and 900Nm.
That’s more power than the twin-turbo V12 engine used in Rolls-Royce’s priciest models; it makes 420kW and 900Nm (the Black Badge Cullinan ups that to 441kW).
Needless to say, performance is adequate, with a hearty shove of torque whenever you need it.
Press the throttle to the wool carpet and it’ll hit 100km/h in 4.5 seconds.
The 102kWh battery also provides up to 530km of WLTP range, which we suspect will also be adequate.
We tend to think most Rolls-Royce owners will turn to a plane or helicopter for longer journeys.
As for charging, it’ll take up to 22kW of AC charge for a full charge in 5.5 hours.
DC charging can be done at up to 195kW, for a 10-80 percent charge in as little as 34 minutes.
The verdict: So, is the Spectre the pinnacle of EVs?
There’s no doubt the Spectre sets a new benchmark for electric vehicles on the luxury side of the ledger.
But that benchmark doesn’t translate to its electric drivetrain.
Yes, the electric system is impressive and makes for terrific performance and refinement.
But there are plenty of EVs that also tick that box.
Where the Spectre stands out is with its immaculate attention to detail and design brilliance elsewhere.
In that respect it’s a true Rolls-Royce.
In fact, given the improvements to driveability, refinement and effortlessness it’s arguably more Rolls-Royce than any Roller that’s come before it.
Votes: 4/5
2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre specifications
Price: $770,000 plus on-road costs and options
Basics: EV, 4 seats, 2 doors, coupe, AWD
Range: 530km (WLTP)
Battery capacity: 102kWh
Battery warranty: TBA
Energy consumption: 22.2-23.6kWh/100km
Motors: 1 front and 1 rear 430kW/900Nm
AC charging: 22kW, Type 2 plug
DC charging: 195kW, CCS combo plug
0-100km/h: 4.5 seconds
