The Spectre marked a new era for Rolls-Royce embodying everything we’ve come to know from the brand and adding a silky-smooth, silent electric power on top – in one fell swoop the world’s most luxurious electric car was born. Yet, Rolls-Royce hasn’t been resting on its laurels, and its pursuit of perfection continues with the Spectre Series II. This brings more power, more range and even more personalisation options. For those wishing to shake off the trappings of tradition, there’s also the Black Badge. Rolls-Royce describes this as its ‘alter ego’ with meaner looks and a further boost to performance aiming to entice a younger audience of high-net-worth individuals. So, what did I make of this exclusive electric car for billionaires? Every fibre of my body wanted to resist to allure of such an excessive status symbol but, despite its colossal size, I was immediately entranced by the way the Spectre wafts along with the delicacy of a butterfly on a breeze.
The typical lifestyle of a Rolls-Royce owner is likely to include private jets, yachts, and luxury cars, none of which screams eco-friendly. Yes, the Spectre produces zero tailpipe emissions, but the nickel, cobalt and manganese used in its whopping 118kWh battery still have a significant environmental cost. Given the Spectre’s size and weight, it is hardly a byword for efficiency, but Rolls-Royce has tried to reduce the environmental impact of its manufacture by taking advantage of the low carbon aluminium and steel used by the wider BMW Group. Rolls-Royce’s Goodwood home has been designed to reduce the demand for electricity and facility features an eight-acre living roof to help with insulation – it even has its own beehives! Yet, ultimately, Rolls-Royce it is led by the wants of its clients.
Running costs for a Rolls-Royce Spectre Series II
“If money is no object, the cost of your Black Badge Spectre Series II will seem more like a theoretical concept than a tangible number”
The price? Best not dwell on this too much – at least that’s what I told myself as I navigated the narrow country lanes of Yorkshire. However, if money is no object, the cost of your Black Badge Spectre Series II will seem more like a theoretical concept than a tangible number. Once you’ve dressed it up to the nines and added the optional shooting star headliner, you’d be lucky to get much change from a cool £450,000. But this is the ultimate status symbol, so why scrimp? The usual electric car running cost advantages pale into insignificance at this point, though they do still apply, and there are tax benefits to be had too, particularly if you run your Spectre through a company – though check with your accountant, don’t take tax advice from me!
Expert rating: 1/5
Reliability of a Rolls-Royce Spectre Series II
“The Spectre is a spectacularly complex machine, but we’d expect Rolls-Royce to quickly step in should any issues occur.”
Your Black Badge Spectre Series II will no doubt be part of a wider collection and you’ll likely have a whole team of people organising maintenance, so reliability need not trouble you. However, if you are concerned, you can take reasurance from knowing Rolls-Royce is owned by the BMW Group. While electric cars generally have fewer moving parts than their combustion counterparts, the Spectre is a spectacularly complex machine, but we’d expect Rolls-Royce to quickly step in should any issues occur.
Expert rating: 5/5
Safety for a Rolls-Royce Spectre Series II
“The Spectre wraps you up in a seemingly impenetrable cocoon of luxury with its long bonnet putting several leagues between you and any potential hazards”
The Spectre wraps you up in a seemingly impenetrable cocoon of luxury with its long bonnet putting several leagues between you and any potential hazards. It’s enough to give even the most courteous driver a superiority complex. Behind the wheel I felt like queen of the road, but the visibility out of the back and to the sides is severely limited by the sloping roofline, so I was grateful for 360-degree cameras. The Spectre is of course fitted with a suite of safety systems to keep you on the straight and narrow – although obviously not too narrow, this car is incredibly wide – and while the lane keeping assistance kept an ever watchful eye, it didn’t fight me on the occasions I needed to straddle the central line to fit down tight rural roads or weave between parked cars.
Expert rating: 5/5
How comfortable is the Rolls-Royce Spectre Series II
“The Spectre does not disappoint when it comes to comfort; it engulfs you in a serene bubble, cushioning you from imperfections and blocking out the noise of the world beyond”
Rolls-Royces are renowned for their grace and poise. The Spectre does not disappoint when it comes to comfort; it engulfs you in a serene bubble, cushioning you from imperfections and blocking out the noise of the world beyond. It is a breathtakingly comfortable car. Granted, if you are of a taller stature, you might find headroom in the back a little snug, but unlike the four-door Ghost in your fleet, the Spectre is a car you’ll drive yourself rather than be driven in. The options for the star-studded interior are endless, and the Black Badge unlocks further choice with bolder and more daring designs. Understated this car is not, this is a pure emblem of wealth for those wishing to flaunt their success – criterion younger Rolls-Royce clients actively seek and are very comfortable with indeed, apparently.
Expert rating: 5/5
Features of the Rolls-Royce Spectre Series II
“You don’t simply configure your Rolls-Royce; you commission it”
Personalisation is not limited to the interior. You don’t simply configure your Rolls-Royce; you commission it. The Spectre Series II offers new finishes and materials elevating it into an even higher realm of possibilities and no two cars are identical. Can’t decide which colour paintwork to go for? Choose two and have them seamlessly merge from one shade to the other along the length of the car. Fancy a solid finish? Try Ethereal Blue as pictured here, developed especially for Spectre Series II. Think shiny metalwork is prosaic? Go for the moodier Black Badge and swap out chrome for Iced Black details including the wheels, the front grille surround and the Spirit of Ecstasy herself. Even with the fashionable bling of the Black Badge, the Spectre is still a masterclass in blending tradition with mod-cons. The thin steering wheel, dashboard clock, and tactile switches all nods to Rolls-Royce heritage, while the digital driver display and central touch-screen integrate neatly above your choice of glossy veneer.
Expert rating: 5/5
Power for a Rolls-Royce Spectre Series II
“It really does seem to float above the surface of the road”
I cannot overstate how impressed I was by the Spectre Series II. The steering is light but well-judged and the smooth electric power gives it the agility of a much smaller and lighter car – it really does seem to float above the surface of the road. Acceleration is effortless, with up to 659 horsepower on tap making the Black Badge version I drove the most powerful Rolls-Royce ever made. The Spectre’s ethereal soundtrack enhances the experience without directly replicating a V12 engine or being overly synthesised, yet at a push of the Infinity button, the subtle hum draws closer, crescendoing as extra power is unleashed. It is simply sublime. As you look over the bonnet with the Spirit of Ecstasy as your guide, you can now cover up to 390 miles by official figures. Call it 250 miles in the real world, not that reality will concern the lucky few able to make a Spectre Series II their own.
