Test Drive: Rolls-Royce Spectre
From northern California to a trip across the northeast, we’re behind the wheel of the company’s first EV.
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Test Drive: Rolls-Royce Spectre
From northern California to a trip across the northeast, we’re behind the wheel of the company’s first EV.
The Rolls-Royce Specter is more than the first electric car of its kind, it is the culmination of everything they have learned about design, engineering and coachbuilding at the highest level of the automatic market. As our friend Max Büsser says about his amazing horological machines, “it tells the time, but it’s not the point,” so is the Specter’s electric drivetrain—as a driver or passenger you probably wouldn’t even notice it if you didn’t know. We drove the Specter in Northern California and took it on a road trip from NYC to Provincetown to prove that it was a Rolls-Royce before it was an EV—expressing effortless luxury and a great driving experience, easily transitioning the brand into the electric age without sacrificing its soul. Everything, from the monolithic silhouette to its quiet powertrain, is a testament to the brand’s meticulous attention to detail and first-class craftsmanship.
The Spectre’s fastback silhouette channels the agility of the classic coach layout while improving aerodynamics. According to Anders Warming, Director of Design for Spectre, the aim was to create “monolithic beauty,” a theme that runs through all surfaces and lines in this, the widest coupe ever built. The Pantheon grille, the largest ever fitted to a Rolls-Royce, is subtly illuminated by 22 LEDs, making its presence felt even in the dark. The Spirit of Ecstasy, redesigned to improve aerodynamics, has been developed over 800 hours in the wind tunnel to effectively melt into the air. Driving the Specter it’s impossible not to feel its presence and that’s reinforced by all the attention it gets from others on the road.
Inspired by the cliffs of the Seven Sisters, Specter’s barbershops play with light and shadow, avoiding hard edges to evoke a natural, uninterrupted flow. Warmth defines the Specter brand as it is defined by three important lines: the upper line, which goes from the front grille to the mast of the sail, creates a commanding stance, the shoulder line, which goes up to the back, emphasizes movement even when standing still, and the waft line, a nod to the strong boat design, which is subtly thrown to strengthen the graceful effort of the Spec.
Inside, 5,500 illuminated ‘stars’ scattered across the dashboard and extending through the doors bring a new dimension to the brand new Starlight theme, further extending the magical effect the flagship has provided since its debut in 2007. Every cutting line is skilled with the same precision as the vision of the yacht’s reinforcing sanctuary with wheels. There are very few cues in the interior design to remind us that this car is an EV, and that’s on purpose. It just rolls, and for many who have driven it, it’s the best yet.
Beneath the sculpted exterior, the Specter rides on the “Architecture of Luxury” platform, a bespoke chassis designed to support all of the brand’s powertrains. Unlike conventional EVs that emphasize fast torque and sharp driving force, Mihiar Ayoubi, Director of Engineering, emphasizes that the Specter was created with one main goal: “Rolls-Royce first, electric car second.”
One of the biggest engineering achievements is its integrated battery, which is stored inside the sill part of the chassis. This strategic placement lowers the center of gravity, improving vehicle handling while contributing to a 30% increase in stiffness over the monstrous Ghost, providing improved driving dynamics and contributing to a smoother ride.
A Rolls-Royce should glide, not drive, and its Planar Suspension System ensures just that, using a complex combination of GPS data, road-scanning cameras and adaptive suspension to adjust for imperfections before they’re felt. On straight roads, the system separates the anti-roll bars, allowing the wheels to move independently for a more fluid feel. If one is detected, it recompiles the system for improved stability.
Although it’s a larger-than-average car, its all-wheel steering makes low-speed cornering less difficult and improves speed stability. The regenerative braking system is automatically switched off when the vehicle is started. When activated, carefully tuned to mimic the deceleration of a Rolls-Royce, it performs what Ayoubi calls a “champagne stop”—ensuring that even a glass of bubbly remains undisturbed when stopped.
The Specter’s dual-motor setup produces 577 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque, going from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds—all near silent. Unlike performance-oriented EVs, the Specter is designed for cool cruising, featuring the effortless power the brand is known for. It has a 102 kWh lithium-ion battery designed to provide up to 264 miles of range on a single charge and supports DC fast charging. We stopped at a few different public chargers during our road trip and fielded questions from other EV owners who were seeing the Specter for the first time.
The Specter is more than an electric car—it’s a vision of the future for Rolls-Royce, which remains committed to its core philosophy of powerlessness, creativity and beauty. Is it possible to surpass the Spectre? The brand announced today (date of publication) that the Specter Black Badge is now available, increasing efficiency and offering more options.
