Rolls-Royce Spectre Review

23 March 2025

When Rolls-Royce decides to enter a new era, they don’t simply tiptoe in. This quest for perfection has culminated in the Rolls-Royce Spectre, and it is quite simply the best EV ever made.

The Spectre is officially the first all-electric Rolls-Royce, and quite possibly the quietest revolution the automotive world has seen in recent times.

You might be wondering: can electricity truly embody the essence of the world’s most iconic luxury marque? Well, the answer is a resounding yes.

A true statement

Visually, the Spectre is every inch quintessentially Rolls-Royce. It’s imposing but not aggressive; grand yet surprisingly sleek.

In fact, the Spectre resembles a modern reinterpretation of classic Rolls-Royce coupes like the Phantom Coupé or the Wraith.

The front grille, traditionally a symbol of Rolls-Royce’s combustion-powered past, now serves as a purely aesthetic statement. Illuminated by 22 LEDs, it lights up like a crystal chandelier, becoming a statement of intent as much as a style choice.

And if the grille wasn’t enough to announce your arrival, the Spirit of Ecstasy, redesigned slightly for aerodynamic efficiency, certainly will.

Everyone recognises a Rolls-Royce at first glance, and the Spectre embodies its heritage as a true thoroughbred.

Opulence electrified

Climb aboard, and the Spectre immediately wraps you in a cocoon of pure tranquillity.

The cabin is nothing short of majestic as if the designers were challenged to outdo their previous creations.

The upholstery, materials, and finishes are the pinnacle of automotive luxury. Leather is everywhere, and not just any leather, mind you, but exquisitely soft, flawless, and expertly hand-stitched.

The interior wood veneers and metals shimmer softly under ambient lighting, tastefully complementing the cabin’s mood.

The real showstopper here are the ‘Starlight Doors’, extending Rolls-Royce’s renowned starlight headliner to include tiny, twinkling lights embedded in the door panels.

If driving under the stars is your thing, you can now experience it in the comfort of your own car.

And despite this grandeur, the Spectre’s tech interface is pleasing and simple. The digital dials and infotainment displays are crisp, minimalist, and mercifully free from clutter.

If you’re expecting giant screens à la Tesla, look elsewhere; Rolls-Royce prefers subtlety and class over screens that resemble widescreen TVs.

Silent power, effortless grace

So, how does an electric Rolls-Royce actually drive?

Well, imagine gliding effortlessly on a cloud, albeit one with substantial torque available at the gentlest prod of your right foot. With 576 horsepower and a hefty 900Nm of torque on tap, the Spectre can dash from 0-100km/h in just 4.5 seconds. Mind you, that’s as quick as many sports cars, yet this car weighs in at nearly three tonnes.

Impressive? Certainly.

Even more remarkable, however, is how the Spectre never urges you to push it. Instead, it invites calmness. Cruising along expressways, this Rolls-Royce achieves what few cars, even other Rolls-Royces, can truly claim: utter silence.

With no combustion engine, road and wind noises become distant whispers. It’s akin to being in a soundproof room on wheels; you might even hear your own thoughts clearer than ever.

Interestingly, Rolls-Royce claims a real-world range of around 520 kilometres on a full charge, plenty enough for a week’s worth of travels or a weekend getaway.

Now, Rolls-Royce has long been the benchmark for ride quality, but the Spectre genuinely redefines the term. Its suspension is otherworldly; adaptive dampers and an active anti-roll system use sophisticated electronics to anticipate bumps and corners, essentially preparing the car in advance to iron out any imperfections.

The four-wheel steering means the Spectre feels surprisingly agile for its substantial size, gracefully negotiating narrow car parks and multi-storey ramps that would usually induce stress in lesser vehicles. Yet, it retains the dignified composure of a limousine at higher speeds. Call it the best of both worlds.

Quietly brilliant

Put simply, the Spectre is a confident declaration that Rolls-Royce is ready for an electrified future. It remains fiercely loyal to the brand’s ethos, delivering sublime comfort, unruffled composure, and unmatched luxury in an effortlessly electric package.

The notion of an electric Rolls-Royce might initially feel peculiar, perhaps even sacrilegious to some purists. But once you experience the majestic serenity of the Spectre, the idea of returning to an internal combustion engine begins to feel positively archaic.

It’s a vision of luxury reimagined for a quieter, more thoughtful world. And if this is what the future looks like, count me in.

Technical Specifications