The Spectre, the Rolls-Royce’s first electric car, altered expectations with its silent grandeur and monumental presence. However, someone at the brand’s Goodwood headquarters thought it needed more edge.
Enter the Black Badge Spectre. It’s a sharper, darker and more purposeful take on this uber-luxurious EV coupe. And in true Rolls-Royce fashion, it never screams its intentions. Yet you know it means business.
I’m at the Magarigawa Club, a members-only racetrack tucked into the hills of Chiba, Japan. It’s a curious location for a 2.9-tonne electric grand tourer, but then again, this experience isn’t going to be about track times. Instead, it’s about the exclusivity and the luxury of the venue that complements the intent of the Black Badge Spectre.
BENEATH THE SKIN
The Spectre is built on the “Architecture of Luxury,” the same scalable platform underpinning the Phantom and Cullinan. In standard mode, its dual motors deliver 585hp and 900Nm of torque to all four wheels. But press the Infinity button on the steering wheel and you unlock the car’s darker side, unleashing 650hp and 1075Nm of torque. It is, to date, the most powerful Rolls-Royce ever produced.
The extra grunt drops the century sprint time from 4.5 seconds to a slightly more urgent 4.2 seconds. It wouldn’t trouble a Taycan Turbo S, but that’s missing the point.
The Spectre doesn’t do drama. It does effortless authority. Think Roger Federer instead of Usain Bolt. It doesn’t need to pummel you into submission. It simply glides past, unbothered, knowing full well it could floor you if it wanted.
Torque delivery in Infinity mode is velvety smooth. Surprisingly, there’s even launch control. Depress the brake pedal with your left foot and nail the accelerator with your right one and the car tenses slightly, like a predator about to pounce. Release the brakes and the Spectre surges forward commandingly, not brutally.
What surprises me is how composed the car feels in motion. Rolls-Royce engineers have reworked the chassis calibration specifically for the Black Badge. The active anti-roll system reins in body lean more aggressively, while the damper rates have been firmed up for greater control under acceleration or deceleration. Yet the air suspension remains uncannily plush, preserving that legendary “magic carpet” ride.
Around corners, the Black Badge Spectre showcases its newfound agility. It’s not a two-seater sports car, but the steering is weightier and more communicative than expected. Rear-wheel-steering makes the car feel shorter than it actually is, which is no small feat for a coupe measuring almost 5.5 metres long.
Magarigawa Club circuit in Chiba, Japan.
CRAFTSMANSHIP AND PERSONALISATION
The Spectre’s visual transformation is subtle. Chrome finishes are smoked, the wheel designs become more aggressive, and the Spirit of Ecstasy goes dark, too.
Inside, you’ll find carbon fibre trimmings and the familiar infinity logo. The refinement is still present, of course, with thick-pile floor mats and flawless veneers on hand to pamper occupants.
The Starlight Headliner, consisting of 5500 “stars” made from fibre optic strands, is also here. It can be personalised – the client can say, opt to have Rolls-Royce recreate the night sky or constellations on their birthday.
Speaking of personalisation, Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke programme lets clients specify everything from the paint colour to the stitching pattern on the seats. As long as it is legal and safe, it’s possible. This customisation can be done through Rolls-Royce’s Private Office located in Seoul, South Korea.
After all, the Black Badge Spectre isn’t a sports car. It’s still a Rolls-Royce, which means refinement comes first, second, and third. But it is also easily the most engaging car the brand has ever made.
It encourages a more active driving role without any compromise to comfort, for you are still cocooned in a first-class lounge. Yet the Black Badge Spectre moves with the poise of something lighter, smaller, and more aggressive.
In a world where electrification often strips character from performance, the Black Badge Spectre adds a hint of depth, drama, and even menace. Its existence is a specific statement: Electric can still be majestic, and silence can still be powerful. And that personal luxury has only grown more relevant in the digital age.
Rolls-Royce Black Badge Spectre (A)
MOTORS Permanent magnet synchronous
MAX POWER 200kW (268bhp)
MAX TORQUE 343Nm
GEARBOX Single-speed
POWER TO WEIGHT 89.7kW per tonne (120.2bhp per tonne)
0-100KM/H 7.1 seconds
TOP SPEED 200km/h
BATTERY 100kWh
RANGE 620km (WLTP)
CONSUMPTION 5.5km/kWh
PRICE INCL. COE From $335,000
AGENT Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Singapore
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