ROLLS-ROYCE GOES ELECTRIC

The first all-electric Rolls-Royce, the Spectre is a two-door coupe for a new generation of Rolls-Royce driver. T3’s Mat Gallagher went to the US for a test drive

The Rolls-Royce Spectre has been a long time coming. In fact, it has been in the works since Mr Rolls and Mr Royce started the company. In 1900, Charles Rolls prophesied that the future of cars was with an electric engine, and now in 2023 it really is.

Designed to be a Rolls-Royce first and an electric car second, the Spectre delivers the same luxury experience as the existing range. It promises a new audience of younger leaders, visionaries and entrepreneurs to the brand, as well as EV owners looking for a more luxury product and of course, existing Rolls-Royce owners, wanting to go electric – and invest in a piece of history.

Despite being a coupe, the Spectre is almost 5.5 metres in length and weighs just under three tonnes (2890kg). That’s around the same size and weight as the long-wheel-based BMW i7. However, the proportions make it look far smaller.

It sits on huge 23-inch alloys, with self-righting centre caps of course, while the body swoops back toward the rear from that imposing grill. The front headlights are split, with the daylight LEDs sitting above the main beams, much like on the new BMW i7. Those large coupe doors open forwards (a signature Rolls-Royce feature) with powered opening and closing.

Inside is just as impressive. The Symphony model I drove featured paintwork described as Morganite – a dusky bubble-gum pink, while inside the white stitched upholstery was accented with peony pink for the piping, stitching and the RR badging on the headrests.