British luxury automaker Rolls-Royce has officially entered the electric car game. Spiritual successor to the Phantom Coupé, the Spectre is the brand’s first ever electric car—and one that cuts the red ribbon on the brand’s mission to have a fully electric model portfolio by 2030.
This new era of electric elegance is by far not the only selling point of the Spectre. Hauntingly beautiful with lines that create the illusion of motion even when the car is still, the Spectre is designed from bonnet to boot with visual and performative athleticism in mind. A cohesive silhouette is brought together by bringing the iconic Illuminated Grille at the front into the brightwork of the tail lights, and the Rolls-Royce ancestral signature features (like the Illuminated Fascia and Starlight Headliner) are still present in all their celestial glory.
The real connectivity masterpiece though is SPIRIT, the digital extension of the Architecture of Luxury platform. Intuitive, perceptive, and sharp, SPIRIT oversees the Spectre’s functions and seamlessly integrates into Whispers, the Rolls-Royce owner’s app. Advertised as being “a brain of its own” with ten driver assistance systems, 141,200 sender-receiver functions, and over 25,000 sub-functions, SPIRIT—and its voice-activated intelligence companion, Eleanor—offers unparalleled simplicity in the processing and actioning of complex information.
While it uses the same battery cells more commonly found in BMW electric models and sports a 400V electrical architecture rather than the more powerful 800V deployed by the likes of Porsche and Audi, what the Spectre lacks (slightly) in overall power and rapid-charging capabilities, it more than makes up for with elevated interior comfort and virtually limitless customization options in both design and performance. With a starting price of 420,000 USD (330,000 GBP), the Spectre may not be the cheapest everyday car, but with its sublimely serene driving experience, it’s certainly suitable for visiting your usual haunts—or going on some seriously spectacular road trips.
