My favorite feature of the new $420,000 all-electric Rolls-Royce Specter isn't the pampering ride quality or the illuminated stars embedded in the headliner of the incredibly ornate interior. It's not the 577 horsepower or 266 miles of range. It's neither about the seats that massage the “yes, that's the place” nor about the presence on the sidewalk of that vertical chrome front grille. It's not even the aerodynamically refined but classically styled Spirit of Ecstasy figurine perched high above.
My favorite feature of the Specter is the sound it makes. As an electric vehicle, it doesn't actually make any engine sounds on its own. It's a rolling cocoon made inherently anti-acoustic thanks to the tireless work of some surely big-eared scientists. So, to inject a little more life into the driving experience, the Specter plays a small digital tone when accelerating.
Yes, almost all modern EVs make some sort of synthetic hum or trill when you step on the accelerator, but nothing like the Specter. This car makes the kind of sound one would expect to hear when an all-knowing, all-powerful alien force swoops through the clouds in a sci-fi movie, the chilling tone supporting the moment when everyone realizes that humanity is about to disappear. served.
This heavenly chorus is so subtle you can hardly hear it, but with this Roller as quiet as a tomb, the result is genuinely sublime. And that's just one aspect of a completely refined experience that's a level above any other electric vehicle on the road.
A silent destiny
The Rolls-Royce brand has been applied to premium machines since 1904, and it seems the previous 120 years have led up to this moment.
If you're lucky enough to see an early Rolls-Royce drive by, like a Silver Ghost or Phantom, you won't hear much. Despite massive seven-liter-plus engines (50 percent larger than those in a current Ford Mustang GT), these early ultra-luxury cars featured exhausts designed to minimize transmission noise.
With the Spectre, Rolls-Royce's first battery-electric vehicle, the company's engineers can finally stop over-engineering the old internal combustion to make it smooth and quiet. The Specter relies on two electric motors that generate the aforementioned combined 577 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. This thing weighs 6,371 pounds, more than a Cadillac Escalade, but can accelerate to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds.
Yes, it's fast when needed, but you'll see better range when driven calmly, up to 266 miles on a charge of its 102 kWh battery.
Driving relaxed is not only more efficient but also much more rewarding. The Specter has a generally calm demeanor, like an accelerator pedal that requires deep application to unleash all that power. The brake pedal is equally relaxed, as is the slow steering, with enough feedback to let you know you're turning the wheels and tires.
In fact, all four. Rear-wheel steering makes this nearly 18-foot-long ultracoupe very easy to maneuver in tight parking lots. The 360-degree camera and standard automated parking also help ensure you don't brake one of those 23-inch wheels, something I appreciated during my loan, as replacing any of them would surely have bankrupted me.
About borrowed technology
That 360-degree camera is just part of the technology Rolls-Royce engineers borrowed from parent company BMW, but I wish they'd stolen a little more, like BMW's hands-off driver assistance system.
The touchscreen infotainment is also reasonably modern, offering integrated navigation and charging station search. It will even work with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, although oddly I couldn't get the latter to work. Maybe the car considered my Samsung Galaxy S23 from last season to be too old-fashioned? And while media is played through a custom 16-speaker audio system that's powerful yet beautifully subtle, it sadly lacks Dolby Atmos support.
So this high-tech Rolls-Royce doesn't offer all the bells and whistles in the world, but what you do get is an astronomically detailed interior, floor mats of the softest lambswool, and a full suite of polished metal controls, all designed with the weight and the perfect feeling.
mortgage time
While you can buy a Specter for $420,000, you'll never complete the purchasing process without checking a few boxes. Given options like the chartreuse paint you see here costs $13,100 alone, expect to spend a lot more. This car was priced at $560,100 after a $2,750 destination charge.
A worthwhile expense? That's a hard thing to say for someone on a mere mortal's budget. The Specter isn't great value for money, but it is exceptional, which makes it even more spectacular considering it's from Rolls-Royce. But That Sound's presence makes it all seem worth it.
There are more electric vehicles to come, but we will have to be patient; An SUV has been promised for 2027, before the brand goes all-electric in 2030. Right now, no one knows how good those future EVs will look and drive, but if they all sound this good, they'll be on a path. very good. good start.
