Buying a Rolls-Royce Spectre in India will cost you Rs 7.5 crore, ex-showroom, before options, making it the most expensive four-wheeled EV (for private buyers) on sale in the country. Along with the announcement of the Spectre’s price, the British ultra luxury marque has also revealed the battery specifications and official range of its first all-electric vehicle. Bookings will also open from today.
Rolls-Royce Spectre: range, battery, platform
Understandably, the Spectre comes with a big 102kWh battery pack that is said to have a range of 530km on the WLTP cycle. For reference, the EQS and EQS AMG come with a 107.4kWh battery, which goes 857km in the former and 580km on the latter on a single charge. The Spectre’s battery can be charged from 10-80 percent with an 195kW charger in 34 minutes, while a 50kW DC charger will take 95 minutes. Rolls-Royce’s first EV gets two electric motors – one on each axle – that produce a combined 585hp and 900Nm – the brand claims the it’ll take the 2,890kg Spectre just 4.5 seconds to sprint to 100kph.
The Spectre is based on Rolls Royce’s all-aluminium spaceframe architecture, called Architecture of Luxury. While this platform also underpins the current Phantom, Cullinan and Ghost, it was designed with electrification in mind right from the beginning, which was way back in 2003. The Spectre is claimed to be 30 percent stiffer than any previous Rolls-Royce and features active suspension and four-wheel steering.
Rolls-Royce Spectre: design
The spiritual successor to the Phantom Coupe has a very familiar Rolls-Royce silhouette and design elements – there’s a long bonnet with clean profile, and a fastback tail. There are also cues taken from the company’s current line-up; Rolls-Royce also claims to have drawn inspiration from modern yacht concepts. With a length of 5,475mm and a width of 2,017mm, the Spectre is also quite big, out-sizing the already large four-door Mercedes EQS.
At the front, the Spectre wears the widest-ever grille fitted to a Rolls-Royce. It’s designed for aerodynamic efficiency and sports 22 LEDs for soft illumination at night. The Spirit of Ecstasy, too, has been aero-tuned and unlike a typical Rolls-Royce, which has a flat and upright nose, the bonnet on the Spectre swoops down to the grille. All these bits combine to give it a drag co-efficient of 0.25, making it the most aerodynamic Rolls-Royce ever.
The split-headlamp design harks back to the Phantom Coupe – the ultra-slim LED DRLs are high-mounted, with the main headlamp cluster positioned below, which appear darkened at first glance but hide jewellery box-like darkened chromium housings for the headlights. In profile, the Spectre is characterised by three distinct lines – the gently sloping roofline, a prominent shoulder line and one at the base that’s called the ‘waft line’ and is directly inspired by yachts.
At the rear, the fastback tail, combined with the seamless glasshouse, helps with aerodynamic efficiency. The fastback roof panel, which extends from the A-pillar to the luggage compartment, is, in fact, the largest single-body panel ever fitted on a Rolls-Royce. Its vertical tail-lamps have jewel-like detailing and are finished in a neutral colour for customers to spec them according to their preference. The Spectre rides on aero-optimised 23-inch wheels – the largest ever fitted to a two-door Rolls Royce coupe.
Rolls Royce Spectre: interior
Like the exterior, the Spectre’s interior is quite similar to existing Rolls-Royce models. What’s new is that the starlight liner, which was so far only offered on the roof, is now also incorporated in the door pads. Wood panelling for the doors can also be opted for.
Another unique bit on the Spectre is the dashboard panel on the passenger side, which is illuminated with the ‘Spectre’ nameplate and surrounded by a cluster of over 5,500 star-like illuminations. Its seats are also completely new, with the rear ones being integrated in the interior body panels. The cabin also features exquisite stitching, embroidery, and intricate piping, and, as is the case with all Rolls-Royce cars, the Spectre offers customers infinite customisation options.
The biggest talking point about the Spectre’s interior is Rolls-Royce’s new software platform – the ‘Spirit’. Rolls Royce’s had so far been using a BMW-derived infotainment software. Spirit is essentially the new digital interface with connected car technology that controls all functions of the car. Rolls-Royce is also offering bespoke services with the Spirit software where even the colour of the dials can be changed to complement the interior.
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