From northern California to a roadtrip across the northeast, we get behind the wheel of the company's first EV

Read Tech

Test Drive: Rolls-Royce Spectre

From northern California to a roadtrip across the northeast, we get behind the wheel of the company’s first EV

Evan Orensten

18 February 2025

The Rolls-Royce Spectre is more than the brand’s first electric vehicle, it’s the culmination of everything they’ve learned about design, engineering and coach-building at the highest level of the automative market. As our friend Max Büsser says of his fantastical horological machines, “they tell the time, but that’s not the point,” so is electrification as the means of propulsion in the Spectre—as a driver or passenger you likely wouldn’t even notice if you didn’t know. We’ve driven the Spectre in Northern California and taken it on a road trip from NYC to Provincetown can attest that it’s a Rolls-Royce before it’s an EV—exuding effortless opulence and an impeccable driving experience, it seamlessly transitions the brand into the electric era without sacrificing its soul. Every element, from the monolithic silhouette to its whisper-quiet powertrain, is a testament to the brand’s meticulous attention to detail and a masterclass of craftsmanship.

The Spectre’s fastback silhouette channels the fluidity of classic coach-building while optimizing aerodynamics. According to Anders Warming, Director of Design for Spectre, the goal was to create “sheer monolithic beauty,” a theme that runs through every surface and line on this, the widest coupe the brand has ever built. The Pantheon grille, the largest ever fitted on a Rolls-Royce, is subtly illuminated by 22 LEDs, enhancing its presence even in darkness. The Spirit of Ecstasy, redesigned for improved aerodynamics, underwent over 800 hours of wind tunnel refinement to glide through the air more efficiently. Driving the Spectre it’s impossible not to feel the presence it holds and that’s reinforced by all the attention it gets from others on the road.

Inspired by the Seven Sisters cliffs, the Spectre’s shear surfaces play with light and shadow, avoiding harsh edges to evoke a natural, uninterrupted flow. Warming describes the Spectre’s form as defined by three crucial lines: the top line, stretching from the front grille to the sail post, creating a commanding stance, the shoulder line, which rises toward the rear, emphasizing motion even at a standstill, and the waft line, a nod to powerboat design, subtly angled to reinforce Spectre’s effortless grace.

Inside, 5,500 illuminated ‘stars’ scattered across the dashboard and extending into the doors bring the brand’s legendary Starlight headliner to a new dimension. Every cutline is mastered with the same precision as a yacht’s paneling, reinforcing the idea of Spectre as a floating sanctuary on wheels. There are ver few queues in the interior design that remind us this car is an EV because, again, it’s a RollsRoyce first and the materials, finishes and craftsmanship are all tuned to the highest level.

Beneath the sculpted exterior, the Spectre rides on the “Architecture of Luxury” platform, a bespoke chassis designed to support all of the brand’s powertrains. Unlike conventional EVs that emphasize instant torque and sharp dynamics, Mihiar Ayoubi, Director of Engineering, underscores that the Spectre was developed with one core principle: “Rolls-Royce first, electric car second.”

One of the biggest engineering achievements is its integrated battery, housed within the sill section of the chassis. This strategic placement lowers the center of gravity, improving handling while contributing to the vehicle’s 30% increase in rigidity over the formidable Ghost.

A Rolls-Royce should glide, not drive, and its Planar Suspension System ensures just that, using a sophisticated mix of GPS data, road-scanning cameras and adaptive suspension to prepare for imperfections before they’re even felt. On straight roads, the system decouples the anti-roll bars, allowing the wheels to move independently for a floating sensation. When a corner is detected, it recouples the system for enhanced stability.

Though it’s a larger-than-average vehicle, its all-wheel steering system makes low-speed turns effortless and improves high-speed stability. The regenerative braking system is off by default when the car is started. When turned on, it’s carefully tuned to mimic traditional Rolls-Royce deceleration, enables what Ayoubi calls the “champagne stop”—ensuring even a glass of bubbly remains undisturbed when coming to a halt.

The Spectre’s dual-motor setup produces 577 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque, launching from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds—all in near silence. Unlike performance-focused EVs, the Spectre is designed for serene cruising, embodying the effortless power the brand is known for. It has a 102 kWh lithium-ion battery designed to provide a range of up to 264 miles on a single charge and supports DC fast charging. We stopped at a few different public chargers during our road trip and fielded questions from other EV owners who were seeing Spectre for the first time.

The Spectre is more than an electric car—it’s a vision of the future for Rolls-Royce, which remains committed to its core philosophy of effortlessness, craftsmanship and grandeur.