Rolls-Royce Black Badge Spectre - A £350k EV

I only had an hour or so in the company of the Rolls-Royce Black Badge Spectre, but hey, an invitation to get my hands on one wasn’t something to be sniffed at. 

It’s the most powerful Rolls-Royce ever made. The original Spectre, which arrived in 2023, was the first all-electric Roller and was plainly designed for typical Rolls-Royce owners who demand the pinnacle of luxury but with a dash of coupé flair. However, the Black Badge model goes one step further because this is a serious driver’s car. It even looks vaguely threatening. 

Why Black Badge?

Rolls-Royce knows that a lot of its buyers are of senior years, so they want to appeal to younger buyers who want a more sporty car. You can choose any colour you fancy - Rolls-Royce offers around 44,000 different colour options at the last count - and of course, there are certain features which are painted black, including the Spirit of Ecstasy, or Flying Lady, statuette that graces the bonnet of every Rolls-Royce. The grille is also black, and anywhere that shiny silver chrome would normally be is replaced with black shiny chrome. 

Powertrain

The powertrain is a masterpiece and typically silent, of course. Under normal running, the power output is 577bhp, but if you hit the Infinity mode button or, even better, the Spirited mode, this climbs to 650bhp. The Spirited button is, in effect, a launch control, which means you press the brake pedal firmly with your left foot whilst planting the accelerator with your right foot. Release the brake and you’ll hurtle to the horizon. Pushing from 0-60mph will take you 4.1 seconds, and for a car that weighs close to three tonnes, that time is incredible. 

Range

The range from the battery is around 300 miles, but don’t expect to see it lining up at Wetherby services plugged in alongside VW ID and Kia EV6 models. Most Spectre owners only do short-ish journeys before returning to their stately pile. Anything further, call for the helicopter. 

The car comes with two battery-powered motors, one front and one aft, so you get all-wheel drive. All-wheel steering is also standard. Rolls-Royce says this version of the Spectre has sharper handling without any effect on the cosseting ride and comfort. 

Driving experience

The only snag was that my particular invitation was to drive the car in deepest Yorkshire between Ripon and Pateley Bridge. The Black Badge Spectre’s top speed is 155mph, but I was lucky to reach 15mph at times, stuck behind tractors and a combine harvester. Consequently, using the available performance was out of the question, but one thing that country lanes show is that the ride is sublime. Graceful motoring doesn’t get any better. It is so weird to hear no noise at all, and the tyres don’t even rumble. It was always said that the only noise you would hear inside a Rolls-Royce was the ticking of the dashboard clock. Even that’s gone. 

Interior & kit

I shan’t go through the list of goodies included in the ‘standard’ Spectre because it includes everything, and the Black Badge edition simply loads on a few extras. The whole interior oozes quality craftsmanship and the starlight headlining makes the top of the roof look as though you’re staring at the solar system. 

It’s a pity that the sat nav sent me along a winding road for about 15 miles at 20 mph before eventually telling me to turn around. Thanks for that. 

Price

Black Badge allows you to fully customise your Rolls-Royce Spectre. Prices will kick off at around £350,000 (Aug ’25), but if you have incredibly deep pockets and go crazy with the various build options, don’t be surprised to clear half a million quid. 

And some folk will. Rolls-Royce says that a typical Spectre owner will use the car as their second Rolls-Royce and is likely to be part of, on average, a seven-car garage, allowing them to select a motor car to suit every occasion. Blimey. 

The big question

My only question about the Black Badge Spectre is why anyone would buy the ‘normal’ Spectre? When you’re in the market for cars like this, purchase price isn’t a consideration. The Black Badge version looks better, goes better, yet still offers the same levels of luxury and refinement that you’d expect from any Rolls-Royce. 

It’s a Rolls-Royce with attitude. Who’d have thought it?

words: Graham Courtney
pictures: Rolls-Royce