Spectre Black Badge – the most powerful Rolls-Royce ever

To many the image of Rolls-Royce cars is one of stately, monarchical old money grandeur, yet this is far from the case and in their first ever all-electric Rolls-Royce, the Spectre, there is a new Black Badge version, released earlier this year.

The most powerful Rolls-Royce ever, Spectre Black Badge generates huge torque, 1075Nm in Infinity mode, yet still manages its performance such that the twin electric motors and 102 kwh battery carries the near 3-ton Spectre 529km/329 miles on a single charge. Providing of course you don’t go into Infinity mode, and make use of the extraordinary performance too often. Maximum speed is limited to 155mph with the benchmark 100kph/62 mph passed in a whisker over 4 seconds.

Spectre is a raffishly styled coupe with the elegance, performance, and high-quality craftsmanship of a true grand tourer, and is made for touring the fashionable resorts of France, Italy and other glamourous locations.

Black Badge actually removes certain elements from the standard Spectre, if such a word could ever be attached to a Rolls-Royce. Traditional brightwork is replaced with dark finish brightwork, almost a contradiction in terms but the dark finish of Black Badge does actually work well.

The side profile of this most striking of Rolls-Royce cars turn heads, especially if it is finished in the official launch colour of vapour violet. Spectre options are genuinely boundless with some vivid interior highlight colour choices such as Peony Pink and Mandarin. The latter looking rather good, the former arguably more of a personal choice.

Even in more vivid hues though, sliding into the Spectre through 1.5-metre-long rear hinged power doors is a real occasion. Prices start at €435,526/£385,000 but with such a wealth, if you’ll excuse the pun, of options I suspect none will emerge at less than €452,494/£400,000.

With a newly interpreted Flying Lady atop the imposing radiator grille, she has a lower stance and is one of many interpretations since sculptor Charles Robinson Sykes designed the first incarnation in 1904, Spectre is an impressive sight.

It is a big car too, with the high, as one journalist described them, window sills, shallow glass and large door mirrors creating a blind spot capable of hiding small buildings. Thankfully, technology comes to your aid and familiarity would undoubtedly make manoeuvring by eye and judgement easier.

On more adventurous roads the size of Spectre makes its presence felt with the sheer size of the bonnet hiding the view over humps and hollows. Perhaps, surprisingly, the heavier weighted steering and admirable suspension set-up makes the car quite capable of providing enjoyment once confidence has been instilled. Press the infinity button and the full might of the Spectre’s 659PS is unleashed and it’s mighty impressive.

As an exercise in attracting new, younger and less old-school buyers it is undoubtedly a success. Perhaps more surprising is that the Spectre Black Badge has created a driver’s car whilst retaining the poise and sophistication expected of a Rolls-Royce.