BLACK BADGE SPECTRE. THE MOST POWERFUL ROLLS-ROYCE EVER

The motoring universe moves fast. But every so often, I realise it’s shifting even faster than I give it credit for. Take the new Black Badge Spectre for example. In my mind, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars have spent the last century meticulously evolving and refining the perfect V12 grand tourers. And yet seemingly, just like that, we are now fully electric. And the Black Badge represents the pinnacle of Rolls-Royce’s boldest evolution yet.

For those unfamiliar with the Black Badge, this is Rolls-Royce’s alter ego, a sub-brand crafted for those who find standard luxury a little too restrained. Think of it as the difference between a classical opus and a deep techno anthem. It’s still unmistakably Rolls-Royce but with a shadowy, subversive twist on tradition.

The Black Badge Spectre is now the most powerful Rolls-Royce in history, packing a formidable 659hp and 1075Nm of torque. Numbers to make supercar manufacturers sit up and take note. But in true Roller fashion, it probably won’t introduce itself with any particular fanfare. No ‘look at me’ theatrics here. Just pure, unapologetic force with the quiet menace of a silk-gloved hand closing around a throat.

Rolls-Royce engineers have taken a rather different approach to this performance. The new Infinity Mode unleashes the full 659hp at the press of a button, turning the Black Badge Spectre from a street cruiser into something that just keeps going. Probably not the neck-snapping response you get from your usual electric Supercar by the way. It will be a measured, deliberate surge of power.

And then there’s Spirited Mode, a nod to Rolls-Royce’s aviation history. Inspired by the power boost function of the legendary Merlin engines that propelled Spitfires. This setting delivers a torque surge instead. Two features so unapologetically indulgent, they could only exist in a Rolls-Royce.

But it looks like Rolls hasn’t just dialled up the power and left it at that. The steering weight has been increased, body roll has been stabilised and damping refined to encourage drivers to wield this newfound power. It appears as though the Black Badge Spectre will actively invite you to take the wheel and push it, with a handling balance that is surprisingly direct for a 2.9-tonne masterpiece.

And yet, through all of this, the feeling will remain. The so-called 'Magic Carpet Ride', Rolls-Royce’s legendary ability to make even the worst British B-roads feel like a red carpet event, will still be there. Rolls-Royce says that the air suspension has been meticulously calibrated in the Black Badge to keep the effortless glide expected of a Rolls-Royce but with a newfound sharpness. Every input from the driver is bound to be met with a confident, precise response, ensuring that the Black Badge Spectre feels as composed at speed as it does while wafting through city streets.

Looks-wise, I think that Rolls-Royce has outdone itself. The new Vapour Violet colourway is a direct nod to 80s and 90s neon-lit club culture, unexpected for a brand that typically operates in a realm of hand-stitched leather and bespoke starlit ceilings. Even the Pantheon Grille is illuminated from behind, because why not.

Inside, there’s an Illuminated Technical Fibre fascia, which sounds like something borrowed from a spacecraft but is essentially Rolls’ way of making carbon fibre look utterly extravagant. And, for the first time, the Illuminated Treadplates glow in Black Badge’s signature dark hue, ensuring that even stepping into the car is as eventful as possible.

As for the finishing touches, the starlight headliner now features the Black Badge infinity symbol, subtly woven into the fabric of the universe Rolls-Royce has created within the cabin. Even the dials glow in vivid Neon Nights, Vivid Grellow or Synth Wave hues, giving the dashboard an otherworldly presence once the sun dips below the horizon.

The level of bespoke detailing is as staggering as usual. From custom coachlines to 23-inch five-spoke forged alloy wheels available in either a darkened polished finish or an all-black spec, every element of the Black Badge Spectre has been designed to exude total individuality.

The interior upholstery, finished in various deep hues, is available with contrast stitching that subtly highlights the Spectre’s rebellious nature. You know that every texture, every material, every stitch will be deliberate.

Indeed, the Black Badge Spectre is not necessarily aimed at your traditional Rolls-Royce clientele. And if the standard Spectre is an electrified Rolls-Royce, then the Black Badge Spectre is something else entirely. If ever there was an electric car that embodied absolute power with absolute refinement, then this is probably it.

And that’s precisely why it exists. The typical Spectre is already a silent statement of wealth and taste, but the Black Badge version lifts the velvet rope and invites only the boldest inside. This isn’t Rolls-Royce trying to fit into the modern era. This is Rolls-Royce bending the modern era to fit its own standard.

https://www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com/en_GB/showroom/black-badge.html