Rolls-Royce Spectre: First Look | Carfection 4K

Spectre is the first all-electric Rolls-Royce and Drew Stearne got to have a first look at it in person. Get his first impressions on what might be the most important Rolls-Royce Ever.
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00:00 Intro
00:40 Range
01:10 The Platform
01:20 The Grille
02:33 The Front Design
03:22 Profile Design
04:33 Rear Design
05:50 Interior

Despite an overall shape and profile akin to the now-dead Wraith, Rolls-Royce describes the Spectre as the spiritual successor to the Phantom Coupe of the 2000s in terms of market positioning, and it's certainly imposing in size. Its 214.6-inch overall length and 126.3-inch wheelbase are 7.2 and 3.8 inches longer than a Wraith, respectively, while the Phantom Drophead measures 6.2 and 4.4 inches longer in each respect than the Spectre. The Spectre's fastback roofline is similar to the Wraith's, but the EV has much more dramatic proportions with a longer hood and rear overhang, with the rear trunklid coming to a sharper point. The Spectre also features the crispest lines and surfacing of any Rolls, with fender lines coming to sharply lit peaks and more drastic shadows falling on the bodywork.

The Spectre has the sleekest interpretation of Rolls-Royce's Pantheon grille yet, made from a single piece of aluminum and fit nearly flush into the front end. It's also the widest grille ever on a Rolls, and the inner vanes have a flusher fit that aids with airflow. The hood is topped by a redesigned Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament that helps make the Spectre the most aerodynamic Rolls ever made, with a drag coefficent of 0.26 equalling the radical BMW i8. Rolls-Royce is the latest automaker to go with a split headlight design, but I think it's extremely effective on the Spectre. A super-thin LED running light is aligned with the top of the grille and fender cutlines, while the main beams are inset below in a sculpted panel. And remember, the 2003 Phantom and its spin-offs had double headlight arrays you thought were weird at first, too. Best of all, the sandblasted vanes of the grille are backlit by 22 LEDs.

Blocky lower air intakes in the front bumper, a streamlined rear diffuser and gloss black lower cladding aid the Spectre's futuristic look. The taillights are relatively tiny rectangular pods with dual vertical LED stripes that protrude from the bodywork like vintage tail fins -- I love basically any car with tail fins -- and the Spectre even has a bit of a Bangle butt in the way the trunk is more upright than the fenders that house the taillights. Rolls-Royce also picked a pretty wild spec in which to launch the Spectre, with sparkling mustard yellow bodywork paired with a metallic black finish on the hood, roof and upper trunk. The two-tone look really aids the Spectre's in looking sleeker and, dare I say, more sci-fi.

The Spectre is built on the same modular Architecture of Luxury platform that has underpinned everything since 2017 from the Cullinan and Ghost to the Phantom and the insane coachbuilt Boat Tail. Rolls-Royce designed the all-aluminum Architecture of Luxury to be ready for fully electric powertrains from the start. The battery is integrated into the structure itself, which makes the Spectre 30% stiffer than any Rolls before it, and the car's floor is between the sills instead of below or on top. There's a channel between the battery and floor for wiring and climate control piping, allowing for a lower seating position and a smooth underfloor. The battery also conveniently acts as 1,543 pounds of sound deadening.

Where other marques are locked into a battle of who can achieve the lowest 0-to-60 time or the highest EPA range figure, the Spectre is harking back to the days when Rolls-Royce would simply describe its cars' power figures as "adequate." While the brand isn't saying yet, the Spectre likely uses a pair of electric motors, with one at each axle for all-wheel drive. According to Rolls' current testing, the unknown electric motors provide a total of 577 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque -- conveniently the same torque output as the twin-turbo V12 used in the Ghost Black Badge, with only 14 fewer hp. The Spectre has an anticipated 0-to-60-mph time of 4.4 seconds, which is a tenth quicker than the Ghost, and it will reach a limited top speed of 155 mph. (A more powerful Black Badge model will come later.) We don't know the exact battery size yet, but Rolls-Royce says the Spectre is aiming for an EPA-estimated range of up to 260 miles, 14 miles better than a Porsche Taycan GTS.

[cash-mny]

EV for rolls Royce makes a lot of sense, and I think they’ve done a good job of making their EV feel like all their other cars, instead of making it radically different. I would love to see other manufacturers follow their lead and make more cars that feel like their existing cars instead of making things too revolutionary. Although with this said I think the rear is ugly, I think it looks like the Chrysler crossfire lol

[einautofan]

In a Rolls Royce EV makes sense!👍 It's quiet and powerful! In a Rolls Royce you don't care about a cool engine sound anyway... So...😎👌

[ToulKorkMan]

Rolls Royce: Makes first EV
Carfection: I wear 2 watches

[fb]

Hahaha he’s trying so hard to say big arty words lol. As for the car it’s actually looks better than the wrath .also see a lot new BMW styling thinking especially at the front .

[chesspiece]

I would have never picked that color combo but wow it really REALLY works.

[johnsim]

Great to see another Carfection film! That is quite a Rolls Royce, but it's the bonnet length that really impresses me. I keep thinking they're getting closer and closer to the Thunderbirds cars with every new model they release, but I can't argue that it looks terrific. Yes, unmistakable that it's a Rolls Royce, but it's also absolutely modern looking without shouting that it is. Exceptionally well designed.

[DoubleDdd]

Holy smokes!
the ending almost gave me a heart attack, thought carfection was gonna end or something,

thats not how you do a 10 year celebratory graphic.

btw cheer's to both RR for the specter and you guys for 10 years of automotive journalism excellence.

[ByronWWW]

Wow you can change the wallpaper on the screen!

[Kurlach]

Nice enough car, but the quiet thoughtful awed comments from the presenter do make me smile. I mean, they haven’t cured cancer or landed on Mars. It’s a car for people with more money than they know what to do with, that’s it.

[Hazdazos]

Imagine spending $500k on a new Rolls Royce and finding out it has the same headlights as a $90k BMW 7 series sedan or X7 SUV as well as probably a lot of other components underneath.

[Kami_]

Proud to be watching this video in 4K in my university wifi for the very first time in my life.

[fxmixer]

Why does Drew look like he just woke up and put on whatever clothes he could find in the dark?

[TheCarKrazeOfficial]

I hate how they didn’t even try to hide the actual headlights

[eikeholz]

It’s a very well executed variation on post opulence. The only things I don’t get are the headlights, why on earth did Rolls Royce dabble in 7series leftover’s? Oh and the booger greenish color just emphasizes money doesn’t buy taste.

[aldomandovani]

😂 brah I saw the thumbnail and thought.... that guy looks like me... started playing the vid wife enters and say: did you make a video 😂😂😂😂😂 was hilarious.... not only we look a like, the clothing style is sooo close😂😂😂😂

[vadgama_nikz]

A non-car related question - What's with the 2 wristwatches ? (One on each) 😅

[PikX]

I don't know how I feel about the split headlight design, because it reminds of the new 7 series. And if I was a buyer of a RR, I wouldn't like that resemblance.

[Zuhzuhzombie]

"Incredibly minimalist" is an oxymoron.

[scottipippen]

Seriously, how can you believe the figures Rolls Royce gives out?! If the manufacturer says it drives over 500 km (WLTP), in reality it maybe does 400 km at best..

[Rezcuz]

This is the type of vehicle that perfectly fits being an EV, can't tell if I like the design or not