Rolls-Royce Black Badge Spectre review: The dark side of luxury
Giving the Black Badge treatment to the Spectre lends power, presence and drama to world’s most luxurious EV
[MINAMIBOSO] You don’t expect to meet a Rolls-Royce on the ultra-exclusive Magarigawa racetrack deep in the hills of Chiba in Japan. But that’s where the Black Badge Spectre made its presence felt, not with noise, but with intent.
This is a very different kind of Rolls-Royce.
The Spectre is already historic, being the brand’s first fully electric car. But this one? This is the Black Badge version. That means someone at Rolls looked at all that silent elegance and wondered if they could make it darker, faster and slightly unhinged.
Introduced in 2016, the Black Badge sub-brand is a curated response to clients who wanted a more assertive, performance-oriented Rolls-Royce. It’s for those who see luxury not as quiet understatement, but as a means of the ultimate in self-expression.
Black Badge cars feature darker exterior detailing, more vivid material choices, and, crucially, extra power. In the Spectre’s case, it starts with a twin-motor electric setup that delivers 585 horsepower (hp) and 900 Newton-metres (Nm) in its standard setting. That’s already enough to move nearly three tonnes of coachbuilt elegance from 0 to 100 kmh in just 4.5 seconds.
But press the discreet “Infinity” button on the steering wheel and it unlocks the Black Badge’s true personality, by unleashing 659 hp, a whopping 1,075 Nm, and a sharper, more confident drive.
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There’s a form of launch control too, called “Spirited Mode”. Hold the brake, flatten the accelerator, and the car subtly shivers in anticipation, as if limbering up for a duel. Lift off the brake and the Spectre bolts forward with the seamless, silent force of a bullet train. The official sprint time drops to 4.2 seconds, which is outrageous for a vehicle this large.
Yet, it never feels unruly or brash, just deeply capable, like Roger Federer at match point, composed and unhurried, but utterly in control.
Beyond the powertrain, Rolls-Royce has recalibrated the chassis for a more connected drive. The active anti-roll system now removes any lean during cornering, and stiffer damper rates improve control under acceleration and braking. The air suspension continues to deliver the famous “magic carpet ride”, only now with more composure at higher speeds and in tighter bends. The steering, meanwhile, is weightier and offers just enough feedback to make you feel in charge without compromising the brand’s hallmark serenity.
And that’s what impresses most about the Black Badge Spectre. This is a more dynamic Rolls-Royce, but not at the expense of refinement. It glides as it should. It cocoons you in quiet. But when you ask it to move with purpose, it responds instantly and with conviction.
Step inside and you’ll find a familiar Rolls-Royce theatre, only with a more brooding tone – a smorgasbord of dark-themed finishes, illuminated dashboard panels, and bespoke Starlight Doors that now echo the car’s darker energy. The Infinity symbol, the calling card of all Black Badge models, is embroidered discreetly in the cabin, a subtle nod to those who know what it represents.
The Starlight headliner, made up of more than 5,500 fibre-optic cables that mimic the stars, remains a breathtaking reminder that Rolls-Royce craftsmanship is in a league of its own.
But what truly sets the Spectre, and indeed any Rolls-Royce apart, is its capacity for personalisation. Through the company’s Private Office programme, clients can collaborate with designers to create a car that is quite literally one of a kind. The concept is simple: Rolls-Royce brings the design studio closer to its clientele.
Asia’s Private Office is in Seoul, where buyers can commission everything from exclusive exterior paints to unique interior trims, down to the stitching on the seats or the finish on the dashboard.
This decentralised approach ensures that clients never need to leave the region to embark on their bespoke journey. The level of detail achievable through the Private Office goes far beyond most luxury marques.
Whether it’s matching the cabin leather to a family crest or replicating a favourite artwork in embroidery, if it’s legal and physically possible, it can be done.
And that, ultimately, is the point of the Black Badge Spectre. It’s not trying to be a sports car. It’s not interested in lap times around the famous Nurburgring. What it delivers is a reinterpretation of luxury for those who want more character, more drama, and a deeper sense of personal involvement. It proves that electrification doesn’t have to mean clinical.
In fact, here it adds a sense of instant readiness and surprising agility. Rolls-Royce calls it a bold expression of its values for a new generation. I would call it something even simpler: the most exciting Rolls-Royce yet.
Rolls-Royce Black Badge Spectre Power 659 hp Torque 1,075 Nm Battery type/capacity Nickel Manganese Cobalt/102.0 kWh 0-100 kmh 4.2 seconds Top speed 250 kmh (limited) Fuel efficiency 23.8 to 22.2 kWh/100 km Range 493 to 530 km Agent Rolls-Royce Singapore Price S$2,438,888 before COE and options Available Now
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