- Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Badge adds power
- Infinity mode unlocks the full 659 hp
- A launch mode helps achieve a quicker 0-60 mph time
The Rolls-Royce Spectre electric coupe is getting the automaker’s Black Badge treatment, with more power and a design aesthetic that should appeal to your inner goth.
Unveiled Tuesday, the Black Badge model’s dual electric motors produce a combined 659 hp and 792 lb-ft of torque, compared to the standard Spectre’s 584 hp and 664 lb-ft. That makes the Spectre Black Badge the most powerful Rolls-Royce production car ever, according to the company. Full power is unlocked via Infinity Mode, which also sharpens accelerator response.
In addition to dialing up the output, Rolls-Royce used anonymized driving data from owners to determine how that extra output should be deployed. This data, which customers supplied voluntarily, according to Rolls, showed that drivers tended to use full power in short bursts most often.
Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Badge
That led Rolls to add its own launch mode, something that’s already available in other EVs but might seem a bit out of character for an automaker that normally eschews sportiness. Called Spirited Mode, it’s activated by fully depressing the brake and accelerator pedals while stationary, then releasing the brake. That’s how you achieve Rolls’ claimed 0-60 mph time of 4.1 seconds.
Black Badge models also have a heavier steering feel and a retuned suspension meant to increase body control while reducing squat under acceleration. It’s unclear how all of these changes will affect range, but, for reference, the standard Spectre achieves a maximum 291 miles on the EPA cycle with its 102-kwh battery pack.
Like other Rolls-Royce Black Badge models, the Spectre features darkened chrome trim, as well as 23-inch wheels. It debuts in a new Vapour Violet paint that Rolls says is inspired by “the neon ambience of 1980s and 1990s club culture,” but buyers will have access to the typical large catalog of paint options. Grille illumination is available in multiple colors to match the rest of the car.
Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Badge
Inside, the dashboard and door panels are sprinkled with 5,500 individual lighting elements over a piano black surface to give the impression of a night sky. It’s paired with what Rolls calls Technical Fibre, comprised of woven carbon fiber and metal over a wood base. An infinity symbol—a signifier of the Black Badge series—can be seen on the dashboard and is stitched into the leather upholstery.
The Spectre may be Rolls’ first electric car, but the automaker isn’t treating it any differently from combustion models when it comes to personalization. Rolls has already shown some one-off Spectre builds, including the Semaphore and Lunaflair, while the Black Badge offers a different look for customers who don’t want to go all-in on a fully bespoke car.
