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Photo: Perry Stern
Rolls-Royce offers the Spectre as a single trim level with a base manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $420,000, not including the destination charge. That said, most customers will customize their new Spectre with a range of available colors, materials, and special features. Rolls-Royce representatives suggest that the average price for a Spectre will be closer to $500,000.
While in California, I drove a 2024 Spectre painted in a two-tone Imperial Jade with Black Diamond as the contrasting color. While the Spectre comes with a long list of standard equipment, my test vehicle also featured heated and ventilated seats with massage in Black and Forge Yellow leather; lambswool floor mats in Forge Yellow; Starlight headliner and doors; dynamic bespoke clock; bespoke audio; and 23-inch part-polished wheels. The total MSRP for this vehicle was $559,650, including the $2,750 destination charge.
The Spectre is available for order today. However, due to the high interest in this new model, Rolls-Royce says it will deliver a Spectre ordered today in about two years.
Photo: Perry Stern
The 2024 Spectre is a bold, 2-door grand touring coupe with styling that is clearly Rolls-Royce. Rolls styled the traditional Pantheon grille and the famed Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament—redesigned for maximum aero efficiency—exclusively for the Spectre. With sleek, flowing lines and a long, low hood, Rolls says the Spectre is the most aerodynamic vehicle ever produced by the company.
It may be a 2-door coupe, but the Spectre is not small. Measuring almost 18 feet long, this new model is slightly longer than the 4-door Rolls-Royce Ghost. To achieve the correct proportions, the Spectre's coach doors (rear-hinged) measure almost 5 feet long. The 23-inch wheels complete the look.
To aid in opening those huge doors, the Spectre features a power-assist system to counter the door's weight. Once inside, you can close the door via buttons on the center console. The left door automatically closes when the driver presses the brake to start the vehicle.
Opening those large doors reveals a stunning interior replete with the finest leather, open-pore wood trim, and the lovely aroma of leather. My test vehicle featured the Starlight headliner, which puts a star field in the ceiling, complete with shooting stars. For the Spectre, Rolls-Royce has introduced the first Star Field doors, which puts the same stars on interior door panels as well as the side panels of the rear seat for the ultimate in ambient lighting. In addition to the Starlight headliner and doors, the right side of the dashboard features the Spectre name illuminated, surrounded by more than 5,500 stars. It looks fantastic at night.
Stylish round chrome vents in the dashboard feature classic push-button open/close switches—a nice throwback to the original Rolls-Royce models. In contrast, is the nicely integrated display screen for the updated infotainment system. A digital driver's display is set into the dashboard behind a pane of glass, showing just the battery range, power reserve meter, and speedometer, the latter of which is backlit in a color the customer can choose when ordering the car.
Rolls-Royce designed the seats specifically for the Spectre. They provide excellent comfort and support, as well as heating, cooling, and multiple massaging functions. After several hours behind the wheel, I felt no fatigue or stiffness. I would have gladly switched on the seat massagers and continued my journey in the Spectre for the rest of the day. Adding to the comfort are the wonderful lambswool floor mats that are so soft you'll want to remove your shoes to enjoy them fully.
Rear seats in a 2-door coupe are typically small and uncomfortable, but there's not much typical about the Spectre. Thanks to the wide door openings, climbing into the rear seat is easy. Once seated, I was surprised at how roomy the space was. Seatbacks wrap around the sides, which is both stylish and comfortable, and there's more than enough legroom and headroom for two adults to sit in the back without feeling claustrophobic.
As a relatively large vehicle, the Spectre has plenty of room for luggage in the trunk. The large trunk opening makes it easy to load and unload, and the deep dimensions allow you to fit multiple bags, certainly enough for four passengers to take a weekend road trip.
In the event of rain, the Spectre has you covered. As featured in other Rolls-Royce models, the Spectre is available with custom umbrellas (one for each side) designed to match the vehicle's interior. They stow in unique holders integrated into the door frame. With the door open, the front-seat passengers can easily pull out the umbrella before stepping out into the rain.
Photo: Perry Stern
Rolls-Royce developed a new infotainment system for the Spectre. It represents a significant improvement over the brand's previous system. With an updated user interface that is much easier to navigate, the system display is clear with large icons and panels. The new Spectre also gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto—a first in a Rolls-Royce—with wireless connectivity.
Primary interaction with the infotainment system is via the touchscreen display or with the controller in the center console. The system maintains static shortcuts on the left side of the screen for quick access to audio, navigation, and communications. Physical buttons alongside the center controller provide similar shortcuts.
The Spectre also offers voice interaction, accomplished with Eleanor. Eleanor is the Rolls-Royce personal digital assistant, and she awakes via a button on the steering wheel. Eleanor can complete various tasks, including finding a charging station, tuning the radio, or setting a navigation destination. The system worked well, and Eleanor could understand me without repeating myself.
The Spectre comes equipped with a suite of advanced driver assistance systems that are more extensive than any previous Rolls-Royce. The system includes the expected features like forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and lane-departure warning with active steering assistance. Rolls also offers an integrated camera system that can automatically record footage, GPS, speed, and other data in the event of an accident.
Adaptive cruise control featuring steering and lane-guide assistance, as well as lane-change assistance, is also available. According to the automaker, the system will work at speeds up to 130 mph and allows for hands-free driving up to 36 mph in certain conditions. While I didn't have the opportunity to try hands-free driving, the adaptive cruise worked smoothly with steady braking and acceleration while maintaining the car's place in the lane.
Photo: Perry Stern
Until now, every Rolls-Royce featured a powerful and quiet engine, typically a gas-powered V12. The Spectre possesses those same qualities from its fully electric powertrain. The first electric Rolls-Royce features a 255-horsepower motor powering the front wheels, while the rear motor makes 483 hp for a total output of 584 hp and 664 pound-feet of torque sent to all four wheels.
Underpinning the new Spectre and the rest of the Rolls-Royce lineup is the brand's proprietary Architecture of Luxury. This new architecture operates with electric or internal combustion engine powertrains, making it ideal for current and future Rolls-Royce models.
With the Spectre, Rolls-Royce builds the battery into the frame, allowing for a lower center of gravity and a lower floor in the cabin for more spacious surroundings. Other benefits include torsional rigidity, which Rolls-Royce says is 30 percent better than its gas-powered models. The 1,500-pound battery functions as sound deadening, further contributing to the tranquil cabin.
Weighing in at more than 3 tons, the Spectre is no lightweight. Still, the automaker says its powerful electric motors will move this big GT car from zero-to-60 mph in just 4.4 seconds, with an eventual top speed of 155 mph.
Full throttle results in extreme acceleration, but in typical everyday driving, the power comes on smoothly, ensuring the rear-seat passengers remain comfortable and don't spill their sparkling beverages. Acceleration is easy to control with a linear throttle, but speed builds quickly with such a quiet drive. On several occasions, I found my pace considerably higher than I realized.
Electric vehicles tend to be quiet, but the Spectre takes this to a new level. The cabin remains completely silent, with virtually no road or wind noise, even at highway speeds. That is, until turning on the 1,400-watt Bespoke audio system that delivers outstanding sound through its 18 speakers.
As an all-new model, the Spectre doesn't yet have EPA fuel-economy ratings. However, according to Rolls-Royce, the Spectre can travel an estimated 260 miles with its 102-kWh lithium-ion battery. My Spectre showed a range of 274 miles with a 95-percent charge when I started the day; anecdotally, other journalists saw as much as 300 miles until empty. The range will vary based on driving habits and conditions, but Rolls' estimate may be a bit low.
Rolls-Royce uses a unique Planar suspension system in its vehicles, and the Spectre gets the latest version, which delivers what the company calls its Magic Carpet Ride. Using data from GPS navigation and multiple sensors that detect flaws in the road surface, the system provides an impressively smooth ride, even when the road surface is less than stellar.
The system also improves handling by firming the suspension and setting up the 4-wheel drive and 4-wheel steering for optimal performance. Interestingly, the Spectre automatically disconnects its anti-roll bars on straight roads, which helps the wheels absorb bumps on a rough road. The bars reconnect when the car detects an upcoming corner to help keep it flat when pushed through a twisty road. Handling is impressive for such a heavy car, with good steering feedback and solid, progressive braking.
The Spectre also offers one-pedal driving by selecting maximum regeneration from the brakes. With this system engaged, lifting off the throttle will apply the regenerative brakes, which return charge to the battery while slowing the vehicle, ultimately to a complete stop. With some practice, driving around town is possible without ever having to press the brake pedal.
