I drove the most luxurious electric car you can buy and saw why it costs as much as a house. See inside the $420,000 Rolls-Royce Spectre.

Tim LevinJul 9, 2023, 18:20 IST

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

The 2024 Spectre is Rolls-Royce's very first electric car.
It costs $420,000 and up.

It's easy to question why somebody would possibly spend half-a-million dollars on a car like a Rolls-Royce. Until you get behind the wheel. Then it all makes perfect sense.

I spent a day last month testing out the new 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre, the ultra-luxury brand's first electric vehicle. It was my first time driving a Rolls, and I was blown away by the $420,000 coupe's opulent interior and impossibly serene driving feel.

Let me take you along for the ride and show you everything there is to know about the Spectre.

Rolls-Royce invited me and other journalists out to Napa, California, to be some of the first in the world to drive the Spectre.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

I'd driven lots of electric cars, including some quite expensive ones from luxury brands like Mercedes and BMW. Naively, I didn't think the Spectre would be all that much different.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

I'd driven lots of electric cars, including some quite expensive ones from luxury brands like Mercedes and BMW. Naively, I didn't think the Spectre would be all that much different.

Boy was I wrong.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

From the outside, the Spectre has an intimidating, weighty presence. Its elegance and monolithic design are pure Rolls-Royce.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

At a glance, the EV has all the markers Rolls is famous for: A flashy grille, a swept-back silhouette, center caps that prominently display the Rolls-Royce logo, right-side up, even when the car is in motion.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

At a glance, the EV has all the markers Rolls is famous for: A flashy grille, a swept-back silhouette, center caps that prominently display the Rolls-Royce logo, right-side up, even when the car is in motion.

Of course there's also the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament, which Rolls-Royce redesigned for the Spectre to make it a bit more aerodynamic.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

After admiring a fleet of Spectres — done up in practically every color of the rainbow — from afar, I was eager to hop inside.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

What greeted me was undoubtedly the most luxurious and comfortable cabin I've ever been in.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

The leather driver's seat was plush and supportive. Sinking back into it, I noticed that the headrest was remarkably soft and cushy.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

The wheel, in typical Rolls-Royce fashion, was oversized and thin.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

The cabin was awash in exquisite wood trim, deliciously soft leather, and twinkling bits of real metal.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

The air vents are solid pieces of aluminum and each have a hefty plunger that you can use to shut them, if you so choose.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

Even the stalks attached to the steering column were wrapped in leather and featured the same blue accent stitching that striped around the rest of the cabin.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

There was an analog clock ...

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

... and who could forget Rolls-Royce's signature umbrella in the door.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

The attention to detail was extraordinary.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

Rolls-Royce's starlight headliner — which scatters thousands of shimmering "stars" across a car's ceiling — has become an iconic, popular add-on. For the Spectre, Rolls is introducing starlight doors, which cocoon passengers in 270 degrees of stars.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre's starlight headliner.Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce's starlight headliner — which scatters thousands of shimmering "stars" across a car's ceiling — has become an iconic, popular add-on. For the Spectre, Rolls is introducing starlight doors, which cocoon passengers in 270 degrees of stars.

I expected it to be a bit gimmicky, but the feature feels quite special, particularly at night.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

Once I was done soaking in the interior and getting accustomed to where everything was, it was time to drive.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

I depressed the brake pedal and the driver's door swung shut electronically. I pressed a button between the front seats to shut my passenger inside.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

There were only two of us, but the Spectre can seat four rather comfortably.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

Out on the road, I was blown away by how peaceful and effortless the Spectre was to drive. It was unlike anything I'd ever experienced.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

First off, it's unbelievably quiet — almost like putting on a pair of noise canceling headphones.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

I could hear passing cars, but only barely. All the noise of the chaotic outside world was delightfully muffled as I coasted through wine country in my extravagant, leather-wrapped cocoon.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

I could hear passing cars, but only barely. All the noise of the chaotic outside world was delightfully muffled as I coasted through wine country in my extravagant, leather-wrapped cocoon.

The Spectre floated effortlessly down the road, bobbing gently over imperfections in the asphalt — like a boat encountering ripples on an otherwise glassy lake.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

On a particularly smooth bit of pavement, the sensation is divine. Then you hit a bumpy patch and are reminded that the Spectre is still merely a car and not, in fact, a hovercraft.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

On a particularly smooth bit of pavement, the sensation is divine. Then you hit a bumpy patch and are reminded that the Spectre is still merely a car and not, in fact, a hovercraft.

With two motors producing 584 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque, you might expect the Spectre to be a rocket ship. Other electric cars sporting those sorts of numbers are violently accelerating speed machines.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

With two motors producing 584 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque, you might expect the Spectre to be a rocket ship. Other electric cars sporting those sorts of numbers are violently accelerating speed machines.

But that wouldn't be very Rolls-Royce-like, would it? No — the Spectre is powerful and quick, but it isn't shocking or neck-snapping.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

Rolls-Royce is all about providing the utmost in refinement, comfort, and craftsmanship, and I think the Spectre has that in spades.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

But as I learned later on in my trip, there may be one thing better than driving a Rolls-Royce: Getting driven.

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.Tim Levin/Insider

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I drove the most luxurious electric car you can buy and saw why it costs as much as a house. See inside the $420,000 Rolls-Royce Spectre.

Rolls-Royce invited me and other journalists out to Napa, California, to be some of the first in the world to drive the Spectre.

I'd driven lots of electric cars, including some quite expensive ones from luxury brands like Mercedes and BMW. Naively, I didn't think the Spectre would be all that much different.

Boy was I wrong.

From the outside, the Spectre has an intimidating, weighty presence. Its elegance and monolithic design are pure Rolls-Royce.

At a glance, the EV has all the markers Rolls is famous for: A flashy grille, a swept-back silhouette, center caps that prominently display the Rolls-Royce logo, right-side up, even when the car is in motion.

Of course there's also the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament, which Rolls-Royce redesigned for the Spectre to make it a bit more aerodynamic.

After admiring a fleet of Spectres — done up in practically every color of the rainbow — from afar, I was eager to hop inside.

What greeted me was undoubtedly the most luxurious and comfortable cabin I've ever been in.

The leather driver's seat was plush and supportive. Sinking back into it, I noticed that the headrest was remarkably soft and cushy.

The wheel, in typical Rolls-Royce fashion, was oversized and thin.

The cabin was awash in exquisite wood trim, deliciously soft leather, and twinkling bits of real metal.

The air vents are solid pieces of aluminum and each have a hefty plunger that you can use to shut them, if you so choose.

Even the stalks attached to the steering column were wrapped in leather and featured the same blue accent stitching that striped around the rest of the cabin.

There was an analog clock ...

... and who could forget Rolls-Royce's signature umbrella in the door.

The attention to detail was extraordinary.

Rolls-Royce's starlight headliner — which scatters thousands of shimmering "stars" across a car's ceiling — has become an iconic, popular add-on. For the Spectre, Rolls is introducing starlight doors, which cocoon passengers in 270 degrees of stars.

I expected it to be a bit gimmicky, but the feature feels quite special, particularly at night.

Once I was done soaking in the interior and getting accustomed to where everything was, it was time to drive.

I depressed the brake pedal and the driver's door swung shut electronically. I pressed a button between the front seats to shut my passenger inside.

There were only two of us, but the Spectre can seat four rather comfortably.

Out on the road, I was blown away by how peaceful and effortless the Spectre was to drive. It was unlike anything I'd ever experienced.

First off, it's unbelievably quiet — almost like putting on a pair of noise canceling headphones.

I could hear passing cars, but only barely. All the noise of the chaotic outside world was delightfully muffled as I coasted through wine country in my extravagant, leather-wrapped cocoon.

The Spectre floated effortlessly down the road, bobbing gently over imperfections in the asphalt — like a boat encountering ripples on an otherwise glassy lake.

On a particularly smooth bit of pavement, the sensation is divine. Then you hit a bumpy patch and are reminded that the Spectre is still merely a car and not, in fact, a hovercraft.

With two motors producing 584 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque, you might expect the Spectre to be a rocket ship. Other electric cars sporting those sorts of numbers are violently accelerating speed machines.

But that wouldn't be very Rolls-Royce-like, would it? No — the Spectre is powerful and quick, but it isn't shocking or neck-snapping.

Rolls-Royce is all about providing the utmost in refinement, comfort, and craftsmanship, and I think the Spectre has that in spades.

But as I learned later on in my trip, there may be one thing better than driving a Rolls-Royce: Getting driven.