Rolls-Royce revealed its first electric car, the $400,000 Spectre. Peek inside one of the most luxurious EVs money can buy.

Tim LevinOct 18, 2022, 18:48 IST

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce revealed the Spectre, its first electric car.
The Spectre has two doors, four seats, and an estimated range of 260 miles.

There's a lot of talk these days about young startups getting into the electric-vehicle game.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

At the same time, old, long-established brands are starting to embrace electrification and kick dirty fossil fuels to the curb.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

Take Rolls-Royce, for example. The century-old British carmaker on Tuesday unveiled its very first electric model.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

Meet the Spectre.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

The coupe arrives toward the end of 2023 with a brand-new powertrain but all the high-end appointments you'd expect from a Rolls-Royce.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

And it had better: The new EV will cost roughly $400,000.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce hasn't specified exactly how much it'll charge for the Spectre, but said it will slot between the roughly $350,000 Cullinan SUV and the roughly $460,000 Phantom.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce hasn't specified exactly how much it'll charge for the Spectre, but said it will slot between the roughly $350,000 Cullinan SUV and the roughly $460,000 Phantom.

The Spectre gets all the classic design elements of a Rolls-Royce, but updated for the electric era.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

Its grille is smoother than those found on the brand's other cars to aid aerodynamics, which are important for extending an electric car's range.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

It's also the widest grille in Rolls-Royce's history and is illuminated by 22 LEDs.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

The Spectre debuts a newly "aero-tuned" Spirit of Ecstasy.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

Like on many new electric cars, the Spectre's lights are slim and futuristic.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

The new Rolls has a distinct presence and drama to it, and much of that stems from its striking, fastback shape.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce says its designers took inspiration from "modern yacht concepts" for the Spectre's initial sketches.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

It also rides on oversized, 23-inch wheels.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

The star of any Rolls is its palatial interior.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

And the Spectre premiers a new option that brings 4,796 shimmering stars to the car's doors.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

That's in addition to Rolls-Royce's signature Starlight Headliner.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

The EV has four seats …

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

… a screen for the front passenger …

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

… an analog clock …

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

… copious amounts of shiny trim …

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

... elegant digital gauges ...

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

… and the brand’s signature, built-in umbrella.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

As far as on-road performance goes, Rolls-Royce spokesperson Gerry Spahn told Insider the company's primary goal was to make sure the Spectre drove like a Rolls-Royce.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

It wasn't overly concerned with super-quick acceleration or astonishingly long driving range, he said.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

The Spectre targets a range of 260 miles, less than many EVs you can buy today.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

California startup Lucid Motors' Air sedan, for example, can travel 520 miles on a charge, twice as far as the Spectre. It's the longest-range EV on the market.

Lucid AirLucid Motors

Rolls-Royce buyers tend to have 7-10 other cars in their garage and only drive their Rolls-Royces around 2,000 miles per year, so range isn't a priority, Spahn said.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

It makes 577 horsepower and hits 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, according to Rolls-Royce.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

The Spectre is the first of many electric Rolls-Royces to come.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

The brand plans to have an all-electric lineup by 2030.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre.Rolls-Royce

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Rolls-Royce revealed its first electric car, the $400,000 Spectre. Peek inside one of the most luxurious EVs money can buy.

There's a lot of talk these days about young startups getting into the electric-vehicle game.

At the same time, old, long-established brands are starting to embrace electrification and kick dirty fossil fuels to the curb.

Take Rolls-Royce, for example. The century-old British carmaker on Tuesday unveiled its very first electric model.

Meet the Spectre.

The coupe arrives toward the end of 2023 with a brand-new powertrain but all the high-end appointments you'd expect from a Rolls-Royce.

And it had better: The new EV will cost roughly $400,000.

Rolls-Royce hasn't specified exactly how much it'll charge for the Spectre, but said it will slot between the roughly $350,000 Cullinan SUV and the roughly $460,000 Phantom.

The Spectre gets all the classic design elements of a Rolls-Royce, but updated for the electric era.

Its grille is smoother than those found on the brand's other cars to aid aerodynamics, which are important for extending an electric car's range.

It's also the widest grille in Rolls-Royce's history and is illuminated by 22 LEDs.

The Spectre debuts a newly "aero-tuned" Spirit of Ecstasy.

Like on many new electric cars, the Spectre's lights are slim and futuristic.

The new Rolls has a distinct presence and drama to it, and much of that stems from its striking, fastback shape.

Rolls-Royce says its designers took inspiration from "modern yacht concepts" for the Spectre's initial sketches.

It also rides on oversized, 23-inch wheels.

The star of any Rolls is its palatial interior.

And the Spectre premiers a new option that brings 4,796 shimmering stars to the car's doors.

That's in addition to Rolls-Royce's signature Starlight Headliner.

The EV has four seats …

… a screen for the front passenger …

… an analog clock …

… copious amounts of shiny trim …

... elegant digital gauges ...

… and the brand’s signature, built-in umbrella.

As far as on-road performance goes, Rolls-Royce spokesperson Gerry Spahn told Insider the company's primary goal was to make sure the Spectre drove like a Rolls-Royce.

It wasn't overly concerned with super-quick acceleration or astonishingly long driving range, he said.

The Spectre targets a range of 260 miles, less than many EVs you can buy today.

California startup Lucid Motors' Air sedan, for example, can travel 520 miles on a charge, twice as far as the Spectre. It's the longest-range EV on the market.

Rolls-Royce buyers tend to have 7-10 other cars in their garage and only drive their Rolls-Royces around 2,000 miles per year, so range isn't a priority, Spahn said.

It makes 577 horsepower and hits 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, according to Rolls-Royce.

The Spectre is the first of many electric Rolls-Royces to come.

The brand plans to have an all-electric lineup by 2030.