The transition to electrification in the world of luxury motoring is progressing step by step. The finest example to have gone fully electric remains the Rolls-Royce Spectre, launched in 2022. Europe’s favourite Rolls-Royce has just received several technical upgrades and a wider range of customisation options to boost its declining sales. In this market for silent, opulent and prestigious limousines, the timeless English coupé is leading the pack, as competitors are few and far between.
The best-selling Rolls-Royce in Europe
Just a few days after the much-discussed unveiling of the Ferrari Luce, the Prancing Horse’s first all-electric model, the world of luxury motoring is seeing an evolution of its most iconic representative: the Rolls-Royce Spectre. Launched in 2022, this ultra-luxury electric coupé returns as the ‘Series II’, boasting improved technical performance with increased power and a longer range. Since its launch, it has won over wealthy European owners, becoming the best-selling Rolls-Royce in the range, ahead of the brand’s combustion-engine models. A car designed to be quiet, smooth and comfortable is even more so with an electric powertrain. But 2025 saw sales drop by nearly 50%, with barely 1,000 units produced. The British manufacturer had to respond as technology in the electric sector is evolving very rapidly.
Greater range: 628 km
As Rolls-Royce is part of the BMW Group, the Spectre uses the same electric architecture as the recently restyled i7 saloon. The Spectre is therefore equipped with a 400 V high-voltage system rather than 800 V, as has become the norm for luxury electric models (such as the Porsche Taycan or Ferrari Luce). Nevertheless, Rolls-Royce engineers have managed to increase the fast-charging speed by 14%, meaning it takes less than 30 minutes to charge from 10% to 80%. Another improvement concerns the range, which has increased from 530 to 628 km (WLTP), an 18% increase, thanks to a larger battery capacity.
The more dynamic Black Badge variant of the Series II offers greater power (an increase of 15 kW to a total of 500 kW, or 680 hp) and higher torque: 1,100 Nm in ‘Spirited’ mode (compared to 1,050 Nm previously). In this configuration, the Black Badge Spectre Series II becomes the most powerful Rolls-Royce ever created in the manufacturer’s history, with acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds.
Interior design at the pinnacle of luxury
There are no exterior changes to the imposing 5.45-metre coupé. “Silence, fluidity and exceptional power are qualities our customers value highly,” says Chris Brownridge, Managing Director of Rolls-Royce Cars. The Spectre thus confirms that Rolls-Royce is perfectly at home with electrification, given the extraordinary reception it has received worldwide. With the Spectre Series II, we are pushing the boundaries of customisation and refinement even further. ” Co-founder Sir Henry Royce once said: “It is the small details that make perfection, but perfection is not a detail.” By developing its Bespoke programme, Rolls is introducing a new range of bespoke elements, materials and finishes. The new clock design is inspired by aviation instruments and is housed in a clock cabinet.
Duality Twill fabrics feature up to 2.6 million stitches, equivalent to 16 km of thread and 25 hours of work. Meanwhile, the perforated leather features nearly 80,000 stitches in the seats, door panels, trim, headrests and headliner, which can even be illuminated by LEDs, recreating a light source reminiscent of a starry sky. This meticulous work is carried out by dozens of craftsmen.
Competition that is still limited
The Spectre Series II is expected to be priced from €350,000 excluding tax. Admittedly a high price, but ultimately quite reasonable for anyone wishing to treat themselves to this elegant coupé with its timeless lines, whose silent powertrain transports you like a ‘flying carpet’. It is a reputation from which the Goodwood-based brand benefits, as the names of its models (Phantom, Ghost, Dawn, Spectre…) have always evoked the ethereal movement of a wandering spirit.
With this second generation of the Spectre, Rolls-Royce has the opportunity to pull ahead of its few rivals in the ultra-luxury electric market, which currently includes the Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV, the Mercedes EQS saloon, the American Lucid Air Sapphire and the Chinese NIO ET9. But given the pace at which technology is advancing and the advantages offered by electric vehicles, the number of options is likely to grow.
