The most powerful Rolls-Royce EVER! Black Badge Spectre is a £320k EV with a new feature inspired by one used by Spitfire pilots

Rolls-Royce has unleashed its most powerful car ever – blending derring-do Spirit of Spitfire power with a flash of Saturday Night Fever.

Riding on vast 23-inch wheels, the new all-electric Black Badge Spectre super-coupe comes complete with a special booster button which emulates the sort of extra power-punch enjoyed by British pilots flying legendary Spitfire fighter-planes in dogfights during the Second Word War.

Hailed officially as ‘the most powerful Rolls-Royce in history’, the added grunt means the new £320,000 Black Badge Spectre variant can accelerate from rest to 60mph in just 4.1 seconds – shaving a third of a second off the time of a standard Spectre – for an extra £50,000 on the price tag. 

However, that price can also soar swiftly depending on the degree of additional bespoke options.

Rolls-Royce says the new two-door Black Badge Spectre is aimed at wealthy non-conformist clients – described as ‘fearless’, ‘unconventional’ and ‘rule-breakers’ with a ‘disruptive spirit’ – who want to explore their dark-side ‘alter-ego’, and is the latest in a line of Black Badge models targeting rich mavericks.

So while the added raw power may be a salute the smartly uniformed RAF’s stiff-upper lip British pluck, the new Black Badge Spectre’s funky colour and trim palettes – such as Vapour Violet – take their cues from the neon lights of the 1980s and ’90s club culture and are more evocative of Saturday Night Fever and New York’s infamous ‘Studio 54’ than the White Cliffs of Dover.

The most powerful Roll-Royce EVER! New Black Badge Spectre is a £320k electric vehicle with a feature that’s inspired by one used by Spitfire pilots in WW2

Hailed officially as ‘the most powerful Rolls-Royce in history’, the new £320k Black Badge Spectre accelerates from 0-62mph in 4.1 secs – shaving a third of a second off the time of a standard Spectre for an extra £50k on the price tag

Rolls-Royce says the new zero-emissions Black Badge Spectre has introduced two new innovations as a nod to the legendary Rolls-Royce Merlin engines which powered Spitfires during the last war and which featured a special button to give a the aeroplane a short burst of enhanced power to get out of sticky situations.

The first is a special ‘Infinity Mode’ button on the steering-wheel which unlocks the electric car’s full 659 horsepower (485kW) to boost throttle response and driving dynamics. That compares to a standard Spectre at 585 horsepower/430kW.

‘Once this mode is activated, the dials become more vibrant to match the change in the motor car’s character,’ says Rolls-Royce. 

The infinity symbol used to signify a Black Badge Rolls-Royce is also used on the steering-wheel ‘Infinity Mode’ button. 

The ‘Infinity Mode’ button on the steering-wheel – inspired by additional boost utlilised by British pilots flying legendary Spitfire fighter-planes in dogfights during WW2 – unlocks the electric car’s full 659 horsepower (485kW) 

The feature replicates that of aircraft powered by the legendary Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, including the Supermarine Spitfire, where pilots could obtain a burst of additional power by pushing a switch on the throttle quadrant

Pressing the button boosts throttle response and driving dynamics to ramp up the standard Spectre’s 585 horsepower (430kW) – though it will severely limit the battery range if used too often

The second new twist is a form of launch-control called ‘Spirited Mode’.

This ‘temporarily amplifies’ the car’s pulling-power (to a ‘landmark’ 1075Nm) and unleashes ‘a burst of intense, instantaneous acceleration’.

The luxury car-firm which employs 2,500 people at its boutique factory at Goodwood near Chichester in West Sussex explained: ‘The driver engages this function by fully depressing the brake and throttle at the same time, waiting for a haptic and visual response signalling the car is ready, before fully releasing the brake. 

‘This temporarily amplifies the torque output to a landmark 1075 Nm, unleashing a surge of force and propelling the motor car from 0-to-60mph in just 4.1 seconds.’

Torque – often referred to as pulling-power – on the standard Spectre is 900Nm.

Rolls-Royce explained: ‘Although these function are new for a Rolls-Royce motor car, they have a historical precedent.

‘In aircraft powered by the legendary Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, including the Supermarine Spitfire, pilots could obtain a burst of additional power by pushing a switch on the throttle quadrant.’

But it notes wryly: ‘While the robust Merlin engine was easily able to accommodate these temporary pulses, pilots were required to report the use of the function on landing as a precaution to flight engineers – a requirement that does not apply to Black Badge Spectre drivers today.’

The new car promises an electric range of between 306 and 329 miles – enough get from London to Newcastle upon Tyne.

Propulsion is from two electric motors – one driving each axle.

Charging takes 34 minutes to 80 per cent on a high-powered DC charger or 5 hours 30 minutes on a domestic AC wall-charger.

The new car promises an electric range of between 306 and 329 miles – enough get from London to Newcastle upon Tyne

It’s not just the look of the new Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Badge that’s menacing – so are the dimensions. At 5.5 metres long, 2.1 metres wide and weighing almost 3 tonnes, it’s no shrinking violet

Charging takes 34 minutes to 80% on a high-powered DC charger or 5 hours 30 minutes on a domestic AC wall-charger

Tight-lipped Rolls-Royce customers have already tried it… 

To perfect their ‘uncompromising’ new Black Badge Spectre and its WW2 fighter-plane-inspired features, Rolls-Royce took soundings from existing owners of other Black Badge models.

Under conditions of secrecy, they also made available to a select group of existing Rolls-Royce customer early prototypes of the new Black Badge Spectre to get and input their feedback ahead of the official launch of the production model.

Explaining how existing Rolls-Royce owners were recruited secretly under a ‘clandestine agreement’ as road-test guinea-pigs, to ensure that the new Black Badge Spectre lived up to its aim of being ‘effortlessly intense, immediate, and precise’, the firm revealed: 

‘A group of Rolls-Royce owners granted engineers access to their anonymised driving data, allowing drivetrain specialists to quantitatively analyse their driving behaviour across hundreds of thousands of collective miles.

‘This revealed that clients exploited maximum power in short pulses more than over extended periods.’

In the image of this ‘bold client group, Rolls-Royce then developed ‘the dramatic, intense character of the most powerful Rolls-Royce ever created’.

Rolls-Royce added: ‘Our conversations with clients made it clear that they were eagerly anticipating this motor car’s arrival long before its official debut.

‘In response to their frequent enquiries, Rolls-Royce granted a select group early access to this motor car on the condition that they would keep their ownership secret until the official unveiling.

‘A small, highly exclusive fleet of clandestine Black Badge Spectres was commissioned for these individuals ahead of the motor car’s reveal. 

‘Their emphatically positive response to Black Badge Spectre, and the motor car’s daring treatment that had been developed in their image, provided powerful validation of the most potent Rolls-Royce in history.’

Will it fit in my Garage? Rolls-Royce Black Badge Spectre 

Price: from £320,000 (a £50,000 premium on standard Spectre)

DIMENSIONS

Length: 5,490mm / Width (including mirrors): 2,144mm / Height: 1,575mm / Wheelbase: 3,210mm

Kerb weight: 2,900kg / Boot volume: 380 litres

Turning circle: 12.7m

PERFORMANCE 

Drive: Pure electric EV

Power: 659hp/485kW accessed with Infinity Mode (cf standard Spectre at 585 horsepower/430kW)

Torque: 1075Nm accessed with Spirited mode (cf 900Nm on standard Spectre)

Battery: 102kWh lithium ion

Propulsion: Two electric motors – one driving each axle / Front motor: 190kw /302Nm / Rear motor: 360kw/595Nm

Acceleration (0 to 60mph): 4.1 secs (4.4 secs on standard Spectre) / Top speed: 155mph

ECONOMY 

Range: 306miles to 329miles / CO2 emissions: Zero

CHARGING TIMES

High power 195kW DC: 34mins to 80%

50kW DC: 95mins to 80%

Domestic 22kW AC: 5.5 hours to 100%

Power consumption: 2.6 to 2.8 miles per kWh

To perfect their ‘uncompromising’ new Black Badge Spectre, Rolls-Royce took soundings from existing owners of other Black Badge models

Under conditions of secrecy, they also made available to a select group of existing Rolls-Royce customer early prototypes of the new Black Badge Spectre to get and input their feedback ahead of the official launch of the production model

‘A group of Rolls-Royce owners granted engineers access to their anonymised driving data, allowing drivetrain specialists to quantitatively analyse their driving behaviour across hundreds of thousands of collective miles,’ the British marque said

Not just a more powerful Spectre 

The Spectre Black Badge isn’t just about adding more power.

The car’s steering weight has been increased and the roll-stabilisation adjusted to improve steering and reduce body-roll during cornering. 

‘Suspension has been enhanced to improve body control and reduce ‘squatting’ under acceleration or deceleration and ensure the ‘Magic Carpet Ride’ associated with Rolls-Royce cars.

Rolls-Royce’s German owners at BMW are clearly taking a magnanimous view of the link with Spitfires which, along with RAF Hurricanes during the Battle of Britain in the Summer of 1940, were pitted over the English Channel and south coast against the Luftwaffe’s Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters which had rival Daimler-Benz engines.

The brooding new Black Badge Spectre makes its global debut in a vivid new paint finish called Vapour Violet – a deep black-violet ‘inspired by the neon ambience of 1980s and 1990s club culture’ with which its rich clients identify.

A painted Iced Black bonnet creates a bold contrast and can also be paired with a choice of 44,000 colours, or with exclusive bespoke hues developed with clients in-house. A range of coachline paint options are also available.

It rides on new 23-inch five-spoke forged aluminium wheels designed in a part-polished or all-black finish.

The car’s mirror-polished brightwork is presented in a signature dark finish ‘signalling its subversive, noire character.’

This includes the luxury marque’s hallmark Pantheon Grille surround, the Spirit of Ecstasy ‘flying lady’ mascot, and the double ‘R’ Badge of Honour, as well as the motor car’s door handles, side window surround and bumper accents.

A vivid new illuminated grille backplate is offered in a range of vibrant colours: Tailored Purple, Charles Blue, Chartreuse, Forge Yellow, and Turchese. 

This illumination can extend into the interior with newly developed illuminated treadplates available in ten complementary colours.

As we’ve come to expect from opulent Rolls-Royce cars, the interior is a work of art featuring a number of bespoke touches

Each interior piece is cured, sandblasted, sealed with six layers of lacquer, and hand-polished to a flawless finish

Instrument dials have a choice of five colour themes: Vivid Grellow, Neon Nights, Cyan Fire, Ultraviolet and Synth Wave

It’s just as glamourous inside

Inside, the bold interior exudes a ‘rebellious character’, says Rolls-Royce. 

The illuminated fascia carries an abstract expression of the Spirit of Ecstasy and incorporates the Infinity symbol used across the wider Black Badge family.

Rolls-Royce explained: ‘A statement of infinite power, the emblem once marked historical water-speed records and is a hallmark trusted by adrenaline pioneers.’

The fascia comprises more than 5,500 fibre-optic ‘stars’ of varying proportions and intensity set against a Piano Black sky.

The cabin features an LED-illuminated abstract expression of the Spirit of Ecstasy and incorporates the Infinity symbol used across the wider Black Badge family

The fascia comprises more than 5,500 fibre-optic ‘stars’ of varying proportions and intensity set against a Piano Black ‘sky’

The four-seat coupe features luxury seats all round and a stunning starlight headlining – a feature unique to Rollers

The three-dimensional surface finish has a technical fibre in a diamond-shaped weave, using carbon and fine metal thread on top of a black Bolivar wood base. 

Each interior piece is cured, sandblasted, sealed with six layers of lacquer, and hand-polished to a flawless finish.

The Black Badge infinity symbol is also stitched into the leather ‘Waterfall’ section which separates the rear seats.

Instrument dials have a choice of five colour themes: Vivid Grellow, Neon Nights, Cyan Fire, Ultraviolet and Synth Wave.

The car’s digital Spoio operating system allows access to remote charging and location information and Rolls-Royce’s exclusive digital members club, Whispers.