The 2025 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Spectre Is the Brand’s Most Powerful Yet
Reigning in Spain.
Every once in a while, the first drive of a highly anticipated new vehicle will yield genuine surprises. This was definitely the case earlier this year when the 2025 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Spectre was unleashed on unsuspecting Spanish side roads.
Stepping back, the Spectre is the first battery-electric vehicle (BEV) in the history of the storied British brand. The original Spectre hit the ground running three years ago. The Black Badge series of vehicles is the pinnacle offering from Rolls-Royce: more power, more torque, more black trim elements, more money.
Of course, money’s not an overriding concern for those in the Rolls-Royce target market. According to company research, the average owner has seven vehicles available at any given time. After driving its latest model in and around Barcelona, one thing is clear: the Black Badge Spectre deserves its place in the fleet.
On paper alone, it’s an incredibly impressive vehicle. The all-electric powertrain features a motor at both the front and back axles. The motors’ combined output is 659 horsepower and 792 lb-ft of torque. It’s the most powerful Rolls-Royce in history.
The aptly named Spirited Mode brings the full performance to bear on the situation. It’s a launch control system that automatically engages from a standing start with the accelerator and brake pedal fully depressed, then released at the same time. In this mode, the Black Badge Spectre can hit 100 kilometres per hour in 4.2 seconds.
Acceleration is not only almost entirely noiseless (apart from the whisper of the Spirit of Ecstasy hood-mounted figurine cleaving the wind), it’s also effortless and utterly without drama. The Black Badge Spectre is a big and heavy coupe with a cushiony soft ride even at high speeds.
Speaking of speed, this BEV is equipped with a battery pack that can recharge from 10 to 80 per cent in just over half an hour when hooked up to a DC fast-charger. When fully charged, the range tops 425 kilometres, more than enough for the average commute to the opera house and back.
Of course, the Rolls-Royce driving experience extends far beyond how the car accelerates or recharges or handles bends in the road. When you’re seated in any of the brand’s cars, there’s an overwhelming sense of solidity, serenity, and sheer luxury. The steering wheel feels like it’s fired from cast iron. The seats are firmly structured but also comforting and plush. All the switchgear is heavy to the touch. The carpeting is so thick, you can feel the resistance through the soles of your shoes. And the doors are so heavy, you have the option of using a power-closing button to help move them.
The above descriptions are overly general, to be sure. The reason: effectively, each Black Spectre offers the prospective owner an plethora of choices. The starting point for each model is the dark finish for the front grille, double R wordmark, door handles, and bumper accents—but even these are negotiable.
The fleet at our disposal in Spain comprised a rainbow of exterior colours and interior treatments—no two were alike. Neither will be the one you choose to order, provided you have the requisite high entry fee. But when it comes to some things, value extends far beyond the price tag.
The 2025 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Spectre just may be one of those things—a future-fuelled vehicle so unique, it will bring years of driving enjoyment and an enduring appeal that stretches on even longer.
