The Rolls-Royce Spectre: where legend and evolution combine

Driver Guides  Electric Vehicles 

When a Rolls-Royce lease is mentioned, you immediately know you are in a high-brow conversation. The time for menial small talk is long gone and all that is left is a story of beauty, elegance, power and innovation synonymous with England since 1904. Charles Rolls, an aristocrat with a car dealership, and Henry Royce, an engineer with a penchant for car design met and went into partnership to manufacture high-end automobiles, resulting in the release of their first, the Rolls-Royce 10 hp in December 1904, quickly followed by the 15hp, 20hp and the six-cylinder ultra-luxury 30hp model that set the standard for luxury car engines.

From this initial success, Rolls and Royce founded Rolls-Royce Limited in 1906 and never looked back. From the launch of the hugely popular Silver Ghost in its first year and the original Phantom in 1925, the company has continued to innovate and improve its models to befit each changing era and integrate developing technology and mechanical improvements, and in 2024, they are doing it again.

Rolls-Royce goes electric

There are many EVs available targeting particular markets such as compact city cars, SUVs, performance sports cars and family runners, but nothing quite like the £330,000, up to £400,000+ with optional extras, Spectre. It is the Rolls-Royce of EVs… literally. The Spectre is the first of many luxury EV cars as Rolls-Royce has stated they intend to convert their whole production line to EVs by 2030, five years ahead of the ban on ICE (Internal Combustion Engines) production in the UK.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre is expected to take the EV market by storm in 2024 but, due to the price tag and opulence involved with the brand, you will not be seeing many on the roads of Britain for a while as the waiting time can be up to 15 months and the model already has over 300 deposits down from US connoisseurs. Even after that, you are unlikely to see many unless you hang out in Mayfair, Kensington or Knightsbridge. This model is designed to compete with no other brands, as is the Rolls-Royce way.

So, for the people of means in the aforementioned locations, this is as much about a beautiful piece of auto engineering, stylish artisanry and scientific endeavour as it is with keeping up with the Ecclestones, Windsors or Bransons, and perhaps making them just a little bit jealous.

Exterior

As expected from the Rolls-Royce brand the car is a lengthy stylish creation, epitomising elegance and luxury, streamlined for performance. Even without seeing any evidence of this being a Rolls-Royce, an onlooker would know they were in the presence of greatness.

From the sides, your eyes are immediately drawn to the mammoth 23” wheels that come in a range of designs and contain an RR emblem in the centre that always remains upright. From the front, the car parades a stunning illuminated grille (that being an electric car, serves no purpose but looking incredible) and the famous Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy bonnet ornament that is retractable and comes in a choice of full or up-lit illumination.

The Spectre is available in numerous colours that can be customised for two-tone designs and, for mandatory safety reasons, has an inbuilt pedestrian warning soundtrack for the approaching vehicle arranged by none other than Oscar and Grammy-winning composer Hans Zimmer.

Interior

In blogs, there is such a thing as a word count. However, Rolls-Royce does not care for such things and so has not limited their incredible features to make it possible to exhibit in the written form. Therefore, the best way to display every interior feature on offer in the Rolls-Royce Spectre is bullet points: 

• Automatic umbrella holder
• Starry-night headliner and door upholstery
• Automatic doors
• Lambswool floor mats
• Leathered lined dials
• Chromed metal vents
• Individual rear climate zones
• Heated rear seats
• Rear cup holders
• Fully opening rear windows
• 2 rear USBc connection ports
• Illuminated treadplate
• Illuminated fascia with Milky Way image
• Ventilated massage seats
• Dynamic bespoke clock
• Rear privacy glass
• Colour-keyed boot trim
• Fully carpeted boot
• Signature leather key fob
• Two-tone steering wheel in a choice of colours
• Additional storage in the lower boot
• Magnetic boot floor holder
• And more.

Performance

With the Spectre, Rolls-Royce insisted on an all-electric drivetrain, as opposed to a hybrid, to future-proof their technology and prepare themselves for the 2035 ICE ban. It contains not one, but two SSMs (Separately Excited Synchronous Motors), producing 190kW/365 Nm at the front and 360kW/710 Nm at the rear, equating to 584Hp and 900Nm of torque. This power allows the Spectre to achieve 0-60mph in an impressive 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 155mph. The WLTP range is 290 miles, which is ideal for the typical Rolls-Royce driver who on average has seven cars in their garage to choose from.

Rolls-Royce Spectre cost

If you are considering a lease on a Rolls Royce Spectre, it is unlikely you are too concerned with trivial details like the costs, but in case you are an accountant for the wealthy, an average monthly cost for the base standard model will set you back around £10,000. However, you will offset this considerable sum (slightly) with the low fuel running costs. In fact, it will only cost you just over 4 pence per mile in the Spectre. So, an annual average of 7500 miles will only give you a total bill of £369, which is less than it will cost you to replace the umbrella.

Become part of the tradition

Breathe in the serene, calm of driving that only comes with a Rolls Royce. Even when cruising down the motorway, the cabin serenades you with tranquillity and silence. The only reminder you are driving is the open road outside. Take the opportunity of a lifetime and treat yourself to a Spectre, with our superb deals on Rolls-Royce leases at Gateway2Lease.

Make life even easier by instructing your butler to arrange everything with us, allowing you to sit back and await delivery of godliness in EV form.

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