The new 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre unveiled in Montreal

The new 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre was unveiled last night at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in Montreal

• The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre is the first production fully electric vehicle from the brand

• It offers 416 kilometres of all-electric range

• It has a starting price of around $537,000 in Canada

Like every other automaker, Rolls-Royce knows the importance of electrification in today’s automotive industry. The brand-new 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre is the famed British automaker’s first fully electric vehicle and like everything else Rolls-Royce does, it is unique, exclusive, and the specs, particularly power numbers and pricing figures, are mind-boggling.

As the first Rolls-Royce to go into production with an electric powertrain, the Spectre had to stand out even more than other models in the automaker’s lineup. Despite its coupe profile, its roofline is higher than many SUVs on the market, and the overall width surpasses even the flagship Phantom. Contributing to its commanding presence are the large 23-inch wheels—an option costing over $13,000 and a first for Rolls-Royce. At least the company confirmed that winter tires will be available. The new Spectre also introduces design elements we have not seen yet on a Rolls-Royce, including thin, wide LEDs that hover over subtly built-in headlights, though its rear design remains more traditional, resembling the Wraith.

Traditional Rolls-Royce luxury inside

Inside, the styling is unmistakably Rolls-Royce, featuring a large center touchscreen display and a fully digital instrument cluster, combined with what Rolls-Royce calls the “illuminated Fascia.” Positioned in front of the passenger, this design element displays the Spectre nameplate surrounded by 5,500 digital “stars”. It took more than two years to develop this seemingly simple detail. The new Spectre also features, for the first time, the Starlight option incorporated into the doors, adding nearly 4,800 extra illuminated LEDs to create an even more impressive environment. This is an option, of course, as owners can also choose one of multiple finishes if they don’t want to spend the extra $4,000 for the illuminated doors. As far as the options catalogue goes, that’s by far the most reasonable choice on the list because the result is quite stunning. As with any Rolls-Royce, there are countless customization options available.

What about the electric powertrain?

The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre features two electric motors, one powering the front axle and the other on the rear wheels. Both, taken from BMW, combined, deliver 577 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque. Rolls-Royce claims that the new EV reaches 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, a respectable figure considering the Spectre is heavier than a full-size truck.

The battery itself is a 102-kWh unit that weighs 700 kg. Rolls-Royce states that the Spectre can drive up to 416 km between charges and owners can recharge at a maximum rate of 195 kW, allowing the battery to replenish from 10% to 80% in 34 minutes. An onboard 22-kW charger allows a full charge in just 5.5 hours. Interestingly, Rolls-Royce put significant effort into ensuring that the Spectre maximizes range even in difficult conditions, testing their new EV in harsh conditions from -40°C to over 50°C. The Spectre features an onboard thermal management system designed to ensure the battery operates at the optimum temperature regardless of conditions.

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The 2024 Spectre also incorporates the Planar suspension system, launched on the current Ghost. This system scans the road ahead to detect corners and imperfections, adjusting everything from the anti-roll bars to the dampers to the steering system to ensure a smooth ride. The torsional rigidity of the Spectre is 30% better than the Ghost and the drag coefficient is just 0.25 drag. A surprising number that is possible in part thanks to a nearly smooth front grill which of course illuminates.

Of course, all of this comes with a price. The new Spectre starts at $537,000 in Canada, and looking at the options list, you can easily add $75,000 worth of options without even going into exclusive customizations. Nobody interested in this vehicle will particularly care about that, but for the rest of us, it’s just one more thing that boggles the mind about the 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre.