UK Drive: Electric power is the ideal fit for the Rolls-Royce Spectre

Well, it seems they were more than up to the challenge as here we have Rolls-Royce’s first electric car – the Spectre. From the outside it’s a tried-and-tested Rolls-Royce, but underneath there’s a whole lot more going on. We’ve been driving it to see what it’s like.

As with all other Rolls-Royce models, the Spectre can be tweaked and changed using the brand’s near-infinite selection of paints, materials and finishes. Fancy a bright orange exterior with a red interior and an open-pore wood dashboard? There’s no reason why Rolls-Royce can’t make it – provided you’re happy to pay the extra.

Rolls-Royce claims that the Spectre should be able to manage up to 329 miles on a single charge – we saw closer to 250 during our cold-weather driving – while a maximum charge speed of 195kW would see a 10 to 80 per cent top-up take around 43 minutes at a suitably speedy charger.

Naturally, you do need to be mindful of the sheer size of the Spectre. Even positioning it inside a standard space is a struggle and, for the most part, you’re left looking for any open area that’ll make parking this car easier. But with its relatively light steering, the Spectre isn’t too tricky to move about, you just need to be conscious of its dimensions. The blind spot created by the wing mirrors is enormous, too, so you do need to take extra caution when approaching a roundabout or junction.

There are plenty of real-metal elements across the Spectre’s exterior as well and these contribute to the high-quality feel that is so important in Rolls-Royce cars.

In total, there is space for four adults to sit comfortably in the Spectre, with those in the rear being treated to loads of legroom and headroom, despite the car’s sweeping roofline. There’s even a 380-litre boot which, given the size of the vehicle, is rather small but enough to accommodate some overnight bags or smaller suitcases.

But it’s the little details which make the difference. For instance, the Spectre name is laser-etched into the dashboard section ahead of the passenger while the roof incorporates Rolls-Royce’s famous ‘starlight’ headliner which mirrors the night sky. You can personalise this to show the constellations of a night which is important you and Rolls-Royce can even stitch in ‘shooting star’ LEDs to help the roof come alive.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre is a prime example of a brand acknowledging an electric future without diluting its character. The Rolls-Royce experience has always been about hushed refinement and in the Spectre, you’re getting that in droves.

It’s well-made, comfortable and more dynamic than you expect. But most of all, it feels like a true Rolls-Royce – so you could say that the Spectre is a resounding success.