Rolls-Royce reveals updated Spectre Series II electric coupe

The luxury car market cannot make up its mind about battery power. Some brands move away entirely, some try to find a middle ground, but British automaker Rolls-Royce is pushing on and updating its flagship electric coupe. The company introduced the Spectre Series II, bringing a mix of mechanical upgrades and new design choices to its landmark electric car. First launched in 2022, the large two-door model has quickly become the brand's second best-selling vehicle worldwide, trailing only the Phantom sedan.

The most important updates for the new version happen underneath the metal. Rolls-Royce engineers redesigned the battery cell technology to extract more energy from every charge. The driving range increases by up to 18 percent, meaning the car can now travel up to 390 miles under the European WLTP testing cycle. Owners will spend less time plugged into a wall as well, since the company managed to reduce battery charging times by up to 14 percent.

Drivers looking for extra performance will notice changes to how the car delivers power. The standard drivetrain delivers 442 kW of power and 749 lb-ft of torque. The "Spirited Mode" temporarily pushes that torque figure up to 811 lb-ft for quicker acceleration. The carmaker altered the electric motors to respond faster when the driver presses the accelerator pedal, creating a more engaging experience for the person behind the wheel.

For those who want even more performance, the Black Badge Spectre Series II is the answer. It is the most powerful model the brand has ever built. It comes with an exclusive Infinity Mode that unleashes 500 kW of electric power. On the outside, a new paint package replaces the traditional shiny chrome trim on the grille surround, window frames, door handles, and badges with a smooth, matte black finish. Even the famous Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament gets the dark treatment, though the vertical grille bars stay polished so people can still easily recognize the vehicle.

The exterior of the vehicle keeps its distinct fastback shape, smooth side panels, and split front headlights. To give buyers more choices, the factory created a new solid paint color called Ethereal Blue. The car also rides on fresh 23-inch forged alloy wheels that feature highly detailed spoke faces designed to catch the light. Factory workers spend up to six hours polishing and finishing each individual wheel by hand to ensure the metal edges look incredibly sharp.

Inside the cabin, the changes focus on unique textiles and complex artwork. For the first time, Rolls-Royce is offering an interior fabric called Duality Twill, which is a modern material made from bamboo fibers. Creating a complete interior using this fabric is a massive task that takes up to 25 hours of factory labor. It requires roughly 10 miles of thread and contains up to 2.6 million individual stitches. Buyers can order the fabric in Sage green, Lilac, Chocolate brown, or Black, and they can choose from 50 different thread colors for the custom embroidery.

The dashboard layout also changes, with the glass instrument panel and clock section now running across the entire width of the passenger side. A new clock mimics the simple, easy-to-read look of aviation instruments and sits next to a small glass case containing a backlit, stainless-steel version of the brand's famous hood statue. The glowing section of the dashboard features a wave pattern made of 8,108 tiny glowing pixels that mimic the morning mist found near the company's factory in Goodwood, England.

Data collected by the company shows that while the typical owner keeps the electric Rolls-Royce in a garage alongside at least six other cars, they use the Spectre much more than previous gasoline coupes. The average owner drives the car roughly 4,039 miles per year, usually traveling alone and charging the battery at home. One owner in Europe even accumulated more than 31,100 miles in just two years of daily driving.

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