Currently reading: New Rolls-Royce Spectre boosts power and claims 390-mile range

New BMW battery cells boost Rolls EV's range by 18%, while max power nudges towards 700bhp

Rolls-Royce has updated its Spectre electric coupé, giving the 'Series II' a longer range, a raft of new personalisation options and more power than any previous Rolls.

This comes four years after the British luxury brand introduced its debut EV, which has since surpassed the V12-powered Ghost coupé and Phantom limo to become its second-best-seller, after the Cullinan SUV.

The Series II brings a host of technical advancements that should feature on Rolls' second EV, a Cullinan-style large SUV expected in 2027.

Chief among these is a new battery cell technology, coming courtesy of parent company BMW.

It is said to increase the Spectre's maximum range by 18%, from 329 to 390 miles, and cut charging times by 14%.

Rolls-Royce Spectre Series II rear tracking

The new 'Gen6' cylindrical cells are the same as those fitted to the facelifted BMW 17, where they boost range and charging speeds by a similar amount by virtue of better cooling and greater energy density.

Like the 17, however, the Spectre continues to use a 400V electrical architecture.

Both versions of the Spectre are now more powerful. The standard dual-motor, four-wheel-drive powertrain puts out 593bhp, up from 577bhp, while the more performance-oriented Black Badge edition gains a 21bhp uplift to pump out 671bhp – as much as a Le Mans hypercar.

Torque is up too: in Normal mode, the regular Series II has as much as 749lb ft at its disposal, while the Black Badge can call on a thumping 811lb ft in its Spirited mode.

Rolls-Royce Spectre Series II interior

Equal focus has been placed on expanding the range of personalisation measures that Spectre buyers can apply through Rolls-Royce's increasingly lucrative Bespoke division.

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As well as a new Ethereal Blue factory paint option and striking hand-finished 23in wheels, the Spectre can now be equipped with a "significantly expanded" range of interior trim options and an iced Black exterior package that swaps most of the chrome elements for matt black items.

Rolls-Royce quotes an entry price of £300,000 for the Series II but, because so many are so intricately customised, it's rare that two examples of the Spectre are the same and many cost far more than that. The average Rolls sold in the UK ends up costing more than £500,000. 

New options

Duality twill

Rolls-Royce Spectre Series II twill seat

New for the Series II is a bamboo-based rayon upholstery embroidered with an 'RR' logo pattern. It can incorporate up to 2.6 million stitches and 10 miles of thread and takes up to 25 hours to put together.

Placed perforation

Rolls-Royce Spectre Series II perforated seat

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Buyers can have their leather seats laser-cut to reveal 'unique artworks underneath'. This night sky motif comprises nearly 80,000 individual holes.

Interior panel

Rolls-Royce Spectre Series II LED panel

LED dashboard display - inspired by the mist of the South Downs in Sussex - has been expanded across the car and now features 8108 individual pixels. There's a new clock too, influenced by 'precision aviation instruments'.

Brindled walnut

Rolls-Royce Spectre Series II walnut

'Tiger stripe' veneer is made using wood from non-fruiting walnut trees and eucalyptus fibres. It's sealed with 'a fine powder of glass flakes' for a shimmering effect.

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Felix Page

Felix Page
Title: Deputy editor

Felix is Autocar's deputy editor, responsible for leading the brand's agenda-shaping coverage across all facets of the global automotive industry - both in print and online.

He has interviewed the most powerful and widely respected people in motoring, covered the reveals and launches of today's most important cars, and broken some of the biggest automotive stories of the last few years.