It was only a matter of time before Rolls-Royce went down the electric route and now that the ultra-luxury carmaker has, it’s continued with the spooky naming convention for its first pure-electric (EV) model that’s been christened the Spectre. A year after its global debut, the Spectre is now here in Malaysia to haunt the wallets of the uber-rich.

As it is, the Spectre rides on the aptly named Architecture of Luxury that also carries the Cullinan and current Phantom. Nonetheless, it was designed from the start to accommodate combustion or pure electric powertrains, the latter being an integral part of the carmaker’s direction moving forward.

Built in Goodwood, England, alongside every other Rolls-Royce, the Spectre is 30 percent stiffer than any other model prior to it by virtue of utilising extruded aluminium sections in the integration of its battery. Together with the wiring harness, it serves as sound dampening to provide the luxurious environment expected in the cabin.

It’s no small apparition as well, slotting in between the Cullinan and the Phantom in size scale. While it might not be the largest, it does have the distinction of the first car out of Goodwood to roll on 23-inch wheels as standard.

The Spectre has all-wheel drive as standard, with an electric motor on each axle. Combined, they provide 585 PS and 900 Nm of torque, enough to launch the 2,890 kg behemoth from a standstill to 100 kph in 4.5-second. The WLTP range is estimated to be about 520 km.

On the charging side, it supports up to 195 kW DC that’s good for going from 10 percent to 80 percent in 34 minutes. With a 50 kW DC charger, expect that time to be about 95 minutes while the standard 22 kW AC home charger will take it from 0-100 percent in 5 hours and 30 minutes.

Isolating the occupant in the rear is key to any Rolls-Royce and the Spectre uses an updated version of the planar suspension on the current Ghost. There’s a camera on the front that reads the roads surface and calibrates the air springs and dampers for the best possible ride.

In a straight line, it will even decouple the anti-roll bars for increased comfort, only to reengage them as a corner approaches.

Just before you get in, the Spectre’s styling is unmistakably Rolls-Royce. To set it apart from the combustion-engined models, the fastback coupé bodystyle rides with the widest Pantheon grille yet, with individual active shutter panes for drag-reduction. Just like its Ghost sibling, there are 22 individual LEDs on the grille for a unique lighting signature.

Somewhat unbelievable for any other carmaker except Rolls-Royce, the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy figurine underwent 830 hours of redesigning to improve its aero efficiency, resulting in a drag coefficient of 0.25, the lowest of any Rolls-Royce.

Trust them, the Spectre has undergone a highly demanding testing routine that includes 2.5 million kilometres in various conditions.

Going electric is probably the least surprising for the marque as it has a long-standing connection with electric technologies. In 1900, Rolls-Royce co-founder Charles Rolls prophesised an electric future for cars. Having experienced an electric vehicle named The Columbia Electric Carriage, he foresaw the technology’s suitability as a clean, noiseless alternative to the internal combustion engine, providing there was sufficient infrastructure to support it. In 2011, Rolls-Royce showcased a fully electric Experimental Phantom concept dubbed the 102EX. This was followed by the 103EX, a dramatic design study that anticipated a bold electric future for the marque.

The founder’s goals have not been in wane. There’s no intention to stop with the Spectre as an EV, Rolls-Royce aims for its entire portfolio to be fully electric by the end of 2023.

Pricing for the Spectre in Malaysia starts from RM 2 million before options and taxes but more importantly for the scrooges among us, being a battery electric vehicle means it's exempted from tax until 31 December 2025. However, as Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Kuala Lumpur suggests that every single Rolls-Royce model is bespoke, none of the Spectres sold here would go for the starting amount.

Also Read: One of 35 in the world, this Rolls Royce Wraith Landspeed Collection is sold to one lucky Malaysian for an undisclosed price

Interestingly, Malaysia is listed among the top 10 nations in the world with the fastest pace of growth in highly successful individuals over the next few years and that would support the fact that orders for the Spectre stretches into 2024 already.

And don’t worry if your Spectre “fails to proceed,” there are regional flying doctors available 24/7 on standby if that happens.

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