Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Badge 2025 Review

Australian pricing for the 2025 Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Badge begins at $932,400 before on-road costs, though no two examples are alike.

As always, the final figure is entirely dependent on the depth of personalisation – and for Black Badge clients, the options list is virtually endless.

Our test vehicle wore a stunning Vapour Violet paint finish, paired with a Peony Pink leather interior and 23-inch forged wheels. The illuminated Pantheon grille featured a Tailored Purple backplate, while the fascia glittered with more than 5500 lit ‘stars’ across its Piano Black sky. No two surfaces were alike. Even the moisture collecting on the solid metal air vents felt luxurious.

Standard specification includes an illuminated grille, coloured treadplates, Shooting Star headliner and bespoke Rolls-Royce audio. The cabin is finished in a mix of Technical Fibre trim and soft, hand-stitched leather, while ventilated/heated/massaging seats and advanced driver-assistance systems round out the comfort and convenience list.

Infotainment is handled by the SPIRIT interface, which allows access to vehicle location and charging information remotely, while the digital instrument dials can be customised with themes such as Synth Wave or Neon Nights.

Safety wise, the vehicle features multiple airbags, electronic driver assist systems and a high-rigidity aluminium spaceframe developed by Rolls-Royce.

Performance upgrades over the ‘standard’ Spectre (I feel dirty saying that) include revised suspension tuning, weightier steering and enhanced roll stabilisation, all calibrated to deliver more feedback and dynamic control.

Unique to the Black Badge variant are Infinity and Spirited mode. The former sharpens throttle response and the latter allows for launch control. This results in a dramatic surge of acceleration that defies the car’s near-three-tonne mass and underscores its title as the most powerful Rolls-Royce in history.

As detailed in our first-look news story, the Spectre Black Badge isn’t just a visual or trim exercise – it’s a meaningful mechanical and character transformation of an already groundbreaking EV.

My colleague Feann previously reviewed the regular Spectre , and the Black Badge variant adds both power and attitude to an already remarkable package.

Power comes from dual electric motors delivering 485kW and up to 1075Nm, with drive sent to all four wheels via a single-speed reduction gear. That’s an increase of 55kW and 175Nm over the standard Spectre, enough to drop the 0-100km/h time to a supercar-like 4.1 seconds – astonishing for a car that weighs nearly three tonnes.

A 102kWh lithium-ion battery provides an official WLTP range of 493-530km, with energy consumption listed at 22.2-23.8kWh/100km.

Rolls-Royce backs the Spectre Black Badge with a comprehensive four-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, while the battery itself is covered for an impressive 15 years – a testament to the brand’s confidence in its long-term engineering integrity.

Even before driving, the 2025 Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Badge delivers a sensory experience that is pure theatre.

The moment you open the door, the rich scent of leather greets you. It isn’t the fake, over-treated stuff, either. It’s aromatic, warm and genuine. The starlight headliner immediately adds a celestial calmness, turning the cabin into an inviting, magical cocoon.

Every surface is soft, every control is tactile. The seats are more than just comfortable. They’re exquisitely sculpted thrones, designed to hold you in a gentle embrace whether you're cruising or cornering.

The ambience is so relaxing that I managed to unintentionally nod off for 10 minutes in the passenger seat. The lambswool carpets are otherworldly; you find yourself idly brushing your fingertips through them just to believe they’re real.

There’s a serenity here that no other car, regardless of price or prestige, has come close to matching. Even the moisture beads on the solid metal air vents caught my eye as a reminder that every material is real and everything has been considered.

Behind the wheel, that same calm confidence carries over. Yes, it’s intimidating at first. But by the time I’d rounded a few corners on the expertly crafted racetrack of Magarigawa, I realised just how much you can lean into the Spectre.

It responds not with aggression, but with poise. Acceleration is progressive and linear. Grip is immense. The steering, sharpened for Black Badge duty, feels more connected than anything else of this size and weight. The transition from spa mode to track mode is seamless.

Infinity Mode sharpens throttle response, while Spirited Mode offers a proper launch sequence – brake and throttle engaged, a haptic pulse, a glowing visual cue and then lift the brake to unleash 1075Nm of torque. Even at full ‘noise’, all you can really hear is the distant protest of Pirelli P-Zeros being tormented beneath you.

It feels less like a car and more like a sculpture you’re temporarily allowed to animate. The peace, the theatre, and the grace all combine to create something that feels genuinely transcendental, yet utterly natural to drive.

You don’t drive something this expensive without a quiet voice in your head whispering, “If I bin this, I’m remortgaging the house and living out the rest of my life in shame.” That alone might be Rolls-Royce’s most discreet safety feature.

And while the chassis tuning is extraordinary, even magic has its limits. In tight corners, you’re still aware of the car’s nearly three-tonne mass. Yes, it’s well controlled, but not invisible.

There are small things that jar given the price point. The vanity mirror in the sun visor? Straight out of a BMW 1 Series. The tailgate-close button? Same one you’ll find in a base-spec X3. For a car that otherwise feels like a sculpture in motion, these carry-over parts are noticeable and feel about as welcome as a novelty ringtone in a string quartet.

The SPIRIT infotainment interface is also clean, but not class leading. Then again, this is a car defined by serenity and restraint, not screens, swipe gestures or avatars. Most owners aren’t here for UI transitions. They’re here to commission calm and status.

If you’re asking, you probably already know.

The 2025 Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Badge isn’t trying to be the fastest, nor the flashiest, it’s the most confident expression of modern luxury that Rolls-Royce has ever produced.

For a moment, I lived inside that world: I napped in the back, ran my fingers through lambswool carpet and found stillness behind the wheel of a 485kW, seven-figure EV.

At times, I genuinely felt like I was in a dream and floating through some surreal, hyper-luxurious simulation. A quiet part of me kept waiting to wake up. But every texture, every silence, every shimmering star overhead reminded me it was real.

It’s not just a car. It’s a cure for anxiety. And now I understand why some people choose to commission their dreams in metal, leather and light.

2025 Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Badge at a glance:
Price: From $932,400 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Dual electric motors
Output: 485kW/1075Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 102kWh lithium-ion
Range: 493-530km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 22.2-23.8kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Not tested

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