Driving any Rolls-Royce is always a treat for a motoring writer. But when you get offered a Black Badge version, you clear your diary to make sure you optimise your driving time. Black Badge editions have increased horsepower and torque along with distinct blacked-out aesthetics. I was given the upgraded Spectre, which proudly stands out as the most powerful car Rolls-Royce has ever made. In my case, it might have led to a speeding ticket.
When I first laid eyes on the Spectre Black Badge, I knew this car would turn heads, even in a city like Dubai, known for its abundance of flashy supercars and luxury automobiles. It’s a big car for starters but also a two-door coupe which gives it a sporty silhoeutte. With the iconic Spirit of Ecstacy statue on the front, this is a car that demands attention. Then there’s the distinct colour – Vapour Violet – inspired by the neon lights of 1980s and ’90s nightclub culture. The Black Badge aesthetic runs through every detail, from the dark chrome brightwork, the blacked-out Flying Lady on the front, to the massive 23-inch forged aluminium wheels.
Lap of luxury
Open up the carriage doors and you are instantly greeted by a world of luxury. The doors themselves contain fibre-optic lighting to mimic a night sky, matching or contrasting the roof’s starlight display. This can be fully customisable to match your actual star sign’s sky if you want. The fascia comprises more than 5,500 ‘stars’ set against a Piano Black sky.
Nothing inside the Spectre looks out of place. All the materials are exquisite: technical fibre trim with diamond-pattern carbon weave, deep leather seats that could rival any high-end armchair, and illuminated Black Badge treadplates that glow as you step inside. But it’s the small details that really make this such a unique car to drive – for example, there’s a bespoke umbrella stored in a specially designed compartment inside the door frame. It’s not just for show – the compartment is heated to dry the umbrella after use. And If you look closely at the edge of the LED headlight housing, there’s a tiny engraved Rolls-Royce double-R logo. There are many more ‘easter eggs’ to discover that I won’t spoil it for you.
The Dubai drive
I have been lucky enough to drive many Rolls-Royces in my time, both on public roads and race tracks. The marketing blurb speaks of a ‘magic carpet ride’ which is a pretty accurate description of the driving experience. The Spectre moved effortlessly for a near-three tonne vehicle. The steering gave plenty of feedback, while the roll stabilisation kept the car eerily flat through corners. It felt like I was gliding on top of the road.
Underneath its sculpted bonnet lies the beating heart of a beast. An all-electric beast. Yes you read that right. Quiet and quick power at the touch of a pedal, that will provide a monumental 1,075 Nm of torque in ‘Infinity’ mode. This is activated by pressing a discreet button on the steering wheel which sharpens throttle response and unleashes the full power instantly. The official figure of 0 to 100kph in 4.1 seconds is impressive for any sports car, let alone this 2.9-tonne luxury coupé. Pressing the Infinity button became addictive, hence my earlier comment about a possible speeding ticket, but I guess it was worth it.
Rolls-Royce’s engineers have studied hundreds of thousands of miles of Black Badge owners’ driving data to understand how their cars are actually used. The insight? Owners tend to enjoy short bursts of extreme power rather than sustained top-speed runs. The Spectre Black Badge delivers exactly that – a silent, instant surge that makes overtaking a formality, the feeling of being launched from a catapult.
VIP
Inside a Rolls-Royce, you can be whoever you want to be. My 48 hours of VIP status felt less like test-driving a car and more like temporarily joining a secret club. It’s not just a form of transport; it’s a lifestyle statement of wealth, of taste, of individuality. The Spectre has all the quiet refinement Rolls-Royce is famous for, but with a rebellious edge that makes you want to take the long way home just to see it reflected in shop windows.
I normally drive a Nissan Patrol and that gets a fair amount of respect on the cuthroat roads of Dubai. But driving the Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Badge took things to another level. Cars didn’t want to come close to me, automatically gave way for me and valet staff sprinted to take the keys from me. At traffic lights and zebra crossings, pedestrians indiscreetly stared at the car. I felt like royalty driving a car with a price tag upwards of 2 million dirhams. Rolls-Royce describes Black Badge clients as those who “fearlessly reject convention,” and it’s easy to see why.
