Rolls-Royce proves that sometimes, silence is the best answer.

Singapore – Two months after the Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Badge was unveiled at Goodwood, the long-awaited luxury barge has finally landed on Singapore shores. For such an ultra-luxurious and bespoke car, Rolls-Royce Singapore pulled out the stops to welcome its arrival, choosing the fashionable lifestyle destination of New Bahru for its grand launch.

For those unfamiliar with the meaning of “Black Badge”, this exclusive range caters to clients who aren’t content with a “regular” Rolls-Royce but desire superior performance in the form of better handling, more horsepower and more torque. More importantly, they can make their Rolls-Royce truly unique by having the ability to pick a plethora of bespoke finishes both on the inside and the outside.

With its electric motor making a whopping 659 horsepower (458kW), the Spectre Black Badge not only improves in performance against the “normal” Black Badge but also becomes the most powerful Rolls-Royce ever made in the brand’s illustrious 121-year history.

Just how powerful, you may ask? The car possesses a Spirited Mode that temporarily increases the car’s torque to a whopping 1075Nm, allowing the driver to experience a moment of breakneck acceleration (and possibly fear) as the car surges to 100 km/h in a lightning-quick 4.1 seconds. That’s sports car numbers for a luxury barge that weighs almost three tonnes and could be mistaken for a yacht.

Additionally, Rolls-Royce analysed Black Badge clients’ anonymous driving data and found that clients exploited the car’s full power in short bursts rather than gradually. Thus, the marque drew inspiration from aircraft powered by the old Rolls-Royce Merlin engine that allowed pilots to obtain a surge of extra power at the flip of a switch. Enter Infinity Mode, where a simple press of the ∞ button on the steering wheel unlocks all 659 horsepower and a faster throttle response.

Out of the 44,000 ‘prêt-à-porter’ colours owners can choose from, the Black Badge Spectre’s launch spec in Goodwood was finished in a premium colour named Vapour Violet, and also comes with a painted Iced Black bonnet that creates an elegant two-tone contrast with the body colour. For the first time, owners can also commission a ‘waft’ coachline, making the design of the car’s lower third section more prominent and its wide dimensions more emphasised.

Included as standard are newly designed 23-inch five-spoke forged aluminium wheels finished in either all black or in a part-polished fashion. To cater to the widening demographic of Black Badge clients, the brand has even included optional winter tyres for those brave enough to drive them in snowy conditions.

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Rolls-Royce’s signature exterior touches can be seen throughout the car’s body, with multiple body panels stylishly finished in black. However, it is the first to bear Rolls-Royce’s new Illuminated Grille backplate. Available in Tailored Purple, Charles Blue, Chartreuse and Forge Yellow, its already prominent front facade is now even more striking.

Rolls-Royce’s meticulous attention is even more prominently seen on the interior. Its Illuminated Fascia displays both the signature Black Badge Infinity logo and the Spirit of Ecstasy. Over 5,500 lights of different proportions and intensity constitute this elaborate display set on a Piano Black background, hand-laid in a diamond pattern between multiple carbon fibre layers to create a captivating 3D effect. Sounds fancy.

Infotainment hasn’t been forgotten either, as the SPIRIT operating system ensures that remote charging and location information are readily accessible to the driver. Drivers and passengers can also access Whispers, Rolls-Royce’s private digital members’ club. Lastly, SPIRIT can be used to switch the instrument dial lighting between 5 colour themes depending on the client’s preference.

And of course, with every Rolls-Royce, the Spectre Black Badge comes with its very own elaborate umbrella, complete with an umbrella holder seamlessly integrated into the body.

“The popularity of Black Badge has grown steadily over the years, and it brought us a completely new category of younger customers who never thought about owning a Rolls-Royce until Black Badge came about; attracted by its unique aesthetic and bold spirit,” said Renee Chua, Managing Director of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Singapore.

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The Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Badge is now for sale at the Rolls-Royce showroom, and prices start from S$2,438,888. However, expect this to be a fairly conservative figure if you intend to go crazy with the bespoke options and specifications, as personalisation is at the core of the Black Badge DNA after all.

Text: Tan Kai Wyn
Photos: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Tan Kai Wyn, Clifford Chow