India has just received the electric equivalent of a thunderclap in a Savile Row suit. The Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Badge, the most powerful EV the company has ever built, is now available at ₹9.5 crore (ex-showroom, before options). Bookings are open at Rolls-Royce's showrooms in Chennai and New Delhi, where one suspects they already know your name.
Power, Poise and... Purple
Underneath the sweeping panels and exquisite paint options – 44,000 of them if you're counting – sits the same 102kWh battery as the standard Spectre. But the dual-motor setup now produces 659 bhp and 1,075Nm, which is enough to make this two-door behemoth go from 0 to 100 kmph in 4.1 seconds. That's 0.4 seconds quicker than the 'normal' Spectre, if such a thing exists.
To cope with this newfound urgency, Rolls-Royce has reworked the chassis, the steering, and the roll stabilisation system. Because while it may be fast, it must never, ever feel uncouth.
Black on Black on Badge
The visual changes are subtle in that way Rolls-Royces aren't. 23-inch forged alloys and a striking Vapour Violet paint shade make it distinct, but the real party trick is the sheer volume of blackened detailing – grille, Spirit of Ecstasy, door handles, badges, the lot.
And if that isn't enough flair, the grille and door sills can be illuminated in one of four colours: Tailored Purple, Charles Blue, Chartreuse and Forge Yellow. Because subtlety is good, but sometimes your car should glow.
Theatrical, From the Inside Out
Inside, it's not so much a cabin as it is a galaxy in a tuxedo. The Black Badge gets a 5,500-star illuminated fascia, carbon-fibre or metal trim, and five wildly named colour themes for the driver's display: Vivid Grellow, Neon Nights, Cyan Fire, Ultraviolet and Synth Wave.
In case you're wondering, yes, the display is as dramatic as the names suggest. Rolls-Royce calls it post-opulent. We call it a bit extra, but in a good way.
More Than Just a Spectre
At ₹9.5 crore, the Black Badge costs ₹1.88 crore more than the standard Spectre, but it's not just about numbers. It's about presence, performance, and a personalised purple glow.
There may be faster electric cars. There are certainly cheaper ones. But none will do 0 to 100 kmph in under 5 seconds while offering 44,000 ways to express your taste in purple.
