Recently, I've always been urged by car enthusiasts to write more, but I'm lazy, so I'll write very little and irregularly. Those who know me well know that, firstly, I'm not a car reviewer; secondly, I don't sell products or chase after traffic; thirdly, I don't take commercial orders or make money from these things. So, I don't have to and have no obligation to write about cars frequently. However, I do enjoy communicating with car enthusiasts. Coincidentally, I have some free time today to share my thoughts on a very "controversial" car: the Rolls-Royce Spectre...
1. Overall: There's no doubt that Rolls-Royce is at the top and in the first echelon of mass-produced cars. Even among the former "Big Three" - Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Maybach - after Bentley discontinued the Mulsanne, its current marketing strategy makes it, to some extent, half or a whole level below Rolls-Royce. After being acquired by Mercedes-Benz, Maybach no longer has the charm of the former models like the 59, 62, or Pullman. It can hardly compete with the other two in terms of brand. Most of the Maybachs on the road now are the 480 models, including mine. There are almost no 680 models or limited editions, and most of those that exist are modified ones. Since I own cars from these three brands, I can feel the differences clearly. In my opinion, Rolls-Royce pursues ultimate high - end customization and serves a select few. Bentley lowers its stance to target the younger market, while Maybach shares resources through the Mercedes - Benz platform and moves towards a focus on volume and technological features. It's hard to say which one is definitely better; it's just that each brand has different pricing strategies and corporate layouts. I digressed a bit. Getting back to the point, there's no doubt about Rolls-Royce, but the controversy lies in its "heretical" move of launching a pure - electric vehicle, the Spectre. By the way, I still don't understand why their naming is so "weird", always using words like ghosts, spirits, and shadows... They could actually learn from the profound cultural heritage of our great China. Look at names like Yun Nian, Tian Gong, and Xuan Wu; they sound so pleasant.
3. Exterior and Interior Space: The car's styling is also quite controversial. Many people think its split - type headlights and narrow eyes look strange. There's no point in arguing about the appearance; beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Personally, I quite like it. Firstly, it looks more youthful, and secondly, it has a bit of a retro feel (yes, you heard me right, it's retro. If you're familiar with Rolls' past models, you'll understand why I say this. If not, just search on Baidu; I won't explain further). The taillights and waistline are very smooth. Also, the car's wheels and the Spirit of Ecstasy have been redesigned, and I like the new styles. The Spirit of Ecstasy is lower to reduce drag, and the wheels look more youthful. Even without the optional 23 - inch wheels, the standard ones look great. With the illuminated base and the front part. The interior is still very much Rolls. The space is generous, especially in the rear. Among all two - door, four - seat cars except Rolls, none can surpass it in terms of both comfort and space. I even asked a 1.8 - meter - tall female friend to sit in the back to give you a direct sense. She didn't feel cramped at all. Of course, don't compare it with the rear seats of Maybachs.
4. Driving Experience: I'm someone who loves driving myself and have driven many cars of different brands and types. The driving experience of the Spectre can only be described as very "Rolls". It's like driving a boat and has little driving fun. It's just relatively easy to drive among Rolls - Royce models. But isn't that the characteristic of Rolls - Royce? After all, who would drive this like a supercar? Elegant, calm, grand, and steady are my impressions of it. It's extremely stable when going over speed bumps or uneven roads. The combination of this system and the sound insulation (the mobile signal is poor when the windows are closed) truly achieves the ultimate in comfort and quietness. I've driven many cars with the so - called "magic carpet" system, and I can only say... they are misinterpreting the concept, thinking that having an air suspension, thicker tires, and softer seats is the "magic carpet". Once you've experienced it, you'll understand; other arguments are meaningless. Additionally, I think the Spectre has a few drawbacks: (1) The seat support is insufficient when cornering at high speeds; (2) The large, high, and long front of the car blocks the view. When the slope is a bit steep, you can't see at all and need to turn on the 360 - degree surround view. Anyway, I'm not used to it; (3) The brakes are too soft and long and need some getting used to.
5. Configuration and Intelligence: Don't compare it with domestic new - energy vehicles; they're not in the same league, and it really can't compete. Any domestic new - energy vehicle above 300,000 yuan has a better infotainment system and intelligent assistance. However, I'm quite surprised that the car's infotainment system is quite smooth, and the screen resolution is clear. At least I think it's okay. After all, just like with smartphones, I only use about 10% of the functions, mainly using CarPlay for navigation and listening to music. That's it.
6. Satisfaction: The car has a wide range of optional features. As long as you're willing to spend money, you can have the ultimate customization. It's suitable for daily urban commuting and offers good value for money. The way the doors open is also unique. In other Rolls - Royce models, the front doors open normally, but since this car only has two doors, they open in the opposite way.
7. Dissatisfaction: Driving it is extremely boring, with no driving pleasure at all. The resale value is very poor. Among all ultra - luxury brands like Rolls - Royce and Bentley, these "green - plate" (electric) models definitely have the lowest sales.
