Since 1904, Rolls-Royce has wowed aficionados and celebrities with its unrivaled luxury offerings. The British flagship automaker has a rich history and is still pushing its boundaries to stay up-to-date with modern needs and technology. However, while most modern Rolls-Royce cars carry beefy powertrains under their hoods, they do not make the impression of being supremely capable. Nevertheless, they will get you up to speed when required, and that too smoothly. To give you an idea of how powerful Rolls-Royce cars are, we have highlighted the top 10 most powerful models the marque has ever made!
10 Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph - 322 Horsepower
As the rightful successor for the Silver Spirit, the Silver Seraph also shared its underpinnings with the Bentley Arnage. However, unlike the Bentley, the Silver Seraph was powered by a 5.4-liter naturally aspirated M73 V-12 engine. This powertrain was capable of 322 horsepower and was the first V-12-powered Rolls-Royce since the Phantom III from 1939. The V-12 was paired with a five-speed ZF-sourced automatic gearbox, which routed 361 pound-feet of torque through the rear wheels. However, the Silver Seraph was famous for its leisurely on-road acceleration and cumbersome handling, which is not otherworldly for a 5,000-pound luxury sedan. Still, the Silver Seraph did 0-62 mph in 7.5 seconds and could top out at 140 mph.
9 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé and Sweptail - 453 Horsepower
Based on the 2003 Phantom Coupé, the Phantom Drophead Coupé is a convertible grand tourer that made its first appearance at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show. After a decade, the one-off luxury two-door coupe was released, the Sweptail. While both the Roll-Royce cars share a list of things with the Phantom VII, the engine is also a part. They both have a 6.75-liter naturally aspirated V-12 engine, designated as the N73B68. This gigantic V-12 engine produced 453 ponies and 531 pound-feet of twist, with a six-speed automatic gearbox mated to the mill. The latter models of the Phantom Drophead Coupé, including the one-off Sweptail, features an updated eight-speed automatic gearbox. Despite weighing about 6,000 pounds, the convertible Phantom could sprint to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds and attain 155 mph top speed. Meanwhile, the super rare Sweptail is quicker, with a 0-60 timing of 4.9 seconds.
8 Rolls-Royce Phantom VII - 460 Horsepower
Heir to the Silver Seraph, the Phantom VII served from 2003 to 2017 and was the first Rolls-Royce to be unveiled after BMW acquired the right to use the brand name and its logo. Both the Phantom Drophead Coupé and the Sweptail are the two-door iterations of this halo Rolls-Royce car. The long hood covered a giant but ultra-refined engine: a 6.75-liter V-12 with a 460 horsepower tune. The powerhouse came mated to a six-speed gearbox in the Series I or pre-facelift models. An eight-speed gearbox replaced the six-speed unit with the Series II in 2012. The Phantom VII could do naught to 62 mph in 5.9 seconds, which made it much quicker than the Silver Seraph.
7 Rolls-Royce Cullinan/Dawn/Ghost/Phantom - 563 Horsepower
The more recent Rolls-Royce cars, be it the Phantom VIII or the cheaper Ghost, Dawn, and Cullinan, come with the same powertrain under their hoods. However, it is BMW’s first twin-turbo V-12, the N74. This 6.75-liter mill produces 563 horsepower in the aforementioned flavors, but there are differences in the torque figures. For example, the current generation Ghost and the Cullinan SUV share an all-wheel-drive system with identical 627 pound-feet of torque. On the other hand, the Phantom propels 664 pound-feet, and the Dawn is rated at 575 pound-feet. In terms of acceleration, all four Rolls-Royce cars can attain 60 mph from a standstill in less than five seconds.
6 Rolls-Royce Ghost Extended Wheelbase II - 571 Horsepower
The EWB or Extended Wheelbase version of the Series II Ghost was produced between 2014-2020 and carried the same 6.75-liter twin-turbo V-12 as the standard Ghost. But the EWB flavor put out a slightly bumped-up 571 horsepower and the same 575 pound-feet of torque. Its real-world performance is affected by its added weight. Nevertheless, its leisurely acceleration does take 4.9 seconds to catch 60 mph and can complete a quarter-mile in 13.3 seconds.
5 Rolls-Royce Spectre - 577 Horsepower
The Roll-Royce Spectre is the firm’s first production BEV but is based on the same platform as the Cullinan and the Phantom. The twin-motor powertrain has a combined output of 577 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. However, Rolls-Royce has opted not to showcase a tremendous amount of horsepower figures with its electric replacement for the Wraith. So it is certain that the Spectre will not perform like the Lucid Air but is expected to catch 60 mph in about 4.4 seconds, which is terrible, considering its 6,559 pounds curb weight. The Spectre is also the most aerodynamic Rolls-Royce with a drag coefficient of 0.25 and will deliver about 260 miles per full charge.
4 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge and Ghost Black Badge - 592 Horsepower
Any Rolls-Royce with a Black Badge name slapped denotes a high-performance model. In addition to the increased power figures, the Black Badge models incorporate blacked-out bodywork, including the Spirit of Ecstasy. The Cullinan Black Badge and the Ghost Black Badge feature the same 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V-12 as the standard models, but instead of 563 horsepower, they crank 592 horsepower, and torque figures see a bump to 664 pound-feet. This means the Cullinan Black Badge and the Ghost Black Badge could better the standard 0-60 mph timings by at least four-tenth of a second.
3 Rolls-Royce Dawn Black Badge - 593 Horsepower
Successor to the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé, the Dawn was revealed at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. However, the more performance-oriented Black Badge model is undoubtedly the most provocative of the two. A slightly smaller 6.6-liter bi-turbo V-12 powers this limited edition Dawn, and it cranks 593 horsepower and 620 pound-feet of torque, thanks to an ECU update. However, the slight bump in power does not help the Dawn Black Badge perform better in downright acceleration. Compared to the current Ghost, the torque figures of the Dawn Black Badge are significantly lower, which could be the reason behind the absence of noticeable performance improvements.
2 Rolls-Royce Wraith and Wraith Black Badge - 623 Horsepower
The Wraith and the Wraith Black Badge are rated at the same 623 horsepower, making them the most potent Rolls-Royce models to hit the market. The Wraith was introduced in 2013 with the same 6.6-liter twin-turbo V-12, which was incorporated later into the Dawn. The Wraith could sprint to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, pretty quick for a Rolls-Royce, and it also could attain a top speed of 160 mph. It has been a decade since the Wraith came to life, and still, none of the firm’s recent models could replace its title as the fastest Rolls-Royce ever made. The limited edition Black Badge models featured slightly bumped-up torque figures; 642 pound-feet as opposed to 590 in the standard model.
1 Rolls-Royce Silent Shadow - 640 Horsepower
While the Wraith is the most potent production Rolls-Royce car, there is another beast in the luxury carmaker’s conceptual world, the Silent Shadow, which technically has more power than the Wraith. After the Spectre, the Silent Shadow will be the next electric Rolls-Royce destined to enter production in 2023. It is foreshadowed by the ultra-futuristic 103EX Concept car showcased in 2016. It will be based on the new 2023 BMW i7’s electric platform with a tri-motor setup and could churn out as much as 640 horsepower. In addition, the Silent Shadow will be available as both rear and all-wheel drive systems. However, we are yet to have more details about this fully electric flagship saloon.