- The Cullinan is Rolls-Royce first ever SUV.
- It is developed ground up and combines the British marque’s opulent philosophy with go anywhere capabilities.
- It comes loaded with off-road driving aids, luxurious cabin and a 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12 engine.
- Rolls-Royce will shortly bring the Cullinan to the Indian shores.
After announcing the ambitious project of a ‘high-riding’ vehicle three years ago, Rolls-Royce has finally taken the wraps off the Cullinan. According to the carmaker, the Cullinan is a Rolls-Royce that would take the wealthy connoisseurs to the ends of the earth in ultimate luxury.
The Cullinan is targeted at new and younger Rolls buyers who would want to wander off the beaten path and would want to do it in utmost comfort. And according to Rolls-Royce, they took the idea of an SUV and perfected it for those customers who will accept no compromise. The carmaker also claims that the Cullinan is the most technologically advanced, and purpose-built, luxury SUV in the world.
Based on the aluminium spaceframe from the Phantom VIII, the Cullinan carries the characteristic Rolls-Royce styling. So much so that it looks like Phantom on stilts. The squared headlights gets LED strip and projector set-up flanking the unmistakable chrome-laden grille. The newly-designed extended bumpers separate the Cullinan from other Rolls-Royces. The silhouette is rather quirky, but it grows on you. The high-riding vehicle rides on massive 22-inch wheels and can wade through 540mm of water.
For the first time a Rolls-Royce gets an opening tailgate, which is called ‘The Clasp’. It is a testimony to the era when luggage was mounted on the exterior of the motor-car, to make more space inside the cabin. The rear tailgate is a two-part, ‘D-Back’ format, and the Clasp can be electronically operated with a touch of a button. The centre console infotainment is a touchscreen unit and offers all the information the driver will ever need.
Obviously, the most luxurious seats in the Cullinan is in the rear passenger compartment. Entering through the suicidal doors, the cabin offers two configurations - Lounge Seats or Individual Seats. The former is a more practical option, offering seating for three. And for the first time, the rear seats fold down in a Rolls-Royce to make room for luggage. It measures 560 litres and can be expanded to a whopping 1,930 litres if the owner wishes to carry home an expensive artwork or a newly discovered artefact, quipped the British carmaker. The entire cabin is customisable to personal preferences as well.
Under the long hood is the same 6.75-litre biturbo V12 which delivers 850Nm of twisting force. Power is rated at 563bhp, channeled to all four wheels through an all-wheel drive system. Other hardware includes night vision system, a four-camera view system with panoramic view, collision warning, cross-traffic warning, lane departure and lane change warnings, WiFi hotspot, and many more. Rolls-Royce is offering no less than five USB ports apart from a wireless mobile charger.
The Cullinan will commence production late this year. Rolls-Royce will surely bring this go-everywhere vehicle to India. It comes as an expensive alternative to the Bentley Bentayga and Range Rover SV Autobiography apart from sporty SUVs such as the Porsche Cayenne and Lamborghini Urus.
