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Rolls-Royce Luxury SUV Arrives

After much anticipation, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars unleashes Cullinan, the ultimate SUV, where effortless luxury awaits.

Drive The Rolls Royce of SUVs Arrives 2
Drive The Rolls Royce of SUVs Arrives 2

By 19th Hole Staff  |  May 21, 2018 | Luxury SUV

Rolls-Royce

Cullinan images courtesy of Rolls-Royce

The Rolls-Royce of SUVs, a concept which began over four years ago as an idea and a mere sketch; an aspiration to bring ultimate luxury to the SUV market, is now finally here. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars recently unveiled the outrageously luxurious $325,000 Rolls-Royce Cullinan, the world’s most anticipated SUV of 2018 and, quite possibly, the most anticipated Rolls-Royce of all time.

“The launch of a new Rolls-Royce model is always a seminal moment in the luxury industry, says Peter Schwarzenbauer, Chairman of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Today we are setting a new standard by creating a new class of motoring and motor car for customers who are well-connected, highly mobile and have a global perspective. They want a new type of motor car that gives them unbounded access in ultimate luxury. Their sense of adventure and daring demands a “go-anywhere in ultimate luxury” motor car that will both take them to and meet them at the pinnacle of life. Cullinan is that motor-car,” continues Schwarzenbauer, during the Rolls-Royce world launch of the Cullinan.

Rolls-Royce

Cullinan images courtesy of Rolls-Royce

When Rolls-Royce announced three years ago that it would launch Cullinan, it did so in the knowledge that its customers around the world had asked it to build “The Rolls-Royce of SUVs”, with luxury, performance and usability not seen before in the SUV market. Many of these customers were younger, very successful high-net-worth individuals who are heavily engaged in the experience economy, and wanted a Rolls-Royce that would take them to the ends of the Earth in ultimate luxury.

Rolls-Royce

Cullinan images courtesy of Rolls-Royce

What is Cullinan?

Named after the largest diamond ever discovered which now resides in the British Crown Jewels, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan is Rolls-Royce as it’s never seen before. When Sir Henry Royce said, “Strive for perfection in everything you do. Take the best that exists and make it better. When it does not exist, design it”, he could have had Cullinan in mind.

“We knew we had to offer our clients what they couldn’t find in the SUV market,” says Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Rolls-Royce’s Chief Executive Officer. “They do not accept limitations or compromises in their lives. They are the new pioneers, and for them it’s about their sense of adventure and daring in how they live their experiences. This approach to life demands a motor car that can go-anywhere in ultimate luxury and style – Rolls-Royce style. Hence Cullinan.”

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Rolls-Royce

Cullinan images courtesy of Rolls-Royce

It was clear that these new, younger and more adventurous customers wanted a Rolls-Royce that would take them completely off the beaten track and reward them with life’s most enriching experiences. What they didn’t want was a vehicle as ubiquitous as an SUV with compromises such as increased cabin noise due to the “two-box” formula; shared platforms that affect performance and comfort; the choice of being good either on-road or off-road; or a lower, more featureless SUV that blends in and becomes just another car.

“Cullinan is luxury in its purest form blended with perfect practicality and off-road capability,” comments Müller-Ötvös. “Effortless, Everywhere is not just the promise behind Cullinan. It’s the fact.”

Making luxury Effortless, Everywhere engendered an evolution in Rolls-Royce’s approach to creating an authentic Rolls-Royce SUV. The most obvious sign of this was the radical rear of Cullinan.

For the first time, a Rolls-Royce has an opening tailgate, called ‘The Clasp’. In a nod to the era when luggage was mounted on the exterior of the motor-car, so the occupants did not travel with their belongings, the rear profile of Cullinan is a two-part, ‘D-Back’ format, with the bustle denoting the place of the luggage. ‘The Clasp’ opens and closes in its two sections automatically at the touch of the key fob button.

The rear passenger compartment of Cullinan has been designed to offer the best seat in the house for the owner’s particular needs. Two rear configurations are offered – Lounge Seats or Individual Seats.

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The Lounge Seat configuration is the more functional of the two options. With space for three passengers in the rear, it will likely be more attractive to families. The rear seats also fold down – a first for Rolls-Royce.

Rolls-Royce’s investment in making the rear of Cullinan effortlessly and ultimately practical has the side benefit of offering a loading length longer than a Range Rover Vogue Extended Wheelbase. A very practical Rolls-Royce indeed.

Rolls-Royce

Cullinan images courtesy of Rolls-Royce

Adventure Awaits

Cullinan awakes at the touch of the unlock button on the Bespoke key, or indeed by simply reaching out to its beautifully tactile stainless steel door handle. It lowers itself by 40mm to make entry effortless as the iconic Rolls-Royce coach doors stand open to welcome driver and passengers to their adventure.

Having stepped directly into the cabin, thanks to the wide aperture of the doors and completely flat floor, driver and passengers press the door closing button to seal themselves within the sanctuary of Cullinan’s cabin. Or one touch of the sensor on the exterior door handles will see the doors automatically close themselves from outside.

A touch of the start button then elevates Cullinan 40mm to its standard, commanding ride height, placing its occupants in the perfect position from which to see the world as it drives off.

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The driver instantly recognizes Cullinan as a driver’s car thanks to its thicker, smaller steering wheel. It’s heated, pliant rim hints at epic voyages which Cullinan is all too eager to begin, whilst heated and ventilated seats mean passengers will be perfectly acclimatized. From their commanding position at the helm of Cullinan, all equipment and technology are clearly seen and reached by the driver. All information is clearly communicated by the latest generation of digital instruments, with the displays themselves designed with clear and beautiful virtual needles, Rolls-Royce jewelry-like chaplets.

Rolls-Royce

Cullinan images courtesy of Rolls-Royce

A host of cutting-edge technology makes Rolls-Royce Cullinan the most technologically advanced car of its type in the world. Further equipment includes: Night Vision and Vision Assist including daytime and night-time Wildlife & Pedestrian warning; Alertness Assistant; a 4-Camera system with Panoramic View, all-round visibility and helicopter view; Active Cruise Control; Collision Warning; Cross-Traffic Warning, Lane Departure and Lane Change Warning; an industry-leading 7×3 High-Resolution Head-Up Display, WiFi hotspot, and of course the latest Navigation and Entertainment Systems.

“The proposition of this car is an engineering masterpiece, its off-road capability, whilst maintaining the world-famous ‘Magic Carpet Ride’ of Rolls-Royce,” comments Müller-Ötvös.”

The most practical of Rolls-Royces, Cullinan is the most versatile, family oriented, fun-to-drive super-luxury SUV available today.  The 6.75 liter twin-turbo V12 Rolls-Royce engine delivers 563bhp/420kW and 850Nm/627lb ft of torque to the all-new all-wheel drive, all-wheel steer system needed to overcome any challenge.

Rolls-Royce

Cullinan images courtesy of Rolls-Royce

The new Rolls-Royce Cullinan will go on sale at the end of 2018 with prices starting around $325,000 US. The bespoke features and customization options will certainly raise the cost closer to nearly half a million dollars, which gives a good reason why Rolls-Royce named the SUV after the largest diamond ever discovered.

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