2019 Rolls-Royce Cullinan
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Rolls-Royce Cullinan
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Year:2019
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Engine:V12
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Horsepower @ RPM:563
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Torque @ RPM:627
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Displacement:6.75 L
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0-60 time:6.7 sec. (Est.)
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Top Speed:155 mph (Est.)
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Price:325000
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The brand’s first SUV comes to challenge the Bentley Bentayga
The luxury SUV bug has bitten its share of automakers in recent years. Up to now, Rolls-Royce has been an exception, but come 2018 and the British automaker launched its very own people hauler. Better late than never, Rolls-Royce. News of Rolls’ interest in developing a luxury SUV came to light in 2015, when Rolls-Royce was already working on a brand-new platform for the Phantom sedan. As expected, the SUV is based on the same underpinnings and shares many styling cues and features with the luxury four-door.
Although Rolls-Royce has no history with SUVs, the company cited vehicles from the past which have been successful in events such as the Scottish Reliability Trials and the Alpine Trials, and had the ability to carry their owners "over challenging terrain with absolute reliability and comfort" in Australia, India, and other parts of the world. On top of being Rolls-Royce’s first-ever SUV, the Cullinan also introduces many new technologies to the brand, including all-wheel drive, an off-road driving mode, and a suspension that actively extends the dampers to keep every wheel on the ground in rough terrain. The SUV’s true purpose is to challenge the Bentley Bentayga, but how does the Cullinan compare to its British rival? Let’s find out in the review below.
Continue reading to learn more about the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
Latest Rolls-Royce Cullinan news and reviews:
2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan by Novitec
Novitec is back with a new tuning program, this time for Rolls-Royce’s monolithic SUV, the Cullinan.
The tuning kit is a typical program for the German tuner. It comes with aerodynamic add-ons to go with a modified engine, a new exhaust, and a new set of wheels. The Cullinan looks more aggressive than before, but you have to wonder if "aggression" is part of what makes a Rolls-Royce. Pricing details were not revealed; the cost will depend on what upgrades you include in your cart.
2020 Rolls-Royce Cullinan - Driven
From the outside, and to the 99-percenters, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan looks like an over-priced BMW or a reworked Phantom with a taller roof that was designed to keep the brand from falling into the abyss of irrelevant brands. In fact, you might actually be right to some extent. The Cullinan does look a lot like the Phantom in the front thanks to the big rectangular grille, boxy headlights, and square front end. And, the brand is owned by BMW, so yeah, there’s some Bimmer DNA there too. That said, the Cullinan is the very first Rolls-Royce SUV and, outside of that, it also introduced a lot of new tech for the brand, including an off-road driving mode and all-wheel drive. Introduced in 2017, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan has been on the market for a few years now, and it’s been staring down the barrel of the Bentley Bentayga ever since. So, how does is hold up three years in? Well, we spent a week with the Cullinan to find out for ourselves, and this is what you need to know.
Rolls-Royce Is Still Trying To Convince You To Take Your $330,000 Cullinan Off-Road
Rolls-Royce Cullinan needs no introduction. It is the automaker’s first SUV ever and is also the most expensive production SUV in the world, proudly wearing a price tag north of $300,000. When you plonk in so much money on an SUV, taking it for dune bashing is something that wouldn’t even cross your mind. But, that doesn’t mean the Cullinan is not capable of going off the beaten paths, and its latest video seems to send the same message. But, will the owners risk taking it to the desert?
2020 Rolls Royce Cullinan Black Badge
The 2020 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge is a version of the Cullinan, the British company’s first-ever SUV. Designed for "younger, more adventurous clients," the Black Badge is basically a package that adds darker trim on the outside and extra, unique features on the inside. It also comes with extra power and torque, so it can also be considered a higher performance version of the standard Cullinan. The SUV is the fourth Rolls-Royce available with the Black Badge treatment, following the Wraith and Ghost in 2016 and the Dawn in 2017. Let’s find out what makes it special in the review below.
2020 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Overdose By Novitec
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan seems to be a favorite among tuners lately. A few months back, Mansory gave it a twist, and now Novitec has laid its hands on one example.
The aftermarket company calls it the Cullinan Overdose. Befitting of its name, the company has given the Cullinan a lot of treatment on the outside. Novitec has tweaked the engine as well to offer a lot more power than it does in the standard form. With its widebody kit and lowered ride height, does it look as exquisite as the standard Cullinan?
The Detail of This Rolls-Royce Cullinan Scale Model Will Blow Your Mind As Will The Price
Rolls-Royce’s miniature Cullinan goes hand in hand with what Sir Henry Royce used to say about perfection: small things make it, but it itself is no small thing. Apparently, this creed doesn’t apply just to RR’s million-dollar cars destined for the One Percent, but also to the company’s toys.
2020 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Coastline By Mansory
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan is the most luxurious SUV you can buy today. Even in the standard form, it basically has everything one needs (and doesn’t need) in an SUV. But that didn’t stop aftermarket companies from trying to do different things to it and give it a twist.
Klassen stretched and armored a Cullinan and put a $2 million price tag on it. Rolls-Royce upped the ante when it launched the Cullinan Black Badge edition. And, now, Mansory has laid its hands on it and unveiled the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Coastline.
The Cullinan Coastline features a lot of changes in and out, and feels like a fresh take on the world’s costliest SUV. The exterior features a body kit, the interior receives a new theme, and the drivetrain receives a power bump. Will it lure in any buyers?
Can You Drift in the Rolls-Royce Cullinan?
The Cullinan is the first-ever SUV that Rolls-Royce has produced. As is with all the cars from the marque, this, too, reeks of luxury from every corner. Other than the fantastic features, the luxury SUV also comes with a big V-12 engine with enough grunt to make everyone move out of its way.
Although the engine specs and body style inspire enough confidence for you to make the Cullinan do hardcore ‘things’, do you think you can get this 6,000-pound beast to drift? Well, the answer is yes; unless you get a heart-attack doing it, or even watching it for that matter.
Wallpaper of the Day: 2019 Rolls-Royce Cullinan
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan just debuted this week, and while we knew it would be based on the Phantom, we didn’t realize there would be so much Phantom in it. It’s a clear descendant, that’s for sure. Be that as it may, the Cullinan still stands out with its seemingly unlimited headroom in comparison, and it’s the world’s first three-box SUV since the cargo area is completely separated from the passenger compartment thanks to a wall. And, despite the fact that it was designed to go off-road (not that anyone ever would do such a thing,) it still maintains that classic Rolls magic carpet ride feeling when cruising down the road. It doesn’t come cheap, though, and some of us are stuck admiring from a distance, so we figured there’s no time like the present and made it our wallpaper of the day. We’ve got some great images, so if you don’t like the one we picked out, slide on down to see more wallpaper quality images of this V-12 powered beast.
Here’s a Rendering of What Could Be The World’s Most Expensive Pickup Truck
The pickup market has grown vertically and horizontally beyond imagination. Pickup trucks are looking a lot smarter these days and are heavy on tech-savvy features. You can have performance trucks and even electrification has infiltrated into the segment. But, what about the luxurious aspect? Yes, your Fords and Rams have upped the ante and are starting to look glorious, but who said these are your typical luxurious trucks? Imagine a truck with all the bells and whistles that carries a proud Rolls Royce or a Bentley badge. Not able to think of what it would look like? Well, here’s a rendering by Rain Prisk that shows us what a truck from Rolls Royce could look like. Fancy, isn’t it?
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan Impressed the Hell Out of Us at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed
The Goodwood Festival of Speed is one of the best car shows if you want to see all sorts of vehicles climb up the Goodwood Hill. It’s usually sports cars, supercars, and race cars new and old, but some automakers bring SUVs and trucks as well. At this years edition, Rolls Royce decided to take the massive Cullinan for a stroll on the short but iconic road course.
Rolls-Royce’s Collaboration with The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Chain is a Celebration of The Chinese New Year
The Chinese market is very important to Rolls-Royce. It’s so important that the British automaker is rolling a trio of special edition Cullinan SUVs to celebrate the start of the Chinese New Year, which just so happens to fall on the Year of the Pig. The special edition Cullinans were created in collaboration with the Mandarin Oriental hotel chain. Each of the three SE Cullinans sport unique exterior colors with identifiable badges to commemorate the Year of the Pig. Mandarin Oriental hotels in Miami, Boston, and Washington D.C. each have one of the three Cullinan special editions until today, February 8. They’re not just for display, too. Guests at the hotel can take chauffeured two-mile rides in them. Even better, the international hotel chain is also offering a chance for any of its guest to win the use of one of the Cullinan special edition models for a week.
Buy This Penthouse and Get a Lamborghini and Rolls Royce Free
Looking for a house? May we suggest the Mansions at Acqualina in Florida? It exudes royalty and luxuriousness, and the realtor will give you a Lamborghini and a Rolls-Royce for ‘free’ when you buy this penthouse. No, there is no catch to it. Just that the penthouse costs slightly above-average; it is priced at $38 million.
Someone Seriously Did Doughnuts in a Field with a Rolls-Royce Cullinan
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan is the first ever utility vehicle offered by the British luxury car manufacturer but, beyond being able to carry the super-rich down the world’s highways and busy metropolitan streets, it can also go off-road like no BMW ever could. This was further showcased when someone decided to do doughnuts in one. In a field.
Launched this year, the Cullinan, named after the largest flawless diamond ever found, is Rolls-Royce’s first ’high-sided car.’ It’s the perfect Alpha to Bentley Bentayga’s Omega and, as we’ve discussed just a couple of days ago, it’s also good when taken off-road.
However, some owners, who’ve paid in excess of $325,000 to get their hands on one, seem not to be entirely convinced of the test that was organized for the press by Rolls-Royce to showcase the Cullinan’s capacity off the beaten path. This owner, for instance, decided it’d be a good idea to take his SUV to a field and just do doughnuts to the sheer enjoyment of those who happen to film the whole thing.
The Rolls Royce Cullinan Really Can Go Off-Road
Few if any Rolls Royce Cullinan owners will realistically take their new high-riding Rolls off-road since they are like all other SUV buyers who just enjoy the raised driving position and the extra feeling of safety that a vehicle like this conveys. Besides, Rolls is marketing the car as a practical, family proposition - something it has never done with any previous model.
The Rolls-Royce V-12 Will Soldier On Until the Brand is Forced to Go All-Electric
Rolls-Royce does not want to discontinue the V-12, and I will tell you why. Leasing a car is improvisation. Buying a house and putting it under a mortgage is improvisation. Taking a bank loan to finish school is improvisation. Taking a cab is improvisation. Melding your own broken TV remote is improvisation. Having a dinner in an expensive restaurant to impress a girl is improvisation. Driving a hybrid is improvisation.
Rolls-Royce isn’t about improvisation. It is about the exact opposite - about genuinity. Something only a handful can experience, acquire, and actually live. Like it always was.
And for those select few, the world of regulations, melting ice caps, water supply problems in equatorial countries, and possible fuel shortages aren’t really that big of a deal. Rolls-Royce deals with those kinds of people. Exclusively! Those kinds of people want and need a V-12. They will have it - for as long as the ICE is a big deal. When it stops being a big deal, Rolls-Royce will do what is only logical - switch to electricity.
Rolls-Royce Cullinan Stretched by Klassen
This Cullinan clearly shows that there is no dearth of people ready to spend money on anything a company makes. This time, it’s for a stretched Rolls-Royce Cullinan. German company Klassen, which specializes in stretching high-end cars, has worked on the world’s most luxurious SUV. Price? No biggie. Klassen is selling for a “modest” $2 million.
Rolls-Royce is Bringing An Army of Special Edition Models to Monterey Car Week
Rolls-Royce is bringing four different versions of the Cullinan to Monterey Car Week as part of the luxury SUV’s public debut in the U.S. All four versions of the Cullinan will sport different paint jobs. They’ll also be joined by a handful of special edition Rolls-Royce models, including the Umbra Black Badge, the Paradiso, and Nebula Collections. All three collections feature Dawn, Ghost, and Wraith models, though the Dawn will be showcased as an exclusive model, called the Dawn Black Badge Adamas Collection. The luxury automaker will also bring a one-off Phantom that’s earmarked for Rolls-Royce enthusiast Michael Fux.
Check Out this Detailed Walkaround of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Launch Edition - Video
Nobody needs to convince anybody about the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. The British automaker’s first venture into the world of super luxury SUVs was unveiled in May 2017, and it lived up all the hype surrounding it. There’s a strong case for the Cullinan to be classified as the best luxury SUV in the market today, and that case was made stronger with the introduction of the Cullinan Launch Edition. This walkaround video of the Cullinan Launch Edition gives us a good idea of what we can expect, and to the surprise of absolutely nobody, it’s teeming in style, and substance like only Rolls-Royce can provide.
The six-and-a-half-minute video goes deep into the Cullinan Launch Edition. We see a good deal of the model dressed in a deep red exterior paint with a contrasting beige leather interior. It’s not entirely a new color combination that Rolls just cooked up, but it works in highlighting all the luxury elements that typically come with a Rolls-Royce product. In true Rolls’ fashion, the Cullinan even has a few easter eggs in store for those with pockets deep enough to buy one. Notice the umbrella that’s tucked away on the rear doors? Pretty clever, right? How about the embroidered Spirit of Ecstasy logo on the door cards? While we’re at it, it’s hard not to imagine getting mesmerized by the comfort levels inside the Cullinan.
That may be par for the course for an SUV that costs at least $325,000, but it’s still incredible to see what all that money is getting you should you decide that the Cullinan is the SUV that suits your lifestyle. Rolls-Royce did say that the Cullinan is an SUV that speaks “to a heritage of perfection,” and there was nothing we saw in this walk-around video that made us think otherwise.
It’s hard to imagine a model as well-appointed as the Rolls SUV, and yet, it still carries a massive 6.75-liter bi-turbo V-12 engine that produces 563 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. It may not be the fastest and most powerful super SUV in its class, but nobody’s going to care when you’re wrapped up in that cocoon of luxury.
This is the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, folks. Enjoy it for what it is because it certainly deserves to wear that Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament.
The Worlds Best Super SUVs
The term “super SUV” is relatively new in the automotive lexicon, but its use has exploded in popularity with the rush of high-end models that have filled its ranks. From the Bentley Bentayga to the Lamborghini Urus, we’ve seen no shortage of super SUVs hit the market in recent years. Super SUVs are the most extravagant breed of SUVs you can find on the market. They have interiors that can rival those that are found in luxury cars, and they have performance capabilities that border on supercar levels. They also have premium price tags, something that we should expect given their status. This is our list of the best super SUVs in the market today, and, who knows, you might end up in the market for one sooner than you think.
Rolls-Royce Isn’t Rushing To Develop Autonomous Driving Tech Because It’s Been Using it For Years
Rolls-Royce may have succumbed to the growing demand of SUVs all over the world, but don’t expect the British luxury brand to do the same with semi-autonomous driving technology. Rolls has no interest in joining that race because, in its mind, most people who own Rolls-Royce models don’t even drive them. They have chauffeurs that drive the cars for them.
Spec your own Rolls-Royce Cullinan in the fanciest online configurator ever!
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan finally arrived in May 2018 after many years of teasers and speculation to take its place at the top of the SUV market as the most expensive and luxurious hauler ever created. Priced from a whopping $325,000, the Cullinan is probably selling like hotcakes for a really expensive vehicle. The SUV can now be configured on the company’s official website, and the online experience is just as bespoke as the Cullinan itself.
And even though most of us can’t afford one, we can at least configure the Cullinan of our dreams until we can actually place an order.
Rolls-Royce Thinks its Customers Are Too Good for Semi-Autonomous Technology
According to Rolls-Royce, all of its customers have Chauffeurs, and when you cater to the one-percent, there’s no room for semi-autonomous technology. It’s not for Rolls-Royce customers. At least not until it’s truly effortless and then it’ll be ripe enough for the typical Rolls-Royce client. While the statement above makes Rolls sound about as stuck up as the people it builds cars for, its reasoning does have some merit. The fact is that for customers that do have Chauffeurs (I’m definitely not saying all do, but a good portion surely do) it wouldn’t make sense to pay your very own Alfred to sit around and do nothing, waiting for an instance where he’ll have to take over.
Comparison: 2018 Bentley Bentayga vs 2019 Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Premium SUVs have been around for quite some time now. Many claim that the first luxury hauler arrived in 1984 as the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, but the modern era began in 1999 when BMW introduced the X5. In 2016, Bentley reshaped the segment with the Bentayga, the first full-blown luxury SUV that gathered fine upholstery, state-of-the-art tech, fancy features, and high-performance under one roof. At the time of its launch, it was the quickest, fastest, and the most expensive SUV. Two years have passed and Rolls-Royce delivered its first people hauler, just like it promised a few years back. It’s called the Cullinan, and although it’s not faster than the Bentayga, it’s definitely the more expensive choice.
While the premium segment is packed with SUVs from European, American, and Japanese automakers, the range-topping luxury market is still very small. With no other products around, Bentley and Rolls-Royce are the only firms fighting for supremacy here. The Cullinan and the Bentayga will go against each other for the richest, most pretentious customers out there for years to come. Who will win? It’s hard to predict at this point, but we set up a thorough comparison for the most luxurious SUVs ever built as of 2018.
Continue reading for the full story.
Xtomi Ponders How the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Could Evolve with Six Renderings
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan has some people drooling and some people criticizing. Well, be prepared to drool and criticize even more as our friend Xtomi has decided to render the Cullinan in five different body styles that range from a shooting brake to a coupe, to a pickup. That’s right folks, an actual Cullinan pickup truck. So, with that said, we’re going to pick each design apart a bit and decide whether or not Rolls should actually considering making any of these body styles.
Last week I wrote a big rant about how the BMW M5 with the Competition Package is an abomination. I take that back. The new Rolls-Royce Cullinan is the supreme abomination. A luxurious, boxy abomination on wheels. And the perfect example of how to be lazy in the design process. Okay, I’m not taking that back actually, I still think that the M5 Competition Package is a useless piece of junk, and you should buy a proper sports car instead, but the Cullinan is my all-time favorite automotive abomination. Until Boeing builds an airplane-shaped SUV that is!
Love It Or Leave It - The Rolls-Royce Cullinan
It’s been three years since Rolls-Royce revealed its plans to join the SUV bandwagon and the British luxury hauler is finally here. It’s big, powerful and loaded to the gills with luxury features and state-of-the-art technology. It’s also incredibly familiar, as Rolls-Royce didn’t spend too much time redesigning the Phantom’s styling cues for the SUV. The Cullinan has already sparked heated debates, rapidly falling in the "love it or hate it" category. Where do we stand in this discussion? Find out from our senior editors below.
Continue reading for the full story.
2019 Rolls-Royce Cullinan
The luxury SUV bug has bitten its share of automakers in recent years. Up to now, Rolls-Royce has been an exception, but come 2018 and the British automaker launched its very own people hauler. Better late than never, Rolls-Royce. News of Rolls’ interest in developing a luxury SUV came to light in 2015, when Rolls-Royce was already working on a brand-new platform for the Phantom sedan. As expected, the SUV is based on the same underpinnings and shares many styling cues and features with the luxury four-door.
Although Rolls-Royce has no history with SUVs, the company cited vehicles from the past which have been successful in events such as the Scottish Reliability Trials and the Alpine Trials, and had the ability to carry their owners "over challenging terrain with absolute reliability and comfort" in Australia, India, and other parts of the world. On top of being Rolls-Royce’s first-ever SUV, the Cullinan also introduces many new technologies to the brand, including all-wheel drive, an off-road driving mode, and a suspension that actively extends the dampers to keep every wheel on the ground in rough terrain. The SUV’s true purpose is to challenge the Bentley Bentayga, but how does the Cullinan compare to its British rival? Let’s find out in the review below.
Continue reading to learn more about the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan is Here, and It’s Going to Slaughter the Bentley Bentayga
Rolls-Royce has, technically, shown up late to the party with the Cullinan. After all, the Bentley Bentayga, it’s one true competitor, has been out for a while. But time has been kind to Rolls-Royce, and the brand used that time wisely. To put it simply, the Cullinan is going to murder the Bentayga in every way, shape, and form. First, it does look like a Phantom up front, and the interior, at least in part, shares a lot of common DNA too. But, it’s the little things that really set it apart.
Watch the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Debut Live Right Here!!!
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan, a high-riding SUV based excessively on the Phantom is set to make its debut in just a few moments time. If you haven’t kept up with the news, we’ve already seen it in all its glory thanks to some leaked images, but the live debut is set to be something special. We’ve embedded the live stream below for you to watch, so take a look and let us know what you think after the show!
Leaked Images Show that the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Doesn’t Far Fall From the Phantom Tree
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan is set to debut in less than 24 hours and, wouldn’t you know it, some images have leaked showing off, well, damn near everything. First, it is an all-out SUV so you won’t be as disappointed as you were over the Maybach Ultimate Luxury “SUV.” Right away, though, it’s pretty damn easy to tell that the Cullinan is based on and very closely related to the Rolls-Royce Phantom. How related you ask? Well, the nose is practically identical sans a few minor stylistic changes here and there. Looking at it head-on, it’s hard to tell it’s not a Phantom on jacked up suspension.
But, once you see the side view, you know it’s a true SUV. Hell, it’s even got a tailgate with that cool but uncomfortable looking picnic setup. The roof features a large moonroof, but it’s not large enough for rear passengers to enjoy but it does have suicide doors it seems, so it’s got that going for it. Other exterior highlights include an aggressive beltline with huge, chrome window trim in the rear and a functional stance that shows it means business from a luxury perspective.
What’s more important right now is the interior and, if these leaked images are legit, we’re getting a good look at what’s happening inside. Much like the nose, you’ll find a lot of Phantom cues inside as well. And, by “a lot” I mean A LOT. The dash is nearly identical with the exception of a little dip in the top of the dash above the flip-out infotainment system. There’s plenty of wood and leather around of course, but it features very similar HVAC vents, door trim panels, center console, and center stack. It even has the same three-gauge instrument cluster. Oddly, the leaked images show something that’s quite luxurious but maybe even a little rugged too based on the rim of the steering wheel, for example. In the rear, you find the same style of center console and the same door-trim panels as well.
Truth be told, it looks like Rolls too the Phantom, put it on stilts, and gave it a taller roof. It’s not necessarily a bad combination as you can’t really get much better than this, but it could be knocked off as a bit lazy. After all, Rolls could have taken the time to give the Cullinan a different look in comparison to the Phantom on which it is based.
Rolls-Royce Teases the Cullinan’s Production Taillight
Rolls-Royce has shown up very late to the SUV party, being one of the last automakers to have an SUV in production. Hell, even Lamborghini jumped on the wagon with the Urus SUV. But, Rolls is finally looking to take a piece of that ever-so-popular pie and will introduce the new Cullinan on May 10th. It’s been described as a high-sided vehicle, and that’s evident thanks to a total of 25 uploaded video as of the time of this writing with more to come between now and it’s debut.
To refresh your memory, the Cullinan will go up against the Bentley Bentayga and will ride on the same platform that underpins the Phantom. It will even have a viewing suite in the rear on the tailgate if you want a luxury-infused picnic. We expect it to use the same engine as the Phantom for motivation as well, so a 6.75-liter with 563 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque should be sending power to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.
If you’re interested in seeing the plethora of videos put out by Rolls-Royce, check out our playlist embeds below. Each list has between 8 and 10 videos, just click the arrows in each video player to navigate. Let us know what you think so far in the comments section below.
Rolls-Royce Will Debut the Cullinan on May 10th
Under development since 2015 or so, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, the company’s first-ever SUV, will be unveiled on May 10. The luxury hauler — it’s said to become the world’s most luxurious SUV — will break over next Thursday at 7:00 a.m. EDT. As usual, we will be here to report it and take a closer look at the preliminary details.
Rolls-Royce Confirms Cullinan Name for its Upcoming SUV
In 2015, Rolls-Royce announced plans to develop its first-ever SUV. Crafted in response to Bentley and Lamborghini, companies that have already unveiled their people haulers since then, it was codenamed Cullinan and described as a "high-bodied car that would redefine luxury travel by making it effortless, everywhere." Three years later and the SUV is still under development, but recent spy shots suggest that the big unveiling isn’t far away. A specific release date has yet to be set, but Rolls-Royce just confirmed that the production model will carry over the Cullinan name. The Brits also explained why they chose this name for their first-ever SUV.
Rolls-Royce Takes Shots At Bentley Bentayga, Essentially Calls It A Rebadged Model
The rivalry between Rolls-Royce and Bentley is real and if anybody still doesn’t see it that way, Rolls CEO Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes’ recent comments about the Bentley Bentayga has made it abundantly clear that there’s still no love lost between the two former stablemates. Speaking with Auto News Europe about the upcoming launch of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV, or “all-terrain, high-sided vehicle” as Rolls would like everyone to call it, Mueller-Oetvoes emphasized that the Cullinan will not use “mass-manufactured body shell,” unlike a certain model that he essentially described as a “camouflaged Audi Q7.”
You don’t need to be an expert in the acrimonious history between the two brands to know that Mueller-Oetvoes is referring to the Bentayga, which uses the same MLB Evo architecture that can be found underpinning the aforementioned Q7, as well as the Porsche Cayenne and Lamborghini Urus. Apparently, Mueller-Oetvoes believes that the approach of platform sharing limits what can be done on the design end of the SUV, which in turn “undermines exclusivity.” For its part, the Cullinan won’t have that problem because it will be riding on the luxury brand’s new “Architecture of Luxury,” a scalable, aluminum space frame platform that was designed specifically to accommodate Rolls-Royce models. The all-new Phantom is the first model to make use of the architecture though it also won’t be the last since the Cullinan, as well as next-gen models of the Ghost, Dawn, and Wraith, will all make use of it at some point.
Continue after the jump to read the full story.