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.

What makes the 2020 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge special?

Design-wise, the Black Badge is simply a trim level with a handful of features that stand out. It's very similar to BMW's Shadow Line and Mercedes' Night Package, adding darker chrome and black trim to reduce the amount of sheen and give the exterior a slightly sportier look. In this case, it starts off with the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot on the hood, which now features a high-gloss black chrome finish. For the first-ever on a Rolls-Royce, the finish extends onto the mounting plate.

The same goes for the front grille surround, side frame finishers, trunk handle, trunk trim, lower air inlets, and exhaust pipes. The vertical grille bars, on the other hand, remain polished, but they also appear black because they reflect the darkened surfaces around them.

To go with the darker chrome, Rolls-Royce created a special black paint for this model with multiple layers of paint and lacquer that are polished by hand ten times. Needless to say, the Black Badge's front end looks menacing in this specific paint and with the darkened grille and Spirit of Ecstacy, but it might not be as spectacular in a different color.

The Black Badge model also rides on exclusive 22-inch wheels made from forged alloy. But the cool thing about them is the gear-like design and the two-tone finish combining gloss-black and polished surfaces. This is also the first Rolls-Royce offered with color brake calipers, painted high-gloss red as standard.

Move inside the cabin, and you'll discover the same luxurious interior as in the regular Cullinan. However, the Black Badge bundle adds a few extras, starting with what Rolls-Royce calls Technical Carbon veneer. This is actually exposed carbon-fiber but crafted through a special process so that it replicates repeating geometrical shapes. It's inspired by urban architecture and produces a three-dimensional effect. Each "leaf" is finished with six coats of lacquer before being left to cure for 72 hours and then hand-polished to a mirror finish. This process takes 21 days and is only deemed complete once all 23 pieces inside the car are inspected by a craftsperson. It's details like these that make a Rolls-Royce expensive, and its processes like these that customers want to hear about.

Rolls-Royce also created a new leather color for the Cullinan Black Badge. It's called Forge Yellow, and it's a bright shade of yellow that you wouldn't expect to find in a Rolls-Royce. This hue is also available for stitching and other details, and it's a breath of fresh air in a luxurious car that's usually either black or white, or a combination of both. But just like the regular Cullinan, the Black Badge is available with an almost infinite choice of interior color combinations.

Another unique feature is the Infinity motif embroidered into the fold-down rear armrest, incorporated in the illuminated door sills, and engraved on the brushed steel clock case on the dashboard. The red-tipped clock hands and instrument cluster needless are also unique to this model. If you're a fan of the company's Starlight headliner, it comes in black leather on this model, and it's handwoven with 1,344 fiber optic lights that display an authentic reflection of the night sky.

Is the 2020 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge more powerful than the standard model?

Like all Black Badge models before it, the Cullinan Black Badge is a bit more powerful than the regular version. It features the same twin-turbo, 6.75-liter V-12 engine, but this mill has been revised to generate 592 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. That's an extra 29 horsepower and 37 pound-feet of twist compared to the regular Cullinan.

Is the 2020 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge quicker and faster than the standard model?

Rolls-Royce didn't release performance figures for the Black Badge model, but it's safe to say that the extra power and torque won't make much of a difference in a sprint from 0 to 60 mph. The regular Cullinan needs 4.5 seconds to get there, and the Black Badge model should be just as quick. The same applies to top speed ratings, as the Black Badge version should be limited to the same 155-mph mark.

How does the 2020 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge compare to its rivals?

As a super-luxury SUV, the Cullinan has just one rival, the Bentley Bentayga. Unlike the Cullinan, the Bentayga is available with four different drivetrains: a W-12, a V-8, a V-6 hybrid, and a V-8 diesel. Based on trim ranking alone, the Cullinan Black Badge is a competitor for the Bentley Bentayga Speed. This model comes with a twin-turbo, 6.0-liter W-12 rated at 626 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque under the hood. The Speed and the Black Badge feature identical torque, but the Bentayga wins the horsepower battle thanks to an extra 34 horses.

As far as performance goes, the Bentayga Speed hits 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, seven-tenths quicker than the Cullinan. The Speed also delivers a superior top speed at 190 mph, 35 mph more than the Black Badge. Actually, the Bentayga Speed is the fastest production SUV in the world, a title it shares with the Lamborghini Urus.

The more powerful engine mates to a revised eight-speed automatic transmission, but everything else remains mostly the same. Just like its regular counterpart, it features rear-axle steering. However, Rolls-Royce raised the braking point and decreased pedal travel to improve confidence while braking, while the new exhaust system allows the V-12 engine to growl louder than before.

How much does the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge cost?

The Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge starts from $382,000, which is some $50,000 more than the regular SUV. However, the Black Badge will easily exceed $430,000 with bespoke options.