Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV revealed 10 | 05 | 2018

ROLLS-ROYCE HAS lifted its sizeable wraps from its new Cullinan SUV. Likely to cost around £23,000, order books have been open for sometime, with first deliveries expected at the very end of this year, or early in 2019. (Exclusive — We test the electric Rolls-Royce in Edinburgh)

Not only is this the first Rolls-Royce SUV, but its also the first RR with a tailgate. According to company bigwigs, the Cullinan is “a proper go-anywhere 4x4”, though they quickly back that up by stating it has to be “effortless, everywhere". (Related: Company Profile — Leven Car Company)

As you would expect, it’s not small. Measuring 5341mm in length, it’s only 2mm longer than a Ghost. That’s as maybe: because it’s also a whopping 216mm wider at 2164mm. It also sits 80mm lower than a Range Rover long wheelbase.

The Cullinan is fitted with a two-stage tailgate, and the design hints at a separate luggage compartment. In fact, in some models it is actually partitioned off by a glass panel. The rear also accommodates what Rolls-Royce calls a fully automated ‘viewing suite’. This includes two seats that fold and swing out of a cassette in the luggage area and sit over the rear bumper for owners to perch on.

Powered by a the same 6.75-litre twin turbo V12 engine it shares with Rolls-Royce’s flagship, the sumptuous Phantom, the Cullinan also sits on an all-aluminium chassis. Specially tuned to deliver 850Nm of torque from 1600rpm, the V12’s peak power is rated at 563bhp. Top speed is 155mph, and as you would expect, RR won’t quote a 0-60mph time.

And while it gets four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering, the Cullinan has an official fuel consumption of just 18.8mpg — much less in the real world — and emits 341g/km CO2. Will that bother the average Cullinan owner? Not one bit.

Rolls-Royce has designed the SUV — which will compete with Bentley’s Bentayga in the luxurious off-road segment — with electrification in mind, and has ensured the chassis can accommodate the new powerplant in the future.

Fitted with air suspension, the Cullinan also gets larger air struts than those on Phantom. The result is more air volume provides Rolls-Royce’s magic carpet ride over the very worst terrain. And while it will cope with the bumpy ride, it also drop down 40mm to ensure “easy access for all.”

Located between the two front seats is the ‘Everywhere’ button which electronically changes the car’s settings. The result is what Rolls-Royce claims is the most serene ride over the most challenging surfaces anywhere in the world.

Fitted within the windscreen, a stereo camera monitors the surface ahead. Instantly it adjusts the suspension to cope with what’s coming, and is further aided by the navigation system preparing the gearbox for the road ahead thanks to its three-dimensional mapping. Oh! And if you need to wade a river, the Cullinan is capable of a wading depth of 540mm.

But it’s inside where the big SUV delivers its most iconic Rolls-Royce benefits. Not surprisingly there’s the usual array of the world’s very best woods, leathers and metals. Access to the rear seats is via typically Rolls-Royce rear-hinged coach doors. And don’t worry about getting your trousers or skirt mucky: all four doors clamp over the sills to prevent dirt accumulating.

But this is very much a driver’s Rolls-Royce: it’s not one for the chauffeur. Up front there’s a functional dash layout which features a symmetrical facia. This is supplemented by simple connections, plus Rolls’ version of BMW’s excellent iDrive infotainment system. Technology is at the forefront of driver and passenger safety, with night vision — with pedestrian and wildlife detection, —adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning systems all fitted as standard.

As for stowage? Without the viewing seat — mentioned above — the Cullinan can stow 555-litres of expensive leather luggage. This increases to 600 litres with the luggage cover removed. The SUV also has a maximum load length of 2245mm.

If you prefer a more family-friendly format, you can opt for a folding rear three-seat bench and maximum luggage capacity of 1930 litres. Alternatively, you can choose two more luxurious fixed chairs. Either option sits higher than the front seats for a ‘Pavillion’ view forward.

“The super-luxury lifestyle is evolving and Rolls-Royce is in the lead,” Torsten Müller-Ötvös, chief executive officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said at today’s unveiling. Luxury is no longer an urban concept. More and more it is about embracing and experiencing the wider world.

“Our customers expect to go everywhere in luxury, effortlessly and without compromise, conquering the most challenging terrain to enjoy life’s most enriching experiences, wherever they may be. For this reason, they have asked us to create a Rolls-Royce that offers uncompromised luxury wherever they dare to venture. Cullinan is that car. It is Effortless, Everywhere.

“It is incomparable and dramatically evolves the parameters of super-luxury travel, translating Rolls-Royce’s ethos of ‘Effortlessness’ into physical capability, anywhere in the world. Cullinan will simply take the world in its stride.”

Related: Roadtest — Rolls-Royce 102EX Phantom

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Jim McGill