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Rolls-Royce has ended months, nay years, of speculation with the reveal of the Cullinan, the company's first ever 4x4. Don't call it an SUV, though. While Rolls acknowledges the growing desire for such vehicles, the Cullinan isn't one, apparently. Instead, it's an 'all-terrain high-sided car.' We love the way Rolls-Royce names things...
On the engineering front, the Cullinan is, in essence, a taller Phantom and uses the same aluminium 'Architecture Of Luxury' chassis, and the same engine. That means that it's running a 6.75-litre V12 petrol engine, which produces 571hp and 850Nm of torque. It drives all four wheels, of course, running through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Rolls-Royce claims that it will hit a top speed of 250km/h (electronically limited) and has combined fuel consumption of 15 litres per 100km, or 18mpg. The emissions rating, as if anyone cares, is 341g/km.
Given that the Cullinan takes its name from the largest diamond ever found, one which now finds itself at the heart of the British royal family's crown jewels, this Rolls was always going to push the boat out when it came to luxury. It takes its interior largely from the Phantom saloon, so gets the same mixture of high-class leather and acres of wood, with an almost endless appetite for personalisation. The only major difference, up front, is that next to the rotary controller for the infotainment system there's a simple button marked 'Off-Road.'
Its 22-inch wheels are carried by air suspension, which automatically lowers by 40mm when stopped to make ingress and egress rather easier, and as soon as you start the engine and press the button to electrically close those massive doors, the Cullinan raises up again to its normal ride height. Stretch it upwards for off-roading and the Cullinan has a 540mm wading depth, which Rolls claims is the deepest water that can be traversed by any super-luxury SUV model.
It's in the back that the Cullinan shows its true colours, though. You can have to different rear seat layouts - a three-person bench, called the 'Lounge' layout (which electrically split-folds, assuming you might need to bring your Roller to IKEA), or you can have two individual seats, separated by a huge centre console, in which you'll find (of course) a drinks cabinet with Rolls-Royce whisky glasses and decanter, champagne flutes and fridge.
Behind either layout is the boot, and Rolls says that it's kept a little of the saloon-like character of its traditional models here. Partially, that's down to the styling, which does incorporate a discreet if distinct 'bustle' that puts one slightly in mind of a traditional boot, but it's more to do with the glass bulkhead. Citing that, historically, 'one never travelled with one's luggage' Rolls has fitted a huge glass separator between the rear seats and the boot, which is designed to eliminate noise coming into the main cabin from the rear compartment. It also means that the cabin can be kept at the desired temperature even when the boot is open, and it's what allows Rolls to claim that this is the first 'three-box' SUV. Sorry, all-terrain high-sided car. If you wish to carry long loads, Rolls-Royce claims that the Cullinan has a longer load length than the long-wheelbase Range Rover, and the boot floor can be electrically raised to match the load height of the folded seat backs.
The tailgate is also not a tailgate. Rolls-Royce calls it 'The Clasp' and it opens in two sections, electrically of course, and for those who wish to use their Cullinan as a sports viewing platform, or for the ultimate in luxury picnicking, there are powered fold-out seats, and a small central table, that whirr from within the 560-600-litre boot, allowing one to survey one's land from the comfort of one's own tailgate. I mean Clasp.
Rolls will also offer what it calls the Rolls-Royce Recreation Module, a system of electric drawers and compartments that slot into the boot and contains all of whatever one might need for "fly fishing, photography, rock climbing, snowboarding, parascending, kite boarding, base jumping, volcano boarding or simply sitting and taking in the view."
The Cullinan's tech spec is impressive, too, as it 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 7x3 High-Resolution Head-Up Display, Wi-Fi hotspot, and of course the latest Navigation and Entertainment Systems.
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A word from Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars: "The super-luxury lifestyle is evolving and Rolls-Royce is in the lead. 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."