Rolls-Royce Cullinan Keys to a New Generation of Luxury SUVs
Rolls-Royce is known for making luxurious cars that appeal to the wealthy who want to travel the world and cruise off into the sunset in comfort. Cullinan is the company's first SUV and it aims to pry those who are wealthy away from their Range Rovers and Bentaygas.
Its innovative architecture and new technologies deliver iconic design, unparalleled space and usability, as also unparalleled off-road and on-road capability.
Effortless Everywhere
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan was designed for those who view travel as a work of art, a way to live. This means that it has to be as easy off-road as a highway. The brand's latest SUV, billed as the "first all-terrain Rolls-Royce," makes that possibility a reality. Its innovative features reflect a legacy that is rooted in perfection and mastery.
What's more, the Cullinan doesn't just take care of bumps and imperfections -- it omits them completely. Its supple suspension makes the road feel like a silky carpet.
During our test drive of the Cullinan We drove off-road, both on dirt and gravel, as well as on paved roads with potholes and other imperfections. The Keylab -wheel drive and oversized wheels let it tackle difficult terrain with confidence. It comes with a low-riding suspension system that allows it to crawl over obstacles and rocks without causing damage to its bottom.
In addition to its all-terrain capability, the Cullinan has plenty of advanced technology to make the owner's journeys as effortless as possible. The SUV features forward-collision alerts with automatic emergency brakes, night vision vision assist, a camera system that helps you park or drive through tight spaces with adaptive cruise control, as well as warnings for lane departure. It also has a WiFi Hotspot, navigation and an industry-leading Head-Up Display.
The Cullinan also comes with the kind of rock-solid build quality that a wealthy person would expect. Every switch, knob, and touchpoint feels as though it's been designed to last for a thousand years at which point it may require a bit of sweat to keep it working. Its cabin is decked out in chrome, wood, and leather -- with the Spirit of Ecstasy looking down on the driver and passengers from its perch above the dash.
While the Cullinan's cabin is packed with the latest technology, it lacks certain gadgets that younger drivers may desire. It doesn't have the kinds of driver aids that provide lane-keeping and semi-autonomous highway driving, or the kind of connected gizmos that are becoming more common in cars.
The Clasp
Cullinan offers unrivaled off-road capabilities by pressing one button, which is known as Everywhere' by Rolls Royce engineers. The driver can adjust the SUV's air suspension to absorb any bumps or ruts that may occur along the way. In addition, the drive and propel shafts ensure that all 850Nm is sent to the front and rear wheels at the right time.
Cullinan is the first Rolls-Royce to feature a tailgate, with the rear doors opening in a similar manner as pickup trucks. It's a design element that creates a more three-box appearance and increases the SUV's impressive appearance. It also provides access to the cargo area, which offers 21 cubic feet of space with the rear seats up with the floor sitting lower than the base of the seatbacks to keep items from sliding around.
The main cabin of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan is more practical than any Rolls-Royce production vehicle before. The rear passengers, for example, sit higher than the front passengers, allowing them to have a better view of the world beyond their car. The rear bench can be set up in a variety of ways to suit your needs.
To complement the more utilitarian design the rear-view mirrors have been reshaped and toned down in appearance, while the Rolls-Royce badge is placed on its own smaller plinth separate from the number plate housing with just a small strip of gold to add some flair. The rear lights are similarly utilitarian, having two narrow upright units that house the lights and only a single strip of jewellery at their centre.
Cullinan in addition to the obvious advantages of a more practical layout, is also the most accommodating Rolls-Royce for families ever. The rear bench can be set for three people. The open-air roof is standard and provides plenty of room to stretch out. The Immersive Seating configuration allows drivers to enjoy their surroundings in comfort, wrapped in the finest leather. A whisky decanter and Champagne cooler can be put in the central console to enhance the sense of luxury.
The Rear Passenger Compartment
The Cullinan The Cullinan, an exclusive Rolls-Royce like none before it, is both identical and distinct. It's large, extravagant and opens up the brand to a whole new generation of customers who will be happy to drive it in areas which other luxury SUVs shy away from. Jackson Hole in Wyoming, where the SUV is made is one of them.
The vertical lines that run across the front doors and along the raised bonnet edge and into the skid plates, convey a confident determination to achieve your goals. This SUV is ready to conquer the world. The massive wheels and the slender silhouette of the roofline create an imposing stance, which communicates a robust character.
Rolls-Royce engineers have designed an original design for this car that combines an exquisite interior with unparalleled off-road capabilities and uncompromising comfort. In the process they have created a vehicle that is both practical and truly iconic.
The large glazed area on the world's most popular panoramic glass roof lets passengers on the rear of the vehicle to enjoy a panoramic view of their surroundings. If they want to know their current location around the globe the rear touchscreen map lets them focus on it.
The seat backs in the rear are able to be folded down. This allows for an ample cargo space. With just a touch of a button they can be easily reduced without damaging the cushion. They can be split into a 2/3 or 1/3 configuration to improve the efficiency of the car.
Once on their destination, the occupants can take a step into and out of their Rolls-Royce in total comfort, with legs shielded from dirt thanks to a design that has both front and rear doors of the coach swathe low beneath the sill. This allows the occupants of the Rolls-Royce to enter and exit comfortably and with their legs shielded from dirt, because of the design that wraps both the front and rear coach doors low beneath the sill.
Once inside, guests can toast their success by sipping a whisky from the bottle holder that stows behind the front seats. When they're relaxed, they can settle into the heated and massaging rear seats and utilize the shoulder, neck, and leg rests.
The Glass Partition
The Cullinan which has a starting price of $325,000 is unlike any other vehicle that has left the Goodwood factory of Rolls-Royce in its 114-year history. It's not just that it has an all-wheel-drive system, but also a button that reads "Off Road," and an adjustable ride height. (Rolls-Royce is an established company with a long tradition of vehicles for overland travel that date back to T.E. Lawrence's 1914 armored car). No, it's because this SUV is designed to be a family car that's meant to be driven by the owners, rather than in the hands of the chauffeur.
That means it's the first SUV with an interior passenger compartment that can hold three in comfort and still leave room for luggage and gear. It offers a variety of immersive seating options including back-seat massage chairs. The centre console can also be fitted with champagne coolers as well as two Rolls-Royce Champagne flutes and whisky decanters.
The Spirit of Ecstasy is what really sets this Rolls-Royce apart from the Bentaygas and Range Rovers that have been in competition for the attention of wealthy customers in recent years. This hood ornament is an ongoing reminder that the Cullinan isn't just your standard SUV.
I was also awed by the stoicism of Rolls-Royce's cabin. While some manufacturers are splattering their cabins with ever-deeper layers technology, the Cullinan is clean and simple display at the top of the central stack that looks very similar to traditional gauges.
Box-grain leather is one the most noticeable changes to the previous Rolls-Royce models. This kind of leather is made by pressing a metal frame into the hide and applying lacquer, resulting in an inky-black finish that is durable and more durable than the smooth leather used in other luxury vehicles.
The Cullinan is an SUV that combines all the characteristics that make them so well-known. However, it does have a few negatives. It's most importantly it's an absurd amount of money to spend on an SUV, not even one as well-appointed as this. If you want to buy a Cullinan, you'll likely need to sell a couple pieces of art or skip your summer in Nice.