The Cullinan: Like a diamond in the desert

YOCHANAAN COETZEERolls-Royce chief executive officer Torsten Müller-Ötvös is to unveil the luxury automaker's first SUV, the Cullinan. Not that this is the first time a Rolls has rolled over gravel.In his quest against the Ottoman Turks, Lawrence of Arabia employed a force of nine armoured Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts, which, according to legend, never broke down despite the harsh conditions they had to endure.The new 'high-bodied' high roller is a feat of mechanical mastery and is set to take luxury travel to places not before seen.Named after the largest diamond ever found at a mine in Gauteng in 1905, the Cullinan takes glamorous luxury and gives it the go-anywhere capability that the market currently finds so fashionable.Heavy-duty high-rollerAccording to the company, the Cullinan was tested in the searing deserts of Africa and the Middle East and the freezing snow of the Arctic Circle; from the grassy glens of the Scottish Highlands to the towering canyons of North America.It's the second new Rolls-Royce to sit on the all-new aluminium 'Architecture of Luxury', so it shares the same impeccable ride as its limo sibling, the new Phantom. It has however been stiffened up by 40% to accommodate its size and its off-road aspirations.Might of a monarchThe reworked 6.75-litre, twin-turbo V12 Rolls-Royce engine delivers 420 kW /850 Nm, mated to all-new all-wheel-drive system, the first in the company's history.If the 563 hp doesn't do it for you, then the fact that you have a monstrous 627 lb ft of torque available from just 1 600 rpm should be a big enough trump card to play when you and your millionaire motorhead buddies get together.Bespoke in every wayBeing a Rolls-Royce and having an interior too fancy for the average salaried person to even comprehend, I'll not even touch on it at this point, because I doubt I have the vocabulary needed to truly encapsulate the near-exorbitant elegance of the Cullinan's interior.One must, however, look at how this new model was designed to be more of a lifestyle vehicle than just a large, plush limo.The first of these authentic bespoke features is the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Viewing Suite.Designed and engineered at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, the Rolls-Royce Viewing Suite is automatically deployed at the touch of a button. Two rear-facing, beautifully contemporary, fine leather chairs and a cocktail table gracefully emerge from within the rear compartment of Cullinan.From there, owners can take in the world's most breath-taking vistas or view a sports event or oversee the Chinese contractor they brought in to finish the job that paid for their plush new ride.It's also the first “three-box” car in the SUV-sector. Cullinan's rear partition wall creates a distinct environment for passengers, separated from the luggage compartment.Even the sitting positions in the car denote class, with the rear occupants sitting slightly higher than the help at the helm.The Cullinan is truly a masterpiece on paper and it will be interesting to see how it fares against the premium competitors such as the Bentayga.Pricing and regional availability are yet to be confirmed, but it's safe to say that if price is a concern, you should look elsewhere.Watch the press for more details in the coming weeks.

The Cullinan: Like a diamond in the desert

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Republikein 2025-09-17

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The Cullinan: Like a diamond in the desert

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Republikein 2025-09-17

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