Eyes everywhere were anxiously watching the digital countdown, waiting for the covers to lift off of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan – the belated, yet loud answer to Bentley’s uber-luxurious Bentayga.
The Goodwood-based bespoke carmaker has unveiled the latest member of its product portfolio to wear the Spirit of Ecstasy insignia on Thursday.
Named the Cullinan, it’s the marque’s first luxury SUV and it is poised to take the fight to the Bentley Bentayga, not only in price but also luxury and performance.
THE ROLLS-ROYCE OF SUVS
On the luxury front, the Cullinan features all the usual Rolls-Royce bells and whistles, but with somewhat of a twist. According to RR, it not only strives to set the Cullinan apart as an off-roader, but also as a limousine for everyday use with an additional practical ace up its sleeve thanks to a maximum load capacity of 1,930 litres.
Besides what looks to be impressive off-road and on-road performance thanks to its V12, 6.75-litre twin-turbo engine, that produces 420 kW of power and 850 Nm of turning power, the Rolls also features a new generation of air-suspension that, on paper, mimics a magic carpet ride. It also boasts four-wheel steering.
“Cullinan is incomparable and redefines the parameters of super-luxury travel, translating Rolls-Royce’s ethos of ‘Effortlessness’ into physical capability, anywhere in the world. It will simply take the world in its stride,” says Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
The Cullinan will be put through its paces as Rolls-Royce aims to undertake an epic journey documented by National Geographic that will see the Cullinan conquer real-world terrain in Northern Europe, the Middle East and the United States ahead of its global debut.
