After months of teasing, testing and bragging, Rolls-Royce finally unveils what we have been impatiently waiting for, its first – elegant and stylish – contribution to the SUV world.
Lo and behold, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
The Cullinan is everything we expected it to be externally; a massive, boxy, luxury truck with a commanding look that sports the opulent Rolls-Royce signature grille. It sits on the all-new aluminium ‘Architecture of Luxury’ shared with the Phantom.
Under the hood, a 6.75 Litre twin-turbo V12 dished out 563 horsepower and a whopping 672 lb-ft of torque. According to Rolls-Royce, the Cullinan achieves unparalleled handling, comfort and off-road capabilities thanks to its all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering systems as well as its light architecture and self-levelling air suspension.
Of course, the cabin is designed for royalty and royalty only. It has all the usual tech one would expect from a luxury SUV: 4-Camera system with Panoramic View, WiFi hotspot, a total of five USB ports, but also security and driver assistance features like Active Cruise Control, Collision Warning, Cross-Traffic Warning, and all related systems.
But it wouldn’t be a Rolls-Royce without posh refinements reserved for the privileged. For example, the Cullinan’s rear seat can be ordered in two different configurations – Lounge seats or Individual Seats. The ladder comes with a console that has, you guessed it, a handy drinks cabinet with Rolls-Royce whisky glasses and decanter, a few champagne flutes and a refrigerator.
Touch the start button and the Cullinan elevates itself 40mm to its standard ride height, placing its passenger(s) in the perfect position to look down on peasants as it drives off, a glass of 100-year-old whiskey in hand.
For all you caviar-eating, fine wine-collecting one percenters out there, the pocket change required to acquire the 2019 Rolls-Royce Cullinan is 325,000$US. That’s 415 000$CAD.
For the rest of us, that’s the price of a house with a garage in a very respectable neighbourhood. Then again, you can sleep in a truck, but you can’t drive a house!
