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Rolls-Royce Cullinan

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Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Overview
ManufacturerRolls-Royce Motor Cars
Production2018–present
AssemblyUnited Kingdom: West Sussex, England (Goodwood plant)
DesignerGiles Taylor[1]
Body and chassis
ClassFull-size luxury SUV/station wagon (US)[2]
Body style5-door SUV
LayoutFront-engine, four-wheel-drive layout
PlatformArchitecture of Luxury
DoorsConventional doors (front)/Coach doors (rear)
RelatedRolls-Royce Phantom VIII
Rolls-Royce Ghost
Rolls-Royce Spectre
Powertrain
Engine6.75 L N74B68 twin-turbocharged V12 (petrol)
Transmission8-speed 8HP automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase3,295 mm (129.7 in)[3]
Length5,341 mm (210.3 in)[3]
Width2,000 mm (78.7 in) (with mirrors: 2,164 mm (85.2 in))
Height1,835 mm (72.2 in)[3]
Kerb weight2,660 kg (5,864.3 lb)[3]

The Rolls-Royce Cullinan is a full-sized luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV) manufactured by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars as the brand's first all-wheel drive vehicle.[4] It is named after the Cullinan Diamond, the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever discovered.[4]

The Cullinan sits above the Ghost and below the Phantom in Rolls-Royce's line,[5] with a starting price in the United States of approximately US$325,000 (£255,000).[4][6] It was unveiled in May 2018 at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Italy,[7] and launched globally at an Autumn press event later that year in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, US.[8][9]

Rolls-Royce announced the Cullinan Series II will begin production in August 2024 as a 2025 model year.[10]

Overview

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Rear view

In 2015 it was reported that a design was in the works and that the name would be Cullinan.[11] This was due to its competitors such as Bentley and Lamborghini venturing into the SUV business with the Bentayga and the Urus respectively. At the 2015 Frankfurt Auto Show, Rolls-Royce's CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös said that the SUV will be revealed in 2018 and be on the market in 2019.[12]

The name "Cullinan" was confirmed by Rolls-Royce on 13 February 2018.[13][14] It is named after the Cullinan Diamond, the largest diamond ever found at 3100 carats.[15]

As of 2019 the British carmaker claimed that despite expanding production and hiring more employees, there simply wasn't enough supply to satisfy the demand fuelled by brand loyalist and new-found female, younger buyers.[16] In the US, it is not exempt from the Gas Guzzler Tax because it is classified as a station wagon rather than an SUV.[17]

Rolls-Royce announced the Cullinan Series II will begin production in August 2024 as a 2025 model year.[10]

Design and testing

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Design

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Most of the Cullinan's exterior design has been adapted from the novel 8th generation Rolls-Royce Phantom such as the front grille and the headlights.

The interior features a new leather applied seats and wooden appliances. The car has new leather camping seats known as the "cocktail suit" which is deployed from the luggage compartment. This car is the only Rolls-Royce to have a glass partition between the luggage compartment and the passenger compartment.

The Cullinan features various driving modes and among them, the off-road mode gives the car its full potential. It also has a dynamic suspension system that changes its height by 40 mm at off-road mode.[18]

  • Cullinan with the rear suicide doors open
    Cullinan with the rear suicide doors open
  • Front Cockpit
    Front Cockpit
  • rear passenger compartment
    rear passenger compartment
  • Camping seats in the boot
    Camping seats in the boot

Testing phase

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The car is reported to have started its testing phase on 2 January 2016,[19] and has since been seen testing on snow.[20][21][22]

The final tests were conducted with the partnership of National Geographic in 2018 and it was tested in various terrains.[23]

Specifications and performance

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Platform

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The Cullinan uses an aluminium spaceframe chassis; this is a version of Rolls-Royce's modular "Architecture of Luxury" platform.[3] This platform made its debut in the Phantom VIII.[5]

Suspension

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The Cullinan uses a double-wishbone front axle and a 5-link rear axle.[3] It is fitted with self-levelling air suspension and electronically controlled dampers front and rear.[24] It is also equipped with electrically actuated active anti-roll bars.[5]

The Cullinan is also fitted with a stereo camera integrated into the front windscreen that scans the road ahead and adjusts the suspension proactively so as to improve ride quality. This system, dubbed "The Flagbearer" by Rolls-Royce, operates at speeds of up to 100 km/h (62 mph).[25] Michael Snell, Marketing Manager of the Americas for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA stated, "Even with the updated improvements to Cullinan's suspension and drive systems, the ride experience has not been compromised as the vehicle still retains our signature "Magic Carpet Ride"[26] experience while you drive over any terrain."[27]

Like the Phantom VIII, the Cullinan employs a four-wheel steering system to improve both maneuverability at low speeds and stability at higher speeds.[4]

Powertrain

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The Cullinan is exclusively available with a twin-turbocharged 6.75-litre V12 engine.[3] ZF's 8HP 8-speed automatic transmission is the Cullinan's sole gearbox option.[4] The Cullinan uses a permanent all-wheel drive system.[5]

Performance data[3][6]
Model Engine type Displacement Power Torque Top speed
Cullinan Twin-turbocharged V12 6.75 L (412 cu in) 571 PS; 563 hp (420 kW) @ 5,000 rpm 850 N⋅m (627 lb⋅ft) @ 1,600 rpm 250 km/h (155 mph)
Cullinan Black Badge Twin-turbocharged V12 6.75 L (412 cu in) 600 PS; 591 hp (441 kW) @ 5,000 rpm 900 N⋅m (664 lb⋅ft) @ 1,600 rpm 250 km/h (155 mph)

Variants

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Black Badge Cullinan

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Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge front
Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge rear

The Black Cullinan is a special edition of the Cullinan which is performance based. Its exterior features are painted black (including the Spirit of Ecstasy) and its Interior consists of carbon fibre applications. The leather used in the interior is black and borders are coloured according to the exterior colour.

The current production car with the Rolls-Royce Black Badge marque along with this car is the Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge.[28]

Series II

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Rolls-Royce announced the Cullinan Series II will begin production in August 2024 as a 2025 model year.[10] The Series II will retain the original V12 engine, but will implement new interior materials, broader customization opportunities, and a thoroughly updated tech suite and larger 23-inch wheels.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "British Car Designers Are Being Snapped Up by Chinese Automakers". Bloomberg. 1 February 2019.
  2. ^ "2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan".
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Effortless Everywhere: The Rolls-Royce Cullinan". BMW Group Pressclub. 10 May 2018. Archived from the original on 11 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e Duff, Mike (May 2018). "2019 Rolls-Royce Cullinan: Diamond for the Rough". Car and Driver. Archived from the original on 11 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d Cropley, Steve (10 May 2018). "Rolls-Royce Cullinan revealed: exclusive pictures of luxury SUV". Autocar. Archived from the original on 11 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  6. ^ a b MacKenzie, Angus (10 May 2018). "2019 ROLLS-ROYCE CULLINAN FIRST LOOK". Motor Trend. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  7. ^ "BMW Blog article about the Cullinan". BMW Blog (not affiliated with BMW AG). 27 May 2018. Archived from the original on 28 May 2018.
  8. ^ "LUXURY EVENT OF THE YEAR TO TAKE PLACE IN JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING AS ROLLS-ROYCE LAUNCHES CULLINAN". BMW Group Pressclub. BMW Group.
  9. ^ "Rolls-Royce Cullinan Goes Off-Road with Grace and Style". Robb Report. 9 November 2018.
  10. ^ a b c "First Drive: The 2025 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II". 7 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Is Rolls-Royce Cullinan a better name than Bentley Bentayga?". Auto Express. Archived from the original on 16 October 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  12. ^ "Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV begins testing for 2018 release". Auto Express. Archived from the original on 8 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  13. ^ "Confirmed: Rolls-Royce SUV, thy name is Cullinan". Roadshow. 13 February 2018. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  14. ^ "Rolls-Royce Confirms Cullinan Name for SUV - Motor Trend". Motor Trend. 13 February 2018. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  15. ^ Banks, Nargess. "Rolls-Royce Names First Luxurious SUV Cullinan". Forbes. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  16. ^ "Rolls-Royce races to catch up to demand for Cullinan". Automotive News Europe. 16 February 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  17. ^ "The Rolls-Royce Cullinan Gets Better MPG than the Lamborghini Urus". Car and Driver. 8 October 2018.
  18. ^ "Cullinan - In Detail". www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  19. ^ "Is Rolls-Royce Cullinan a better name than Bentley Bentayga?". Auto Express. Archived from the original on 16 October 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  20. ^ "2017 Rolls-Royce 'Cullinan' SUV test mule spied | Autocar". Autocar. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  21. ^ "Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV spotted dancing on ice". Auto Express. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  22. ^ "2017 Rolls-Royce SUV Cullinan Price, Specs, Release date". NiceCarsInfo.com. Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  23. ^ "Cullinan: The Final Challenge". www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  24. ^ Barlow, Jason (10 May 2018). "Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV: this is it". Top Gear. Archived from the original on 11 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  25. ^ Groves, Jake (10 May 2018). "A diamond for the rough: all-new Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV arrives". Car Magazine. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  26. ^ "Architecture of Luxury - The Heart Of The New Rolls-Royce Cullinan". BMW BLOG. 11 October 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  27. ^ "Rolls-Royce Cullinan takes the magic carpet ride off-road". www.msn.com. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  28. ^ "Black Badge Cullinan". www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
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