The all new 2018 Rolls Royce Cullinan SUV has finally been revealed. It comes three years after the super luxury car maker had announced plans to make a ‘high bodied vehicle’. The Cullinan name is inspired from the largest diamond ever discovered that now resides in the British Crown Jewels. Rolls Royce their new SUV makes luxury travel ‘effortless everywhere’.
The new Cullinan gets its design inspired from the Phantom. Up front is the large trademark Rolls Royce front grille flanked by eyebrow style LED daytime running lamps. The side view reveals the suicide door layout that is a first for SUVs. The rear profile what Rolls Royce calls a two part ‘D-Back’ format that is the luggage compartment. It is also the first time that a Rolls Royce has an opening tail gate called ‘The Clasp’ that opens and closes in a split fashion via a button on the key fob. The Cullinan is the second Rolls Royce to be built on the all new aluminium ‘Architecture of Luxury’ platform after the new Phantom. Dimensions wise it measures 5341 mm in length, 2164 mm width, 1835 mm height and a wheelbase of 3295 mm. Boot space stands at 600 litres on the five seat variant and 526 litres on the four seat version.
On the interior, the Cullinan gets a beautifully crafted thick steering wheel, an all digital instrument cluster, a touch screen infotainment system and an analogue clock in the centre of the dash. The upper part of the dashboard is wrapped in ‘Box Grain’ black leather and gets 3d wooden panels below. Also note the rotary controller on the centre console that adorns the Sprit of Ecstasy. The Cullinan is offered in both five and four seater options. In the four seater, the rear gets individual seats with a drinks cabinet in the centre featuring champagne flutes and a refrigerator. There is also a glass partition between the second row of seats and the luggage area. This way temperature is maintained inside the cabin even if the tail gate is open. The other party trick is the ‘Viewing Suite’. AS part of this feature, two leather seats and a cocktail table extend from the tail gate at the press of a button.
Power comes from a 6.75 litre twin turbo V12 petrol engine that develops 571 horsepower and a whopping 850 Nm of torque that comes from as little as 1600 rpm. It has an electronically limited top speed of 250 kph.
The Cullinan comes with an all wheel drive system for the very first time. At the press of the ‘Off-Road’ button on the centre console, this Rolls Royce will be able to tackle all sorts of terrain from snow, mud, gravel, rock and grass. To keep the famed ‘Magic Carpet’ ride intact, the existing air suspension has been re-engineered that includes adding larger air struts with more air volume to cushion the blows of the toughest of terrains – the strengthening of drive and prop shafts, the inclusion of drive to the front wheels as well as the back for the first time. An air compression system is used to push down any wheel if loss of traction is detected making sure every wheel is touching the ground at all times.
While pricing hasnt been announced yet, expect the Rolls Royce Cullinan to reach Indian shore by the end of this year or early 2019 with an estimated price of Rs. 6 crore.
