2018 Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV. The first generation
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan is the brand’s first SUV and Rolls-Royce’s first all-wheel drive vehicle. Its first generation has been produced since 2018 (as of 2021). It is characterized not only by trivial and pretentious luxury, but also by excellent technical parameters which, unlike traditional sedans, allow you to drive your Rolls-Royce in places where you would not expect to meet this vehicle at all. Unlike other models of the brand, the SUV is targeted at independent drivers, not passengers with a personal driver.
The 2018/2019 Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV has no direct competitors in its segment, as it is a very individual vehicle. In fact, many RR fans were in disarray when they found out that the royal brand would come in the form of an SUV. Perhaps some people are afraid that the representatives of the royal families can find places on Earth without roads, after which they will find out that the loaves do not grow on the trees. And some people may fear that this SUV will remind them of their lives when they couldn’t afford luxury vehicles like Rolls-Royce.
Nonetheless, Rolls-Royce took this desperate step, considering the dominance of SUVs in the automotive market. Thus, Bentley brought out its Bentayga and Lamborghini presented its Urus. The younger brands, Range Rover, BMW X7 and Mercedes GLS, have increased their competitive pressure by stamping high-quality SUVs. Therefore, Rolls-Royce had no choice but to release a palace on wheels, name it the biggest diamond, put it on a solid chassis, equip it with a powerful engine and to present it to its demanding audience.
Exterior
Truth be told, the Rolls-Royce SUV evokes mixed feelings. If you look at its front face, a well-established stereotype tells you that the typical ‘sedan’ hood with the Spirit of Ecstasy sculpture hides 6 to 12 meters of a classic sedan behind. But if you start to walk around the Cullinan from any side, it suddenly turns out that it has only five meters of an SUV. It also looks like someone brought a Phantom to a TV show and said, ‘Xzibit, boost it! ’, and Xzibit said with a smile, ‘Ok! ’, after which he took an angle grinder and sawed off the rear of the sedan.
But if we dissociate ourselves from stereotypes, we must admit that the new Rolls-Royce Cullinan is a perfectly balanced and harmonious SUV. It becomes very clear when you look at it with a typical Rolls-Royce grille out of sight. At the same time, the exterior of the Cullinan is devilishly elegant with its straight, tight contours, perfectly checked geometry along the entire length. Its true greatness lies in finesse, not pretension, as the designers of Rolls-Royce remind us.
Interior
The length of five meters and the wheelbase of 3.3 meters made it possible to install a large box on the chassis and fill it with all kinds of comfort options and technologies that make the life of the driver and passengers Cullinan wonderful, amazing and exciting. There is plenty of space for everyone. You can stand up, you can lie down, if you want, you can dance ‘lezginka’ or ‘kalinka’, but it is better to do it on the street, so as not to damage the expensive coating of the Cullinan with your guns or golden heels. However, heels and guns can be put in the trunk, since its volume is 0.5 cubic meters, with the possibility of expanding to 1.8 cubic meters, since the seats and floor are adjustable.
It is important to note that the Cullinan comes standard with a drinks cabinet with whiskey and champagne glasses. There is a fridge for champagne. Ladies and gentlemen, the refrigerator is not for beer. Moreover, unlike other cars of this type, the trunk of the Cullinan is completely separated from the passenger compartment by the glass. This means that the trunk can be opened without distracting rear passengers. But you can see them, because the wall separating the trunk from the passenger compartment is made of glass.
The Cullinan is the first Rolls-Royce model to feature a touchscreen infotainment system, but the old rotary switch on the center console still remains. It can be used to configure satellite navigation, standard air suspension, or access live coverage from a panoramic camera system. In general, the Cullinan is built on the 'all-inclusive' principle: from the finest leather seats to air conditioning, satellite navigation system, power tailgate, heated and cooled seats and LED headlights. But if something isn’t there, then you can just demand it, and Rolls-Royce will do it all. Wi-Fi is available.
Engine and chassis
The 2020/2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan is built on an aluminum frame chassis, which is a version of the Rolls-Royce modular platform with the unexpected name ‘Luxury Architecture’. The Phantom VIII is built on the same platform. The SUV is powered by a 6.7-liter twin-turbo V12 engine producing 563 hp and accelerating to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, with a top speed of 250 km/h. The ZF 8-speed automatic transmission is the only transmission option for this SUV.
The vehicle uses a double wishbone front axle and a five wishbone rear axle. The SUV is equipped with an air suspension, which receives information from a road scan camera and automatically adjusts the height to compensate for road irregularities. A four-wheel steering system is standard to improve low-speed handling and high-speed stability. The entry-level version also has off-road modes that change the settings of the engine, suspension and transmission. As a result, the SUV can handle sandy terrain, gravel-strewn areas and snow-covered fields. The Rolls-Royce Cullinan can also overcome water obstacles over half a meter deep.
All of these off-road capabilities (and more) are designed to appeal to owners who prefer to drive on their own rather than pushing their personal driver with a diamond-tipped rod. The driver of the Cullinan is fully responsible for his vehicle and it is important to him that the 2.7 ton car is manoeuvrable and dynamic, which Rolls-Royce provides with a very sophisticated and technologically advanced suspension, a powerful engine and driver assistance options.
Reliability and safety
The new Rolls-Royce Cullinan is produced in small volumes and therefore has not been tested by Euro NCAP, NHTSA and IIHS. But Rolls-Royce’s reputation is such that it is unlikely to have released a dangerous car. The high level of safety is confirmed by the fact that the SUV has a solid platform, a very robust body and a full range of advanced driver assistance options. Moreover, it should not be forgotten that the Rolls-Royce brand is “dragged” on their mighty shoulders by two giants of the German auto industry, BMW and Volkswagen, together. So there is no need to fear for your safety when driving your Cullinan.
