Will Cullinan be ‘above rubies’?
Effortless. Everywhere. That is how Rolls-Royce define the sumptuous attributes of the new Cullinan, its highly anticipated and super-luxurious SUV that was revealed last month.
Named after the largest diamond ever discovered, near the town of Cullinan in South Africa, now part of the British Crown Jewels, the “all-terrain high-bodied car” makes the idea of “authentic, luxury off-road travel a reality”, according to Rolls-Royce.
It is the second Rolls-Royce to use the all-new aluminium ‘Architecture of Luxury’, and according to its maker, Cullinan is the most technologically advanced, and only purpose-built, luxury SUV in the world. The luxury car manufacturer adds that the contemporary and functional design of the Cullinan, the first “three-box” vehicle in the SUV-sector with a rear partition wall that creates a distinct environment for passengers, separate from the luggage compartment, will ensure that it gains “iconic status in the face of increasingly bland designs”.
However, while beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, at first glance the Cullinan is no gem of design purity. Its slab-sidedness and huge flat surfaces in a way reminiscent of its off-roader ancestor – the Rolls-Royce armoured cars of the First World War, made famous by T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia). Lawrence used a squadron of nine armoured Rolls-Royces in his operations against Turkish forces and described their value in the desert to be “above rubies”. It seems this impression stayed with him all his life, because when asked later in life what he thought would be the thing he would most value, he answered: “I should like my own Rolls-Royce car with enough tyres and petrol to last me all my life.”
Quite an endorsement from a true adventurer and trailblazer. In much the same fashion as those intrepid armoured cars, the Cullinan was tested to destruction all over the planet, during which the ‘Magic Carpet Ride’ suspension settings were further developed for off-road enjoyment, ostensibly without sacrificing any of its Rolls-Royce on-road behaviour.
A thorough re-engineering of the existing air suspension system, including adding larger air struts with more air volume, the strengthening of drive and prop shafts, the inclusion of all-wheel drive for the first time in Rolls-Royce history, and the complete reworking of the new 6.75 litre twin-turbo V12 Rolls-Royce engine has ensured that the Cullinan will travel to places no Rolls has gone before.
The engine delivers a healthy 420 kW and 850 Nm of torque at just 1,600 rpm to the all-new all-wheel steer system, and with the single “Everywhere” button all the off-road capability of the Cullinan can be unleashed. Once engaged, it glides over any surface, whether it be rough track, gravel, wet grass, mud, snow, or sand delivering torque to all four wheels without interruption. The Cullinan has the deepest wading depth of any super-luxury SUV – 540 mm – at its highest ride height.
Inside, two rear passenger seat configurations are offered – Lounge Seats or Individual Seats. The Lounge Seat configuration is the more functional, with space for three passengers in the rear. It folds electronically in a number of configurations by pressing the appropriate button in the boot or rear door pocket. The Individual Seat configuration is for those who value ultimate luxury. The two individual rear seats are separated by a Fixed Rear Centre Console incorporating a drinks cabinet and refrigerator.
The rear compartment offers 560 litres of space, growing to 600 with the parcel shelf removed. A loading length of 2245 mm and load capacity of 1886 litres is accessed by electronically raising the boot floor. A glass partition isolates the passenger cabin from the luggage compartment, and the car lowers itself by 40 mm to make entry effortless through the big coach doors, and the tailgate, called ‘The Clasp’, a first in a Rolls-Royce, opens and closes in two sections at the touch of the key fob button.
The Cullinan is clearly a Rolls-Royce as never seen before. Sir Henry Royce could have had Cullinan in mind when he said, “Strive for perfection in everything you do. Take the best that exists and make it better. When it does not exist, design it”. And Lawrence of Arabia in his beloved armoured Silver Ghost called “Blue Mist” may have approved. But whether the Cullinan will prove itself to be “above rubies”, remains to be seen …
The vehicle: Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Engine: V12 petrol twin-turbo
Displacement: 6,750 cc
Maximum power: 420 kW @ 5,000 rpm
Maximum torque: 850 Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic, AWD
Top speed: 250 km/h (limited)
Consumption: 15 l/100 km (combined cycle)
CO2 Emission: 341 g/km
– Paul van Gass
