Rolls-Royce is well-known for flaunting its luxury offerings, and the Cullinan is no exception. According to CEO Torsten Müller Ötvös, this vehicle is the company’s response to history and those who value freedom.
He claims that the Cullinan “dramatically advances the boundaries of super-luxury travel. It is effortless, everywhere.”
The release of the Cullinan also marks the company’s delayed and polarizing entry into the booming market of SUVs. The rise of luxury SUVs, which are designed with capabilities that the majority of their users may never need or use, has been a source of controversy.
How much does a Cullinan cost?
Depending on one’s perspective, the Cullinan may be seen as the height of automotive engineering or as an extravagant and unnecessary expense with a price tag of nearly £300k.
Cullinan’s structure incorporates an “Architecture of Luxury” that is based on that of the Phantom.
This includes a modular aluminum spaceframe with castings at each corner and extrusions in between.
The structure has been reworked to sit higher and shorter than that of the Phantom, and it features a split tailgate, known as “The Clasp” by Rolls-Royce, which provides additional versatility.
Additionally, the new chassis is 30% stiffer than the previous one, which improves the vehicle’s ability to handle the demands of a super-sized 4×4.
In addition to the Phantom’s inherent smoothness and serenity, the Cullinan is equipped with all the software and hardware necessary to navigate any terrain with ease, much like how early Rolls-Royce patron T.E Lawrence repurposed his car, allegedly stolen from a woman at a Cairo nightclub, into a sturdy and resilient war vehicle.
It’s fair to say that Cullinan’s design has elicited a range of opinions, with some comparing it to a London taxi or the Canyonero from The Simpsons, and others having less favorable views.
Some have suggested that a shallower glass area could have improved the proportions, but the Cullinan is intentionally designed to be a mobile viewing platform, and as a result, it lacks the Phantom’s chunky privacy C-pillar.
The Cullinan is 5.3 meters long, 2.1 meters wide, and 1.8 meters tall and weighs 2660 kg unladen. Its surfaces are elegantly finished, like the Phantom, and it exudes a sense of drama.
Its laser headlights, complete with frosted elements, and vertical and horizontal lines give it a face that Rolls-Royce compares to that of a warrior, though the specific historical era is not specified.
The hood sits higher than the front wings to accentuate the car’s rugged capabilities, and the traditional Parthenon grille is crafted from hand-polished stainless steel and sits prominently on the bodywork.
Eleanor, the Spirit of Ecstasy, the iconic statue on the bonnet of a Rolls-Royce, is also placed higher, but she doesn’t wear North Face Puffer or anything like that.
The Cullinan features strong metal touchpoints and the protective spears above the sills serve to break up the volume of the body. It has “coach” doors, whose handles are somewhat eye-catching, but it also has a rear “bustle” that nods to the 1930s Rolls D-Back.
In the past, people used to travel with their possessions separately in a trunk, and as such, an interior glass partition can be ordered to separate the trunk from the passenger cabin.
Even if one is not a fan of the concept of a large, fast, heavy SUV, the Cullinan’s execution is undeniable.
Rolls-Royce cars are always more than the sum of their parts, and the Cullinan is an intriguing example of engineering excellence.
It is an entertainment experience as much as it is a means of transportation and a very good one at that.
