04.03
Rolls-Royce Latest:
The luxury SUV bug has bitten its share of automakers in recent years. Up to now, Rolls-Royce has been an exception. Come 2015, luxury automaker has confirmed it is working on an SUV of its own. Better late than never, Rolls-Royce. News of Rolls’ interest in developing a luxury SUV came to light after design chief Giles Taylor said that his design team had begun tinkering with sketches of a potential SUV, possibly to gauge the feasibility of building one in the future. Taylor was also quick to point out that the team was still in the infancy stage of an SUV design and that any talk of "proportions and three dimensions" were premature. This changed dramatically in 2015, when Rolls revealed that it’s working on a car "that offers the luxury of a Rolls-Royce in a vehicle that can cross any terrain."
Although Rolls-Royce has no history with SUVs, the company cited vehicles from the past which have been successful in events such as the Scottish Reliability Trials and the Alpine Trials, and had the ability to carry their owners "over challenging terrain with absolute reliability and comfort" in Australia, India, and other parts of the world. The SUV’s true purpose is to challenge Bentley’s upcoming Bentayga, but the two won’t meet face to face earlier than 2017. Known under code name Cullinan, the British SUV has been spotted numerous times on public roads, and most recently it was photographed while being hooned on the Nurburgring track.
Updated 11/20/2017: The upcoming Rolls Royce Cullinan was caught testing once again, and as you can see it begun dropping some camouflage, which allows us to see a side line that almost looks elegant and well in proportion.
Continue reading to learn more about the future Rolls Royce SUV.
Rolls Royce Cullinan reveals its interior
First Official Images
"The first thing that catches the eye is the long roof and the nearly boxy rear section"
Although this will be Rolls-Royce's first-ever SUV, I don't expect the company to come up with a revolutionary design for it. And the spy shots come to confirm just that, with the prototype sporting the same massive chrome grille, as well as a pair of slim headlamps similar to those seen on the Ghost and Phantom sedans. On the other hand, the SUV appears to have a different configuration below the grille, where it showcases a tall bumper and the obligatory skid plate.
But it’s the profile that brings a completely new take on a Rolls-Royce. While the first test cars wore heavy camouflage, the SUV that was recently spotted on the Nurburgring has thinner covers that allow the details to come to the surface. The first thing that catches the eye is the long roof and the nearly boxy rear section. So unlike many luxury carmakers that entered the market with sporty looking crossovers, Rolls-Royce is taking the old-school route with a big vehicle with a massive trunk. I may seem awkward, but we have to keep in mind that Rolls-Royce built some massive, truck-like shooting brakes back in the early days, so it’s not entirely weird.
"Despite looking at an SUV, we can see many of the brand's trademark cues"
But despite looking at an SUV, we can see many of the brand’s trademark cues. For starters, there’s a high beltline that runs almost in a straight line from the the engine hood toward the taillights. It’s simple and elegant, just like on the company’s sedan. The thin camo also confirms that the Cullinan uses coach doors, just like the Phantom. The massive moonroof that covers the front section and half of the rear-seat passenger compartment hints at a comfortable cabin with plenty of natural light. The wheels are again sourced from the Phantom, sporting the company’s thin-spoke design. They are very simple, but very elegant at the same time.
An important change that will set the SUV apart from other Rolls-Royce models will be shorter wheelbase. The Phantom-based mule that was spotted testing in Europe in early 2016 has a shorter wheelbase than the sedan.
The rear end is where this Rolls-Royce will be like no other production car from the firm, mostly due to its wagon-like roof and tailgate. However, it seems that the SUV will sport Phantom-type taillights instead of the larger, horizontal units you'd expect to see on a vehicle of this type. Having already seen the brand-new Phantom VIII, it's safe to assume that it served as inspiration for the SUV. The slightly upswept bumper will showcase more underbelly protection and larger exhaust pipes.
Drivetrain
"A lot may change in this department before this SUV goes into production, but knowing Rolls-Royce, a V-12 powerplant is very likely."
A lot may change in this department before this SUV goes into production, but knowing Rolls-Royce, a V-12 powerplant is very likely. The Brits will most likely go with the Ghost’s twin-turbo, 6.6-liter mill, which should receive an extensive update before then, as well as the already familiar eight-speed, ZF automatic transmission. I expect the combo to send in excess of 600 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque to the wheels, to make the SUV the second-most powerful Rolls-Royce after the Wraith.
On the other hand, the revised, twin-turbo 6.75-liter V-12 in the new Phantom VIII is also an option. The unit is good for a healthy 563 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque in the sedan, so it shouldn’t be a problem to tweak it to around 600 horses.
Although Rolls doesn’t use hybrid drivetrains as of 2017, it is very likely the SUV will receive one, especially since both the Bentley Bentayga and the Lamborghini Urus are set to make use of this technology. If I were to guess, I’d say the Brits will borrow it from parent company BMW.
The Bentley Bentayga might be the world’s most expensive SUV in 2017, but it will most certainly lose that title as soon as Rolls-Royce’s hauler becomes a reality. At around $230,000, the Bentayga will be somewhat of a bargain compared to the $350,000 Rolls-Royce is likely to ask for its SUV. This figure is only speculation, but I don’t see Rolls-Royce placing it below the Ghost’s sticker, which is set at around $250,000.
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Rolls-Royce