Rolls-Royce Cullinan: At Last, The Prologue Ends And We See The World's Greatest Luxury SUV

Air suspension system has considerably upsized air struts to cushion the blows off-roading.

Prologue completed at long last, the vehicle finally seen, we ink-stained wretches will drive Rolls-Royce Cullinan in the near future, both on-road and off. Only upon driving will we know if the lads in Goodwood and their engineering colleagues in Munich have created a vehicle that ascends the brightest heavens of invention. Until we can ford streams, kick up red sand or cross snowy mountain passes, we won’t know if Cullinan’s four-wheel drive system, wittily nicknamed “Everywhere,” is fully capable of printing its proud hooves in the receiving earth.

Cullinan has the full suite of BMW Group technologies: Night Vision and Vision Assist including day- and night-time Wildlife & Pedestrian warning; 4-Camera system that generates panoramic and helicopter views, plus all the expected chimes to help maneuvering in tight spots; WiFi hot spot; and a 7 x 3 in heads-up display. Having spent time in Phantom VIII and every other Rolls, I can attest all these systems are exceptional.

Based on the excellence of brother Phantom VIII, early examples of Cullinan might serve with distinction this coming August on The Glorious Twelfth when grouse hunting begins in England. By fall they might cut a distinctive profile in Riyadh, London and Los Angeles. At least we have seen this shooting brake, unmasked, sans camo, and today you can, too. We know the cost of entrance, $325,000 U.S.

There are easy comparisons to understand Cullinan’s size. It’s about a foot shorter than a Chevy Suburban, but its wheelbase is identical, yet there are only two rows of seats, not three. Cullinan has half Suburban’s cargo capacity, but twice the cargo capacity of a Tahoe.

Cullinan is blessed with the same 563-horsepower 6.75-liter twin-turbo V12 that debuted in Phantom VIII. However, there is slightly less torque than in Phantom, arriving in full at yet lower engine revs: maximum torque of 627 lb-ft at 1600 rpm (850 Nm).

Cullinan has the same virtually all-new 563-horsepower 6.75-liter twin-turbo V12 of Phantom, but with slightly less torque arriving at yet lower revs: maximum torque of 627 lb-ft at 1600 rpm (850 Nm).

Until the Rolls and BMW engineers can be put through their paces, answering questions, we cannot know if the engine was tweaked to keep matters well within the torque capacity of the part-time drive system of the front wheels. With the expected assortment of electronically controlled braking and stability control tricks including Hill Descent, muddy trails through rugged country should be simple. In off-roading, ample torque, easily accessed and applied with gentle throttle inputs, is paramount. We know that prop shafts and related joints delivering power to the rear wheels are considerably more robust than on Phantom VIII, clear indication the vehicle is meant to carve across red dunes outside Dubai.

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https://www.forbes.com/sites/markewing/2018/05/10/rolls-royce-cullinan-at-last-the-prologue-ends-and-we-see-the-worlds-greatest-luxury-suv/

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