The Rolls-Royce Cullinan is a quintessential SUV that exudes a rich heritage. The Spirit of Ecstasy sits atop the hood, which houses a velvety twin-turbo V-12 engine capable of generating up to 592 horsepower. The engine is coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and the car comes equipped with all-wheel drive as standard.
The cabin is luxuriously padded, and its serenity while cruising at 70 miles per hour is akin to an isolation chamber. The coach doors open ceremoniously, providing access to a rear seat that is as comfortable as a plush leather couch.
The Cullinan is a vehicle that offers pure solace and comfort. Only a privileged few can afford its exorbitant price tag, but those who do get to experience the pleasure of being transported in one of the world's most opulent carriages.
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In 2024, Rolls-Royce will introduce the Black Badge Cullinan Blue Shadow Private Collection to its lineup. As we’re sure you know already, the Cullinan is mostly custom-built for customers with taste and cash, making it nearly impossible to meet two identical Cullinans on the road.
However, the British marque is shaking that up just a little bit in 2024 by introducing 62 identical units called the Blue Shadow, based on the Black Badge.
For once, the deep-pocketed Cullinan fans can now have a 62-member-strong brotherhood. The Blue Shadow Cullinan is a limited edition land yacht, inspired by the Karman Line, the point where Earth's atmosphere gives way to space.
All 62 units slated for production have all been sold out. The interior is adorned with a Lunar Starlight Headliner that twinkles with over a thousand fiber optic stars.
The leather seats feature an intricate perforation pattern that mimics the view of Earth from space. The Blue Shadow Cullinan comes with a matching car cover, a luggage set, and a 1:8-scale model replica of the vehicle, perfect for display.
The Cullinan’s exterior is typical of Rolls-Royce's classic design. Still, the liftgate arrangement allows the brand to equip the cargo area with an optional Viewing Suite comprising a pair of leather-wrapped seats and a small table that pops out of the floor.
Although the Cullinan deviates from the traditional Rolls-Royce offerings, it still embodies the brand's uncompromising commitment to luxury in every aspect.
If we were fortunate enough to afford a Cullinan, we would opt for the Crystal paint scheme, paired with 22-inch seven-spoke wheels. We would also choose to add a gold-plated Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament and an electronic tow hitch to complete the package.
The Cullinan’s cabin is unsurprisingly spacious and adorned with high-quality materials such as box-grain leather, lambs-wool carpeting, wood trim, and milled-aluminum accents.
Rolls-Royce offers customization options to cater to the individual preferences of buyers and enhance the opulence of the already lavish interior.
However, there are a couple of drawbacks, including the fully digital gauge cluster lacking the elegance of an analog setup, and the standard rear seating being inflexible and uncomfortable.
Seeing as the Cullinan so satisfyingly mixes modern and traditional luxury, we expected an analog instrument cluster instead of the digital format.
Fortunately, buyers can opt for the two-seat second row with adjustability and massage functions to address the issue of inflexibility with the standard rear seating.
Opting for the Immersive Seating with Center Console configuration would be our top choice, as it provides massage functionality for the rear seats and replaces the center seat with a console that doubles as a cooling bin.
The console comes equipped with two champagne flutes and a whiskey decanter, adding an extra touch of luxury.
Additionally, we would love the Shooting Star Headliner option, which displays a fiber-optic starry night sky above our heads. To create a more serene environment in the back row, we would add the rear privacy glass and side curtains.
The Cullinan's twin-turbo 6.7-liter V-12 engine generates 563 horsepower (592 in the Black Badge model) and operates with a hushed sound, ensuring that the passengers in the cabin are not disturbed.
We’ve come to expect the almost pin-drop silence in the cabin as traditionally Rolls-Roycey. Despite weighing around three tons, the achieved a 60-mph time of 4.5 seconds during independent speed tests by automotive journalists, which is remarkable.
All-wheel drive comes as standard, but we don’t see owners going off-road with this ultra-expensive land yacht and risk damaging the paintwork.
However, if Fella was still alive, he’ll be thankful for the AWD system because he’ll probably do it, with a glowing cigarette stuck between pursed lips.
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The Rolls-Royce Cullinan is equipped with an air suspension system that uses data from a road-scanning camera to automatically adjust the vehicle's height, compensating for any imperfections in the pavement.
The ride comfort surpasses that of regular luxury vehicles, as the Cullinan glides smoothly down the road, providing a pleasant driving experience for its passengers.
The Cullinan's V-12 powertrain has a fuel efficiency rating of 12 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway. Surprisingly, these figures are not the lowest in its class. The V-12-powered Bentley Bentayga has ratings of 12 mpg city and 17 highway.
During extensive testing by journalists, the Cullinan got subjected to a 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, and the SUV exceeded the official rating by achieving 21 mpg.
The 2024 Rolls-Royce Cullinan has an estimated starting price of $355,000 to $375,000. With the release date slated for summer 2023, the new Cullinan isn't exactly the prettiest SUV you've ever seen. However, kings don't need to be pretty; they just need to be grand and powerful, and those are two qualities that the Cullinan SUV has in spades.
Needless to say, the 2024 Cullinan doesn't really have a rival king to worry about. We'd choose competitors, like the Bentley Bentayga EWB (extended wheelbase) and the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600, over the the new Cullinan only because the others cost considerably less. Not that they aren't worthy competitors, which they certainly are, but because Cullinan is simply the undisputed king of SUVs - the Rolls-Royce of SUVs.
All Cullinan models come equipped with a large touchscreen infotainment system and a secondary controller on the center console, along with Apple CarPlay integration.
The optional rear-seat entertainment package adds 12.0-inch screens to the back of each front seat, and the vehicle features a bespoke audio system with 18 speakers and a Wi-Fi hotspot.
In addition to its opulent amenities, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan offers a range of advanced driver-assistance technologies, including night vision.
For detailed information on the vehicle's safety ratings, interested parties can visit the websites of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
The key safety features on Rolls-Royce vehicles include standard safety technologies such as forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control to ensure the safety of the passengers.
Moreover, Rolls-Royce offers an exceptional warranty and maintenance program that lasts for four years with no mileage limit. The limited warranty covers unlimited miles for four years, and the powertrain warranty also covers unlimited miles for four years.
Additionally, the automaker provides complimentary maintenance services for four years, regardless of the mileage.
Summarily, Rolls-Royce places a premuim on safety, as exemplified by the numerous advanced safety features as standard equipment. The automaker also provides a comprehensive warranty and maintenance program that offers peace of mind to the buyers.