Rolls-Royce finally confirms Cullinan nameplate for its first-ever SUV

Finally, another automaker is getting on the SUV bandwagon. About to reveal its very first SUV is Rolls-Royce, which stated that “the wait is almost over” as it prepares to introduce Goodwood’s “High Sided Vehicle”.

BMW Group’s high end marque also shared plans of carrying over the model’s codename by deciding to baptize the new model as “Cullinan”. In fact, Cullinan was the working title about a couple of months ago, and all of a sudden, it is ready to make history - being Rolls Royce’s first-ever SUV.

The name of the car originated from Cullinan Diamond, which is the largest gem quality rough diamond ever found, with a weight of 3,106.75 carats (621.35g), according to Wikipedia. It was in1905 when this was discovered in South Africa’s Magaliesberg Mountains and was then named after the mine’s chairman, Thomas Cullinan.

The gem was split into nine pieces. These were then affixed to the British Imperial Crown and Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross. This stone has an estimated cost of over two billion dollars.

This name is very fitting for this extraordinary new product by Rolls Royce, as the car focuses on clarity of purpose, such flawless quality and preciousness, and presence that it recalibrates the scale and possibility of true luxury. Furthermore, the CEO of Rolls Royce, Torsten Muller-Otvos, says that it is the ideal name for what will be the company’s second model to be based on the aluminum intensive “Architecture of Luxury” platform, after the Phantom.

The Rolls Royce Cullinan is scheduled to make its public debut later this year, perhaps sometime during the summer, says sources from Automotive News. However, loyal customers will likely be able to get a preview of this behind closed doors. This vehicle will be equipped with the same 6.75-liter V12 engine as the Phantom VIII. It is also set to become the most luxurious SUV the automotive world has ever seen.

The automaker has not shared details regarding the pricing just yet, but when comparing it with other models, we expect it to be more premium (in fact, it is the most expensive) than the rest of the lineup, which includes the Phantom that has a starting price of $450,000 in the United States.

Cullinan could easily be the most expensive new car money can buy. Being built under a luxury marque while being named after a very expensive piece of stone, we can only expect it to be astounding. In case you were wondering, Rolls Royce actually already holds that title with the Sweptail, a one-off that was sold for $12.8 million.

PRESS RELEASE

NAME OF NEW HIGH-SIDED VEHICLE TO BE ROLLS-ROYCE CULLINAN

Three years ago in the pages of The Financial Times, Rolls-Royce announced to the world that it would create an all-new, high-sided car that would redefine luxury travel by making it Effortless, Everywhere. Since that day the world has waited, anticipating the arrival of this mould-breaking new Rolls-Royce.
Three years ago in the pages of The Financial Times, Rolls-Royce announced to the world that it would create an all-new, high-sided car that would redefine luxury travel by making it Effortless, Everywhere. Since that day the world has waited, anticipating the arrival of this mould-breaking new Rolls-Royce.

Today, the wait is almost over as Rolls-Royce confirms that its new motor car will be called Cullinan.

“The name Cullinan has been hiding in plain sight since we revealed it as the project name some years ago,” comments Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer of Rolls-Royce. “It is the most fitting name for our extraordinary new product. Cullinan is a motor car of such clarity of purpose, such flawless quality and preciousness, and such presence that it recalibrates the scale and possibility of true luxury. Just like the Cullinan Diamond, the largest flawless diamond ever found, it emerges when it is perfect and exists above all others.”

The story of how this new Rolls-Royce came to be named Cullinan is itself one of the pursuit of perfection. Like the diamond, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan has undertaken a fascinating journey. From the searing deserts of Africa and the Middle East to the freezing snows of the Arctic Circle; from the grassy glens of the Scottish Highlands to the towering canyons of North America, the designers, engineers, craftspeople and artisans of the House of Rolls-Royce have shaped, tested and polished this unique motor car to eliminate any flaw and make it Effortless, Everywhere.

“We were inspired by the epic processes, over many millennia, which went into the creation of the Cullinan Diamond. The name embodies the many facets of our new motor car’s promise. It speaks of endurance and absolute solidity in the face of the greatest pressures; it tells of rarity and preciousness and it alludes to the pioneering, adventurous spirit of The Hon. Charles Rolls and the engineering innovation of Sir Henry Royce; and, of course, it speaks of absolute luxury, wherever you venture in the world” continued Müller-Ötvös.

Cullinan is the second Rolls-Royce to sit atop the company’s recently announced all-new proprietary aluminium spaceframe ‘Architecture of Luxury’. Unique and unequalled in its brilliance, every facet of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan scintillates.

Müller-Ötvös concludes: “Quite simply, the name Cullinan is perfect and brilliant.”