Maximilian Stocker
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan is the brand’s only SUV so far and has been in production since 2018. If you’re not in Hollywood or Dubai, you’ll occasionally see the 5.34-meter-long vehicle on German streets. According to the KBA, 429 units of the luxury SUV have been newly registered in Germany since the Cullinan was introduced. For the 2024 model year, there are now a few revisions, visual changes and the “Black Badge” top model.
Officially, the manufacturer speaks of the Cullinan Series II, which suggests that it would be the second generation of the model. However, this is not the case, as the vehicle only received a facelift. The most noticeable visual changes at the front are probably the new lights with modified lines of the LED daytime running lights. These now extend in an L-shape far down into the apron. The narrow air inlets below the lights have disappeared. The design of the bumper has also changed. The classic Rolls-Royce radiator (which is now also illuminated) still sits opulently and extremely strikingly on the front of the SUV. On the sides, the larger and bulky-looking wheels with 23-inch rims are particularly noticeable. At the rear, there are only minimal changes to the pre-facelift vehicle. Differences include, for example, the high-gloss black finish on the bumper, polished stainless steel elements around the exhaust and a protective plate made of brushed stainless steel.
Classic interior
The changes in the interior of the new Cullinan are also less significant. The biggest innovation is probably a digital instrument screen that can be individually configured, as well as the new infotainment system. Both screens are now housed under a common glass pane. The rest of the dashboard and the center console are relatively unspectacular and traditional with buttons and controls. The materials include a new fabric made of bamboo. Of course, lavish leather and lambswool carpet coverings as well as aluminum and real wood paneling are still available en masse in the Rolls-Royce. Another highlight of the interior is the optional “Viewing Suite”. To do this, you fold down the lower part of the trunk lid and two leather-covered seats with a small table appear. Rolls-Royce allows you to add further personalization requests and countless extras anywhere around the vehicle – with no price limits.
The “Black Badge” version
The heart of the special model is the engine. While the regular Cullinan also uses the 6.75-liter V12 biturbo beast, the special version increases the power from 563 to 600 hp and 900 Nm. Power is transmitted to all four wheels by a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. The three-ton vehicle sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. It is clear that you want to drive a vehicle with such a powerful engine yourself, which is confirmed by the brand’s own statistics. According to Rolls-Royce’s own information, less than 10 percent of all Cullinan owners are chauffeured; instead, they sit behind the wheel themselves. Also interesting: the average Cullinan customer is 43 years old. But back to the special “Black Badge” version: here the color black dominates. Everything that otherwise shines and shimmers in chrome is kept dark. The SUV also has modified aprons and a unique rim design. The entire interior is in the so-called Duality Twill style, which includes up to 2.2 million stitches and 18 kilometers of yarn as well as carbon elements.
The exact prices of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan for Germany have not yet been determined. In the USA, the vehicle is available for the equivalent of around 360,000 euros, which makes it about twice as expensive as other luxury SUVs from Bentley or Mercedes-Maybach, for example.
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