Rolls-Royce’s first sports utility vehicle will arrive in 2018, but ahead of its debut, BMW and Rolls engineers continue to test the platform on public roads in Munich. This latest test mule was spotted last week giving us a glimpse at the size of the ultra luxurious SUV.
Some of the previous Rolls-Royce Cullinan spy photos we’ve seen in the past have looked like a Phantom on stilts. This, however, is a genuine SUV and looks big enough to house seven adults, although it likely won’t have an option of seven seats, much like its Bentley Bentayga rival. The back seat will probably be incredibly expansive, allowing for rear passengers to really stretch out. It’s also quite tall and boxy, giving passengers impressive headroom while still in keeping with the Rolls Royce design language.
The front-end is massive and imposing, with the typical upright grille and squinty horizontal headlights that we’ve come to know from Rolls Royce. The rear-end has an upright design with a large boot and wide hips that emphasize its grandness.
Underneath the skin, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan will be built on a new all-aluminum architecture that will be significantly lighter than the platform current Rolls vehicles are based on. This will make it simultaneously stiffer and more luxurious than before, as well as giving it sharper dynamics, better performance and increased fuel economy.
The Cullinan will also be powered by a twin-turbo V12 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission which will power all four wheels, making this the first all-wheel drive Rolls Royce. When it finally hits the market, the Cullinan will have to compete with the Bentley Bentayga, chiefly, and possibly the Lamborghini Urus.
[Photos: Matski]
