A True Diamond of an SUV: Introducing the Rolls Royce Cullinan
Kendra Pierson
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The standard for luxury and style in cars for over 100 years, this SUV is built to serve, and will be put to the test at Rebelle Rally this fall.
The 2019 Rolls Royce Cullinan brings their unrivaled handcrafted quality to higher heights in an SUV. A cool, rainy day was the perfect time to find out for ourselves during a ride with Rolls Royce’s Gerry Spahn.
The Cullinan was the original code name for the project. It marks a clear departure from the traditional names of other Rolls Royce models. It’s not a Ghost, Phantom or Wraith. While it still has the air cushioned ride of the Rolls Royce family, the Cullinan shines bright similarly to its namesake. It takes its name from the largest rough diamond ever mined. In fact, you could even say it’s royalty. The original Cullinan diamond is owned by the British Royal family and the Cullinan mine contributed pieces to the Queen’s crown jewels.
A Rolls Royce SUV?!? Trust Us, It’s No Gimmick.
There was plenty of skepticism on how well the Cullinan could actually stand for the off-road conditions SUVs were designed for. Spahn is clear that the Cullinan isn’t a gimmick with the Rolls Royce name just added for show. “The Cullinan is tough. This is an SUV. This is a strong and luxurious car.” He shares that lots of owners have taken the Cullinan off-road for camping, cabins or driving on the sand in the desert. This car is made for everything an active family can send at it.
In fact, the Cullinan will take a spot as a contender at the 2019 Rebelle Rally, the all-women off road rally that is held each fall in California. Driven by two-time winning drive team Emme Hall and Rebecca Donaghe, the Cullinan will face the ultimate test of 1,000 miles of off road driving to show what it is capable of.
Related: Rebelle Rally empowers women, off road and in life
Rolls Royce has added a few features to make sure that it’s ready for an active family. First is the 360-degree camera view from outside of the car. This doesn’t only pop up when parking, but appears when driving and obstacles are detected along the way. Additionally, the back seat has motorized window screens for total privacy and a child-lock so children can’t play with the self-locking door while they’re riding. The backseat also can have a 60/40 seat split for laying down the seat. Rolls Royce understands that this SUV will be used much differently than its other models.
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Rolls Royce brought over more than one features from the traditional Rolls Royce. For example, they retained the signature coach doors. The secret feature is that doors come with an umbrella inside the doors, so you’ll always be prepared. Another feature is the rear compartment (also known as the truck of the SUV) and all the opportunities for using it. Similarly to the bustle on the cars, it can be folded down and used as a tailgating area at a soccer game or for a picnic in a vineyard. The choice is yours and how your family chooses to use it.
All The Luxury You’ve Came to Expect from Rolls Royce
Rolls Royce has brought all the luxury from their cars and just placed it into the Cullinan. They’re known for their handcrafted quality and unrivaled luxury. After all, you just don’t buy a green Rolls Royce. A buyer commissions a Rolls Royce with all the trims and finishes specific to that buyer. What are just some of the luxurious touches you can expect as an owner:
- The wood grain pattern inlaid to the dash is based upon what you’d like to have. Maybe you had a tree house in your backyard or a pattern in front of your fireplace that brings back memories of Christmas mornings. That pattern will be hand worked and duplicated. In case of any damage, it will be repaired using the identical pattern that they’ve stored just for you.
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- Seat leather is the softest box-grain and hand stitched with your color patterns. It’s similar to the materials found on high-end handbags or luggage.
- There is a 16 speaker bespoke audio system designed with your particular audio interests in mind. If you’re a podcast listener or super pop fan, the audio system will be tuned to your specifications for the ultimate in sound.
Ultimately, the Rolls Royce Cullinan is a handcrafted SUV. Anything that you can dream from finishes, family crests, monograms, security features, Rolls Royce will craft into your Cullinan as long as it’s legal. And what’s the final cost for all this luxury? It starts at $406,000, but your dreams are the limit.
