Based in Goodwood and also built there, Rolls-Royce and the Cullinan are a match made in heaven. What’s not so great is when the luxury SUV is challenged to hit the hill climb.
Despite the BMW know-how and extremely intelligent suspension system, the high center of gravity and softness of the Cullinan translate to the kind of body roll that could make the driver lose control. A nail-biting experience for Daryl Jones, the hill climb also saw the Cullian kick up dust and a lot of hay.
Most impressively, the British racing driver used the full width of the course to push the opulent behemoth to the raggedy edge of grip. At one point, the Cullinan can be seen raising the front left wheel off the asphalt while attacking a corner as hard as possible. In other words, don’t try this at home!
Sharing the Architecture of Luxury with the Phantom, the Cullinan was designed by Giles Taylor to mixed reception from enthusiasts and the general public. Some people – including from the motoring media – suggested that the styling is a bit too similar to a Chinese knock-off instead of a proper Rolls-Royce. Looking at the bigger picture, Bentley did a better job with the Bentayga.
The question is, who cares? Like every other automaker out there, Rolls-Royce is interested in volume as much as it’s aware that exclusivity draws a well-to-do clientele to the Cullinan. The crossover and SUV craze further help the cause of the Cullinan, which happens to be cheaper than the Phantom.
Speaking of which, the manufacturer’s suggested retail price in the United States is $325,000 excluding destination charge. The Phantom kicks off at $450,000 and pricing can get extremely peppered once you take a look through the options list. Adding some customization to the mix is also possible.
Named after the largest diamond ever found (3,100 carats), the Cullinan takes its mojo from a twin-turbo V12 with 571 PS (563 horsepower) and 850 Nm (627 pound-feet) of torque. Top speed is limited to 250 km/h (155 mph), and four-wheel steering comes standard to improve handling and stability.
In its lightest configuration, the Cullinan tips the scales at 2,660 kilograms (5,864 pounds). That’s 100 kilograms more than the Phantom and 50 kilograms more than the Phantom with the extended wheelbase.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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