SUV for millennials
Rolls-Royce release Cullinan
Rolls-Royce release Cullinan
For the first time, the British company is aiming their latest car at a new demographic of "younger, very successful high-net-worth individuals" who have higher disposable income. "When Rolls-Royce announced three years ago that it would launch Cullinan, it did so in the knowledge that its customers around the world had asked it to build "The Rolls-Royce of SUVs', with luxury, performance and usability not seen before in the SUV market," explained the brand in a press release.
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan is Rolls-Royce as it's never seen before. When Sir Henry Royce said, "Strive for perfection in everything you do. Take the best that exists and make it better. When it does not exist, design it," he could have had Cullinan in mind. It was clear that these new, younger and more adventurous customers wanted a Rolls-Royce. |
For the first time, a Rolls-Royce has an opening tailgate called 'The Clasp'. In a nod to the era when luggage was mounted on the exterior of the motor-car (so the occupants did not travel with their belongings) the rear profile of Cullinan is a two-part, 'D-Back' format, with the bustle denoting the place of the luggage. 'The Clasp' opens and closes in its two sections automatically at the touch of the key fob button.
The rear passenger compartment of Rolls-Royce Cullinan has been designed to offer the best seat in the house for the owner's particular needs. Two rear configurations are offered: Lounge Seats or Individual Seats. The Lounge Seat configuration is the more functional of the two options. With space for three passengers in the rear, it will likely be more attractive to families. The rear seats also fold down - a first for Rolls-Royce. |
The seats fold electronically in a number of configurations by pressing the appropriate button in the boot or rear door pocket. One press sees each backrest effortlessly fold down, whist at the same time moving the headrests upwards to avoid making an imprint on the seat cushion. Both seat backs can be folded completely, creating a flat load area or in a 2/3 and 1/3 split, increasing practicality even further. Rear passengers can still travel with a long load or use the carpeted seat back as an occasional table on which to rest their personal items. The carmaker hasn't revealed the engineering tricks that will let the Cullinan float down trails, but it's a safe bet that the key lies in the suspension. The Cullinan will use an adapted version of the computer-controlled self-levelling air shocks Rolls-Royce puts in its Wraith, Ghost, and Phantom road cars. The upgrade includes larger air struts with greater air volume to better manage impacts and the persistent jostling of the chassis on rough terrain. And the system will actively push down the wheels when it senses they have broken contact with the ground, helping maintain traction.