On May 7th, local time, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars unveiled the Cullinan Series II and the high-performance Black Badge Cullinan Series II, representing the pinnacle of super luxury SUVs, to the world for the first time.
The Cullinan, launched in 2018, is the brand’s first SUV that offers the unique Rolls-Royce ‘Magic Carpet Ride’ across all terrains, redefining the standard for super luxury automobiles. It has attracted a completely new customer base over the past six years, becoming the most sold model in Rolls-Royce’s entire lineup.
The newly unveiled Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II is a facelifted version of the Cullinan. It features bolder expressions, meticulous integration of analog and digital elements, and modern craftsmanship techniques in response to the increasingly urban lifestyle, the younger clientele, and a growing proportion of customers who prefer to drive themselves.
First, the front emphasizes the ample proportions and presence of the vehicle through clean lines and vivid borders, as well as a sleek, unified body surface design. The bumper line forms a shallow ‘V’ shape from the lower part of the daytime running lights to the center of the vehicle, evoking the sleek bow of a modern sports yacht. The new air intakes are sharply sloped outward, creating an effect that makes the body appear lower when viewed head-on.
The main feature of the exterior design is the illuminated Pantheon grille. First introduced in the Cullinan, this grille subtly radiates light, showcasing the model’s overwhelming presence anywhere and anytime. Additionally, a new horizontal line has been added between the top of the Pantheon grille and the daytime running lights, evolving to evoke the Rolls-Royce flagship model, the Phantom Series II.
Complementing the youthful and bold exterior are the new 23-inch wheels, crafted from aluminum billet, available in either partial shine or full shine finishes with a three-dimensional 7-spoke design. The 10-spoke wheels featured on the Black Badge Cullinan Series II are finely tuned for gloss, paint, and engraving to create an effect that makes them appear like 5-spoke wheels.
The interior boasts innovative decorations and details. The dashboard features a glass panel fascia that perfectly merges analog and digital craftsmanship, while an illuminated fascia is installed in front of the passenger seat. This illuminated fascia incorporates 7,000 graphics printed onto multiple layers of strengthened glass, depicting the Cullinan wordmark and the skyscrapers of major global cities. Customers can collaborate with Rolls-Royce bespoke designers to order their personalized illuminated fascia.
Below the analog clock on the center fascia is the Spirit of Ecstasy figurine. The new Spirit of Ecstasy clock cabinet is a result of 4 years of collaboration between analog artisans and digital craftsmen, which creates a stunning lighting effect that sequentially unfolds from the driver’s display to the central information display, illuminated fascia, clock, and Spirit of Ecstasy when the driver enters the vehicle.
The seats feature a special pattern technique called ‘Placed Perforation’, which creates artwork by perforating small holes in the leather. This method has produced seats with 107,000 perforations of 0.8mm and 1.2mm to depict the ever-changing shapes and shadows of clouds over Goodwood, the home of Rolls-Royce.
Moreover, a new material inspired by nature, called ‘Duality Twill’, can be applied to sections of the seats. This material has an abstract double R graphic embroidered, inspired by ship design, on rayon fabric made from bamboo, adding a touch of luxury. Selecting Duality Twill interior involves approximately 2.2 million stitches, utilizing 18 kilometers of thread, and requires 20 hours of production.
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II showcases innovative digital features and connectivity. The vehicle is equipped with an operating system called ‘SPIRIT’, which manages car functions and connects with the exclusive Rolls-Royce customer application, ‘Whispers’. Customers can send destinations directly to the vehicle using the app, remotely check the Cullinan’s location, and manage vehicle locking. Up to two streaming devices can be connected to the screens installed in the rear seats, allowing adjustments to vehicle management as well as seat functions such as massage and climate control.
The high-performance version of the Cullinan, commonly referred to as the Black Badge Cullinan Series II, is powered by a twin-turbocharged 6.75-liter V12 engine that delivers a maximum output of 600 horsepower and peak torque of 91.8 kg·m (900 Nm). The responsiveness of the transmission and accelerator pedal has been optimized for instant acceleration, and the ZF 8-speed gearbox combined with front and rear axle steering works together to maintain the unique ‘Magic Carpet Ride’ while providing adjustable feedback to the driver.
Pressing the ‘Low’ button on the gear shift lever allows for an even more dynamic driving experience. The bespoke Black Badge exhaust system emits a deep, authoritative exhaust note, and when the accelerator pedal is pressed beyond 90%, the shifting speed increases by 50%, providing powerful yet comfortable acceleration.
Chris Brownlie, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, stated, “The Cullinan, launched in 2018, redefined super luxury automobiles and allowed customers to experience the unique Rolls-Royce ‘Magic Carpet Ride’. The Series II we unveiled now offers new technology integration, careful design changes, and opportunities for innovative personal expression through bespoke options, maintaining the unique characteristics of the original Cullinan while presenting new appeal.”
Anders Warming, Rolls-Royce’s design director, remarked, “The Cullinan Series II has been designed to better suit the tastes of modern super luxury customers, becoming more vibrant, attention-grabbing, and richly expressive. The newly transformed Series II will demonstrate true evolution while adding a presence of luxury to the Cullinan’s existing silhouette.”
Jin Sang Lee daedusj@autodiary.kr