Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, a British company that is part of the BMW Group, has unveiled the updated Cullinan crossover. The exterior of the car has undergone significant revisions, the interior has become more exquisite and modern, while the 6.75-liter twin-turbo V12 petrol engine has avoided upgrades, as Rolls-Royce plans to fully switch to electric vehicles by 2030.
The Cullinan made its debut in 2018 and almost immediately became the most popular model in the Rolls-Royce lineup, setting sales records. Last year, Rolls-Royce sold 6032 cars worldwide, with the main demand naturally falling on the Cullinan, which significantly reduced the average age of the British brand’s customers from 56 in 2010 to 43 today. Only 10% of Cullinan owners use chauffeur services, while the rest prefer to drive the luxury SUV themselves.
The updated crossover is officially named the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II. It is easy to distinguish the first series from the second: the front end has been thoroughly redesigned, with some online commentators expressing confusion about the slanting lines on the bumper, as if a Mansory body kit was attached to the stock Cullinan. In reality, it’s not as extreme if you know the backstory: the designers wanted to give this model a resemblance to a yacht cutting through water, with the slanted bumper lines symbolizing water diverging from the ship’s bow.
The front lights have become sleeker with side LED «stream» daytime running lights, and the radiator grille has received skillful illumination. The rear end looks more monumental due to a more sculpted bumper with larger integrated exhaust tailpipes. The wheel diameter has increased from 22 to 23 inches, with a much more avant-garde design, especially on the top Black Badge version (the white car in the photos). The Black Badge version also features black accents instead of silver, giving it a more aggressive look.
In terms of interior changes, they are mainly focused on the finishing touches. On the front panel in front of the passenger, a decorative light panel has been added, along with new arrow-style clocks and a small «Spirit of Ecstasy» figurine under them. The instrument screen graphics have been updated, a fresh version of the Spirit multimedia system has been installed, which works in tandem with the Whispers mobile app. The finishing materials are much more refined: the leather now has artistic perforations, and the bamboo textile inserts feature artistic fiber weaving. The atmospheric LED ambient lighting has become much more sophisticated. The 1600-watt audio system with 18 speakers now communicates more effectively with external devices. The lower section of the tailgate can still be used as a picnic bench with folding leather seats.
On the base Cullinan, the 6.75-liter V12 petrol engine still delivers 571 hp and 850 Nm, paired with an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission and all-wheel drive with a power take-off clutch for the front wheels. In the Black Badge version, the V12 engine output is increased to 600 hp and 900 Nm. Adaptive air suspension with adjustable ground clearance and fully-steerable chassis come as standard. The dynamic characteristics of the updated crossover have not been disclosed yet, but for reference, the pre-facelift Cullinan accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds (4.9 seconds for the Black Badge), with a top speed limited to 250 km/h.
The price list for the updated Rolls-Royce Cullinan has not been published. According to the British magazine Autocar, the minimum price for the facelifted crossover will be around £330,000.
