Rolls Royce has unveiled its opulent, high-riding Cullinan SUV, the first-ever from the ultra luxury brand and named after the largest single-piece diamond ever discovered in the world.

Describing it as “an all-terrain high-bodied car”, the Cullinan has been tasked to attract “the younger, very successful high net worth individuals who are heavily engaged in the experience economy”.

The behemoth is based on the same Architecture of Luxury all-aluminium platform that also underpins the Phantom, with components reconfigured into a spaceframe for “extraordinary car body stiffness for exceptional ‘best-in-class; functional performance.”

Being a Rolls Royce, the Cullinan needs to ride like one despite rolling on 22-inch wheels. Its self-levelling air suspension is heavily re-engineered one from the Phantom, which makes millions of calculations every second to adapt itself to the road. Larger air struts with more air volume have been added to cushion the blows of the off-road terrains, and the front axle suspension layout has been entirely redesigned.

The Cullinan is powered by Rolls Royce’s familiar 6.75-litre biturbo V12 engine, tweaked to deliver 420kW of power and 850Nm of “just the right level of torque” available from a low 1,600rpm.

No performance figures has been released by Rolls Royce for its 2,660kg SUV, although top speed will be limited to 250km/h, while average fuel consumption is rated at 15L/100km.

Inside, the most comfortable place in the Cullinan is likely to be the rear seats that are offered in two different configurations. The Lounge Seat layout offers space for three passengers in a traditional bench-style single seat, which can be electrically folded in a number of configurations. The Individual Seat layout comes with two separate chairs, divided by a huge rear centre console which houses a drinks cabinet with Rolls Royce whisky glasses, a decanter, champagne flutes and refrigerator.

Further aback, behind what Rolls Royce dubbed ‘The Clasp’, or tailgate to you and me, is 560 litres of cargo space, expandable to 1,930 litres with the rear seats folded.

Up front, the driver gets a digital instrument cluster, while the touch screen infotainment system can be controlled via the Spirit of Ecstasy controller on the centre console. Onboard, there are five USB ports, wireless mobile phone charger and WiFi hotspot.

According to Rolls Royce, the Cullinan is the most technologically advanced car of its type in the world. Standard features include night vision system, a four-camera view system with panoramic view, all-round visibility, and helicopter view, along with the usual array of collision warnings.

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Rolls-Royce has confirmed its first-ever high-riding SUV will be called the Cullinan when it hits showrooms around the globe later this year.

“The name Cullinan has been hiding in plain sight since we revealed it as the project name some years ago,” comments Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer of Rolls-Royce.

“It is the most fitting name for our extraordinary new product. Cullinan is a motor car of such clarity of purpose, such flawless quality and preciousness, and such presence that it recalibrates the scale and possibility of true luxury. Just like the Cullinan Diamond, the largest flawless diamond ever found, it emerges when it is perfect and exists above all others.”

According to the company, the story of how this new Rolls-Royce came to be named Cullinan is itself one of the pursuit of perfection. Like the diamond, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan has undertaken a fascinating journey. From the searing deserts of Africa and the Middle East to the freezing snows of the Arctic Circle; from the grassy glens of the Scottish Highlands to the towering canyons of North America, the designers, engineers, craftspeople and artisans of the House of Rolls-Royce have shaped, tested and polished the car to eliminate any flaw and make it “Effortless, Everywhere”.

“We were inspired by the epic processes, over many millennia, which went into the creation of the Cullinan Diamond. The name embodies the many facets of our new motor car’s promise. It speaks of endurance and absolute solidity in the face of the greatest pressures; it tells of rarity and preciousness and it alludes to the pioneering, adventurous spirit of The Hon. Charles Rolls and the engineering innovation of Sir Henry Royce; and, of course, it speaks of absolute luxury, wherever you venture in the world” continued Müller-Ötvös.

Cullinan is the second Rolls-Royce to sit atop the company’s recently announced all-new proprietary aluminium spaceframe ‘Architecture of Luxury’.

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The eighth-generation Rolls-Royce Phantom has been officially launched in Australia this week, with access to the iconic symbol of success, power and wealth starting from $950,000, or $1.1m for the extended wheelbase version.

Speaking at the unveiling in Sydney today, Paul Harris, Asia Pacific Regional Director for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars said, “New Phantom is highly anticipated – a flagship icon that will once again reset the benchmark for pure authentic luxury. Its exclusivity, bold yet elegant design and engineering dexterity showcases the best that Rolls-Royce has to offer in world-class, handcrafted quality.”

“Cutting-edge innovations include a new exclusive ‘Architecture of Luxury’, an all-aluminium spaceframe designed to underpin every future Rolls-Royce; great leaps in technology, drivetrain and driver assistance systems to produce a peerless ‘magic carpet ride’; and a new, world-first ‘Gallery’ that allows owners to personalise a moving art piece. We are confident that New Phantom will once again take its place at the pinnacle of Australia’s super-luxury landscape, a country of historic and future strategic importance to us,” he added.

Engineering Masterpiece

Underpinning new Rolls Royce Phantom is a new ‘Architecture of Luxury’, an all-aluminium spaceframe architecture designed by Rolls-Royce engineers that will underpin every future Rolls-Royce beginning with the New Phantom. The new platform – significantly lighter yet 30 per cent stronger than before – will underpin the next-generation Ghost, Wraith, Dawn as well as the Cullinan, the brand’s first ever SUV.

The ‘Magic Carpet Ride’ experience is enhanced to levels of near-silence on the new Phantom, thanks to integration of a slew of new technologies, 130kg of sound insulation and an all-new 6.75 litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine developing 420kW and 900Nm of torque. Matched with an 8-speed transmission, the 2.5-tonne Phantom sprints from 0 to 100km/h in just 5.3 seconds.

Accompanying the increased stiffness of the spaceframe is a high comfort chassis with air suspension and state-of-the-art chassis control systems, delivering ‘effortless’ ride and handling.

Rolls-Royce also worked closely with its tyre supplier to invent ‘Silent-Seal’ tires – which feature a specific foam layer placed inside the tyre to wipe out tyre cavity noise and reduce tyre noise by 9db. Overall, the new Phantom is said to be 10 per cent quieter than its predecessor at 100km/h.

According to Rolls-Royce, when its acoustic test engineers reviewed the results of road and vibration tests, the sound levels were so low they had to check their instruments were calibrated correctly.

In addition, New Phantom is equipped with the ‘Flagbearer’ – a stereo camera system integrated in the windscreen to see the road ahead and adjusts suspension proactively. At night, the latest laser technology headlights provide a 600 metre range of vision to ensure safe travel.

The ‘Suite’

A divine selection of materials have been placed thoughtfully throughout the car’s interior. As a result, being inside the new Phantom is akin to entering a luxury hotel ‘suite’ with passengers being cocooned in the finest leathers and veneers. The famous coach doors can now be closed from the exterior by touch sensitive door handles.

A selection of rear seating options is available on the new Phantom, from lounge to individual formats. Technology is hidden until required, leaving only the visual majesty of curated wood, leather and billeted metal for all to admire.

‘The Gallery’

The latest Phantom debuts ‘The Gallery’, a modern and luxury reinterpretation of a motor car’s dashboard and instrument panel area that uses a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display.

An application of glass runs uninterrupted across the fascia of the Rolls-Royce Phantom, providing an unprecedented opportunity to present commissioned artwork. According to Rolls-Royce, this has come from an understanding that the marque’s patrons are increasingly collectors of fine and contemporary art.

Infotainment and Safety

The electronic architecture of the new Phantom is the largest ever in a Rolls Royce model. The central nervous system connects and controls all the various advanced intelligence systems of new Phantom. Some, but not all, assistance systems on-board the Phantom include Alertness Assistant, a 4-camera system with Panoramic View, all-round visibility including helicopter view, Night Vision and Vision Assist, Active Cruise Control, collision warning, pedestrian warning, cross-traffic warning, lane departure and lane change warning, an industry leading 7×3 high-resolution head-up display, WiFi hotspot, and the latest navigation and entertainment systems.

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“Since its debut in 1925, Rolls-Royce Phantom has been the choice of the world’s most influential and powerful men and women. As this next chapter in the Rolls-Royce story opens, the New Phantom points the way forward for the global luxury industry,”

– Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

Rolls-Royce has today officially unveiled the new Phantom, the eighth generation model of the iconic symbol of success, power and wealth.

Underpinning new Rolls Royce Phantom is a new ‘Architecture of Luxury’, an all-aluminium spaceframe architecture designed by Rolls-Royce engineers that will underpin every future Rolls-Royce beginning with the New Phantom. The new platform – significantly lighter yet 30 per cent stronger than before – will underpin the next-generation Ghost, Wraith, Dawn as well as the Cullinan, the brand’s first ever SUV.

Like all models before it, the latest Phantom’s exterior and interior is crafted from the most precious and contemporary of materials. It debuts ‘The Gallery’, a modern and luxury reinterpretation of a motor car’s dashboard and instrument panel area that uses a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display.

With the latest Phantom, Rolls Royce engineers set out to create the most silent cabin in the world. The incalculable effort include 6mm two layer glazing all around the car, more than 130kg of sound insulation, the largest ever cast aluminium joints in a body-in-white for better sound insulation, and use of high absorption materials.

Acoustic insulation from road noise has been helped by the employment of double skin alloy on areas within the floor and bulkhead of the spaceframe. Further noise insulation by inserting dense foam and felt layers are between these skins to provide sound insulation not witnessed before in the car industry.

Rolls-Royce also worked closely with its tyre supplier to invent ‘Silent-Seal’ tires – which feature a specific foam layer placed inside the tyre to wipe out tyre cavity noise and reduce tyre noise by 9db. Overall, the new Phantom is said to be 10 per cent quieter than its predecessor at 100km/h.

At the heart of the Phantom is a new 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12 engine developing 420kW and 900Nm of torque. Matched with an 8-speed transmission, the 2.5-tonne Phantom sprints from 0 to 100km/h in just 5.3 seconds.

The electronic architecture of the new Phantom is the largest ever in a Rolls Royce model. The central nervous system connects and controls all the various advanced intelligence systems of new Phantom. Some, but not all, assistance systems on-board the Phantom include Alertness Assistant, a 4-camera system with Panoramic View, all-round visibility including helicopter view, Night Vision and Vision Assist, Active Cruise Control, collision warning, pedestrian warning, cross-traffic warning, lane departure and lane change warning, an industry leading 7×3 high-resolution head-up display, WiFi hotspot, and the latest navigation and entertainment systems.

The New Rolls-Royce Phantom was revealed at ‘The Great Eight Phantoms’ exhibition at Bonhams in London’s Mayfair, an exclusive showcase featuring iconic iterations of the first seven generations of Phantom including The Fred Astaire Phantom I, Sir Malcolm Campbell’s Phantom II, Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery ‘Butler’ Phantom III, The Aga Khan Phantom IV, The John Lennon Phantom V, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Phantom VI State Limousine and The First Goodwood Phantom – Phantom VII.

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Rolls-Royce has presented its latest one-off, Bespoke creation at the Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa d’Este, christened ‘Sweptail’, in a nod to the swept-tail of Rolls-Royce vehicles from the 1920s.

Brought to life over a number of years, the Rolls-Royce Sweptail is an ultra-exclusive one-off model built at a customer’s request which the luxury brand calls the automotive equivalent of Haute Couture.

Presenting the car to the media at the Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa d’Este in Italy on the past weekend, Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös said, “Sweptail is a truly magnificent car. It exudes the romance of travel for its own sake, and immediately places ‘Sweptail’ in the pantheon of the world’s great intercontinental tourers.

“Rolls-Royce’s history as the world’s leading coachbuilder is at the very core of its identity as the world’s leading luxury brand. The arrival of 103EX shone a light on the future of Rolls-Royce in this field, and ‘Sweptail’ is proof, today, that Rolls-Royce is at the pinnacle of coachbuilding.

“We are listening carefully to our most special customers and assessing their interest in investing in similar, completely exclusive coachbuilt masterpieces. At the same time we are looking into the resources which will allow us to offer this unique service to these discerning patrons of luxury.”

Inspired by the coachbuilt Rolls-Royces of the 1920s and 1930s, the client’s desire was for a coachbuilt two seater coupé featuring a large panoramic glass roof. As a connoisseur of Rolls-Royces, he was inspired by many of his favourite cars from the marque’s golden era of the early 20th Century including the 1925 Phantom I Round Door, the 1934 Phantom II Streamline Saloon and the 1934 Gurney Nutting Phantom II Two Door Light Saloon, as well as many classic and modern yachts.

The Sweptail’s front profile is centred on a new treatment of the iconic Rolls-Royce Pantheon grille which is milled from solid aluminium before being painstakingly polished by hand to a mirror finish. Moving around to the side of ‘Sweptail’ is the striking silhouette that defines its unique character, flowing into the ultimate homage to the world of racing yachts that inspired the client, with its raked stern.

Finishing off the rear of this one-off Rolls-Royce is its identifier and registration number, 08. Two individual digits milled from ingots of aluminium and hand polished.

The interior is ruled by a philosophy of simplicity and minimalism leading to a distillation of componentry and a purification of clutter. The value of beautiful materials takes precedence here, resulting in a fastidious suppression of switchgear to the absolute minimum to make way for the richest of materials applied in the most honest of fashions.

But the highlight of the cabin are two final surprise and delight features incorporated secretly inside Sweptail to the stringent standards of the client.

Concealed in the outboard walls on either side of the motor car, behind the opening of the coach doors, are two identical panniers. Each pannier, when activated, deploys forward to present the owner’s bespoke made attaché case which has been carefully packaged to exactly house his personal laptop device. The cases themselves have been hand-constructed from lightweight carbon fibre, wrapped in the finest leather that matches the interior of ‘Sweptail’ and detailed with machined aluminium and titanium clasps and locks.

These attaché cases are twinned with the full set of luggage also developed by Rolls-Royce Bespoke for ‘Sweptail’. The luggage resides in the trunk of the motor car, a trunk beautifully clad in the same wood as the hat shelf and inset with polished aluminium luggage rails.

This one-off masterpiece is as personal to the owner as every other feature of ‘Sweptail’. The entire centre console now houses a one-off hand-built mechanism that, at the touch of a button, will deploy a bottle of the client’s favourite vintage champagne – the year of his birth – and two crystal champagne flutes. As the lid of the chiller opens, the mechanical action articulates the bottle to the perfect position for the owner to pick up.

The price of the Sweptail has not been disclosed, however Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos was quoted as saying “this is probably the most expensive new car ever.”

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The next-generation Rolls-Royce Phantom has been caught undergoing cold weather testing. While still fully camouflage, the overall shape and design of the Phantom successor is clear for all to see.

Sporting an evolutionary design, the new model continues to carry an upright Roll-Royce grille upfront, flanked by a pair of LED rectangular headlights.

Down the sides, the door mirrors have been altered slightly, while a pair of tailpipes can be seen for the first time.

Unlike the barely changed sheetmetal, underneath the new Rolls sits an all-new aluminium-intensive modular platform shared with the BMW 7 Series. To reduce weight even further, Rolls-Royce is expected to tap into BMW Group’s vast carbon fibre know-how.

Inside, many of the 7 Series’ high-tech driver assist and infotainment systems will find their way into the Phantom’s no doubt opulent interior.

Rolls-Royce will reportedly drop the coupé and convertible models for the next-generation due to weak demand, leaving buyers with just the traditional long- and short-wheelbase models.

Happily, the monstrous V12 engine will remain, while a plug-in hybrid drivetrain is said to be on the cards later down the track.

Source: GT Spirit

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Rolls-Royce has released a couple of teasers of its ‘all-terrain, high-sided vehicle’ dubbed Project Cullinan, or SUV to you and me.

The luxury brand’s first SUV draws on current Rolls-Royce design cues, including its imposing front fascia and the traditional coach doors (also known as suicide doors).

The first engineering mule was built for the development of the SUV’s new all-wheel drive suspension system, as well as testing its all-new aluminium architecture that will underpin all Rolls-Royces from 2018 onwards.

Roll-Royce says the latest development vehicle will be tested in numerous locations around the world to ensure the end product will be ‘Effortless…. Everywhere’. Its first destination will be the Arctic Circle where it will undergo cold weather durability and traction testing before heading to the Middle East to endure the highest temperatures and challenging desert conditions.

An updated version of the 6.75-litre V12 is slated to motivate the Cullinan initially when it launches, where it will go head-to-head with the Bentley Bentayga. BMW Group’s 6.6-litre, twin-turbo V12 is also a possibility further down the line.

“This is an incredibly exciting moment in the development of Project Cullinan both for Rolls-Royce and for the patrons of luxury that follow us around the world,” comments Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

“Bringing together the new four-wheel drive system and the new ‘architecture of luxury’ for the first time sets us on the road to creating a truly authentic Rolls-Royce which, like its forebears, will reset the standard by which all other luxury goods are judged.”

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Already boasting one of the longest option list in the automotive world, but that doesn’t stop Rolls-Royce from extending it even further with its new Dawn Inspired by Fashion catalogue.

The bespoke creation, part of what the brand dubs ‘Spring/Summer 2017 Couture Collection’, brings a new colour palette and an array of new materials.

Crafted by a team of designers from the world of fashion, fine textiles and luxury accessories, it features an ‘Andalucian White exterior complemented by three bright colour choices for the roof, exterior details and hand-painted coachline.

Inside, the luxurious cabin sports a white and black colour scheme with accents of the three colours that match the roof. As expected, there is also embroidered headrests and contrasting hand-stitched leather trim. If that’s not luxurious enough, the front and rear door pockets are lined in silk, while a Spirit of Ecstasy emblem adorns each door.

Meanwhile, the Dawn’s piano-white dashboard is treated with embedded aluminium particles to give it a silk-like appearance, a process that is said to take nine days per car!

Customers can further customise their Dawn with a bespoke clock described as a ‘piece of jewellery’.

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Rolls Royce displayed two stunning Black Badge examples of their Ghost and Wraith models at the Geneva Motor Show. The automaker intends to market these vehicles to a younger, sportier crowd while broadening their customer base beyond the typically mature buyers seen driving their cruisers.

Giles Taylor, Director of Design at Rolls-Royce mentioned: “In creating Black Badge, we were conscious of satisfying the different demands of these new customers”. He continues to say “Not only did they demand an alternative image for themselves, they demanded authentic Rolls-Royce engineering substance to underpin it”.

The exterior features a black on black paint scheme starting with all chrome surfaces such as the front grille, boot lid finisher and intake turned black. Even the exhaust and signature hood ornament are blacked out with the only exception being the silver double-R badge.

Exclusive to the Black Badge are a set of composite carbon wheels. The wheels layup consists of 22 carbon fibre layers painstakingly folded back onto themselves to create a 44 layer structure. Incase carbon wheels wasn’t impressive enough, the hub is constructed from aircraft grade aluminum and secured to the rim using aerospace grade titanium bolts.

The Black Badge Ghost will keep its regular BMW N74 6.6-litre V12 engine. However, it’s been tweaked to produce an extra 30kW and 60Nm of torque bringing the total output to 450kW and 840Nm. The added power should make a noticeable difference driving 2,490 kg behemoth around. The power plant puts power to the ground via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Wraiths engine doesn’t gain any additional power, it still sits at 465kW. However, Rolls Royce claims the engine now produce an additional 70Nm of torque.

Both models now sport what Rolls like to call “Intuitive Throttle Response”. In essence, the transmission will hold gears for around 25% longer or between 300 and 500 rpm higher than where they previously shifted. Black Badge models will also rev all the way up to 6000 rpm if it senses the throttle is between 80-100%. The idea is that drivers will be able to keep their vehicles in the power band for longer allowing for a more spirited/fun drive, although realistically can you see this Roller being driven any differently to any other out there? Who knows maybe the Ghost or Wraith will become track monsters… unlikely.

Rolls Royce confirmed that the Black Badge series will remain a permanent option for both the Ghost and Wraith.

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November 2016 will mark the end of the iconic Rolls-Royce Phantom. It’s been over 13 years since its initial launch by which it quickly became the foundation upon which the renaissance of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars was built.

During November this year, the very last Phantom Coupé and Drophead Coupé at Goodwood will be completed. These models will not be replaced. Collectors around the world will have the chance to own one of 50 unique Coupé’s and Drophead Coupés, called Phantom Zenith, which will be built to celebrate the end of production of these truly exceptional cars.

“As the name promises, Zenith will be the pinnacle; the best of its kind; the highest standard achievable by which everything else is judged,” comments Director of Design, Giles Taylor. “Zenith will be the sum of all the best features of Phantom Coupé and Drophead Coupé, with a few surprises added. We expect huge demand for these 50 fine motor cars as we shall not look upon their like again.”

Such surprise features will include a Tailgate Hosting Area, laser etched armrests depicting the original launch locations of 100EX in Villa D’Este and 101EX in Geneva, bespoke instrument dials and a special treatment of the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy figurine. Each customer will also receive a ‘money cannot buy’ portable memento of his or her purchase, whilst the motor cars will be offered to clients in a palate of memorable colour combinations from Rolls-Royce’s history.

This isn’t the end of the Phantom line entirely, as Torsten Müller-Ötvös said, “I am proud and excited to announce that a new Phantom is on the way – a contemporary and beautiful Phantom enhanced with cutting-edge technologies and design innovations. Any new Phantom is an historic and important moment in automotive history and we are working hard on perfecting the Phantom VIII.”

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