Series II
Rolls-Royce has been building luxury automobiles for more than 100 years, but just six years ago, the legendary British marque added the first SUV to its lineup with the all-new Cullinan. As Rolls-Royce’s first foray into the SUV segment, Cullinan brought the brand’s ultra-high luxury to a vehicle capable of going beyond paved roads. Now, this lavish SUV is getting a significant update with the introduction of the Cullinan Series II.
Impact on the Brand
“When Cullinan debuted in 2018, it redefined super-luxury motoring, enabling Rolls-Royce clients to experience the brand’s hallmark magic carpet ride on all terrains and in every corner of the world,” said Chris Brownridge, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “In the six years since, Cullinan has had an extraordinary impact on our brand, attracting entirely new groups of clients to Rolls-Royce and profoundly altering perceptions of what a Rolls-Royce motor car is, means, and can be to its owner.”
Building on its Success
The Cullinan continues to be the most popular model in the Rolls-Royce lineup. The addition of an SUV has increased the British marque’s audience and attracted a younger clientele. Currently, the average age of a Rolls-Royce buyer is just 43—one of the youngest in the industry.
Styling Updates
When the Cullinan was first introduced, one glance made it clear that this new SUV was a proper Rolls-Royce. That immediate recognition hasn’t changed, but there are styling updates that give the Series II a more streamlined appearance. Stylish new slim headlights are enhanced by the new LED running lights that run over the headlights and down the sides, framing the front of the Cullinan. New large air intakes angle outwards, giving the Cullinan a more powerful look.
Signature Pantheon Grille
Like every Rolls-Royce that came before it, the Cullinan proudly features the iconic Pantheon Grille. Slight revisions from the previous version include a refreshed lower leading edge and a polished horizontal line that appears to connect the daytime running lights. The Cullinan is available with an illuminated grille for the first time, providing a unique appearance at night.
Rear View
Changes are more subtle at the rear, but the Cullinan Series II sets itself apart from the previous version with integrated exhaust outlets now surrounded by mirror-finish stainless steel. The bumper has been revised, and a stainless steel protective plate runs between the exhaust outlets.
New Wheels
The updated Cullinan gets a new set of wheels, and for the first time, they measure a massive 23 inches. These special wheels are milled from billet aluminum and feature a three-dimensional faceted seven-spoke design. Black Badge versions are also available with unique 23-inch wheels that feature ten interwoven spokes of gloss black and silver, framing the Black Badge brake calipers that come in Red, Black, Turchese, Mandarin, and Forge Yellow.
Black Badge
The Cullinan Series II will also continue the availability of the Black Badge version. “We created our Black Badge family for a distinct group of clients who seek a more visceral interpretation of the Rolls-Royce experience,” said Brownridge. “In its engineering, technology, materials, and design, Black Badge Cullinan Series II caters to these preferences, and this group of clients’ keen appetite for innovation and new modes of self-expression. Cullinan’s darker alter ego has always asserted its own unique place in our product portfolio; I’m certain that this new incarnation will build on its predecessor’s success.”
Darker Look
While the Black Badge gets all the new design elements of the Series II Cullinan, it gets a unique look with all brightwork and detail elements presented in black. This includes the famed Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament and Pantheon grille. The tailgate, rear bumper, and exhaust outlets are also black. For the first time, the Black Badge models can carry the body color to the lower sills and valence, giving the appearance of lowering the vehicle for a more aggressive stance.
Inner Space
Lavish materials and practically unlimited levels of customization continue to make the Cullinan’s cabin unique among luxury SUVs, and the Series II adds a new level of high-tech style. The driver display and infotainment system are now presented in a single glass panel fascia that spans the width of the dashboard.
Black Badge Interior
Helping the Black Badge stand out from the standard Cullinan are unique trim elements like the Technical Carbon finish. Naked-weave carbon fiber features a three-dimensional look, finished in six coats of lacquer and hand-polished to a mirror finish. Air vent surrounds are darkened, as is the Spirit of Ecstasy in the “clock cabinet.”
High Tech
Both the digital gauge cluster and central infotainment display are redesigned, taking on the appearance first introduced in the all-electric Spectre. The digital gauges become part of the Bespoke personalization of the cabin, with the owner able to select the gauge color to match the vehicle’s interior.
Passenger Display
With the glass panel extending in front of the passenger seat, the screen can present a unique illuminated Cityscape graphic using 7,000 graphical elements printed on multiple layers of glass to create a 3D image. As part of the Bespoke customization process, customers can choose their own illuminated image.
Clock Cabinet
The stylish analog clock is an essential element of a Rolls-Royce design, and the Cullinan Series II brings a unique take. The clock appears in a tiny “cabinet” inset on the dashboard, and it also features an illuminated Spirit of Ecstasy figurine.
Entertainment
Rolls-Royce has added internet connectivity to the updated Cullinan, which allows for a WiFi hotspot and video streaming from multiple devices. Rear screens can project video from independent sources, and Bluetooth headphones can be paired for an individual experience. For those who prefer just to sit back and listen to the music, the Series II features an 18-speaker Bespoke Audio System boasting an 18-channel 1400-watt output.
Grey Stained Ash
With an almost unending selection of available materials to adorn the Cullinan’s cabin, the new Series II adds a few new options. Grey Stained Ash comes from individually selected logs, with the veneer stained by hand and the integration of microscopic metallic particles for a unique open-pore wood with a shimmer. This process took more than four years to develop.
Duality Twill
Cullinan also gets a new fabric made from natural bamboo fibers featuring intricate embroidery based on an abstract interpretation of the RR logo. Creating an interior using Duality Twill requires 20 hours of labor, as well as 11 miles of thread and 2.2 million stitches.
Placed Perforation
A new technique allows designers to create a pattern in the seats via perforations, providing a unique look to the Cullinan’s cabin. The pattern showing the shapes and shadows of the clouds over the Rolls-Royce headquarters in Goodwood requires 107,000 perforations.
V12 Power
The Cullinan continues to come standard with a 6.75-liter twin-turbo V12 engine under its long hood. Power output is 563 horsepower and 628 lb-ft of torque; however, the Cullinan Black Badge gets a bump to 600 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque for added performance to go with its dark persona. Both V12s are teamed with a smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission and full-time all-wheel drive.
Coming Soon
We expect the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II to arrive in showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2024. Pricing has not yet been released, but expect figures to be slightly higher than the current pricing of $390,000 for the standard Cullinan and $451,000 for the Cullinan Black Badge.
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