The article was originally produced on February 22, 2019, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

When Rolls-Royce decided to build an SUV, they chose to do it in classic Rolls-Royce fashion, more luxurious, bigger and better than other car brands could dream of. There was no other option given how controversial the decision must have been once it was made that such a storied brand would have an SUV in its model range.

To be picky, they don't call the Cullinan an SUV either, but "Offroad Capable Rolls-Royce". With hindsight, we can state that the decision was correct. In Sweden alone, there are currently orders for 18 Cullinans. Each car takes one year from ordering to delivery.

Sweden receives an allocation of eight cars per year

Why a name like Cullinan was chosen is of course no coincidence. It does not come from some unusual storm wind or primeval animal, no, the name comes logically from the large diamond of the same name that is part of the British crown jewels. The stone was found in 1905 in South Africa and with its 3106.75 carats was then the largest ever found. It was split and divided into smaller diamonds and the Cullinan I -IX are, as I said, part of the British crown regalia which are today locked in the Tower. In 2013, Cullinan I was valued at at least $450 million.

The Cullinan is not only the first four-wheel drive car from Rolls-Royce, it is also the first Rolls that you can fold down the seats. To be precise, this can be done with a 40/20/40 solution. With all seats folded, the Cullinan swallows a total of 1,930 litres. This number is of course completely irrelevant as you obviously equip your Cullinan with "Theatre Configuration" which means two armchairs in the back with a built-in wine cooler between the seats.

Another important detail in addition to the wine cooler that you must equip your Cullinan with is the optional "Viewing Suite". A pair of practical leather-covered picnic chairs that fold out from the lower part of the split tailgate. Even the two-part tailgate has been given its own name which reads "The Clasp".

Behind the classic and gigantic chrome Rolls-Royce grille lurks a jewel. I am of course talking about the 6.75 litre V12 engine. To make it extra efficient, it is equipped with twin turbo units. The maximum output is 571 horsepower and 850 newton metres of torque. This is the same engine that sits in the BMW 760 and it's no coincidence because BMW owns Rolls Royce since 2003. Talking about 0-100 numbers for a Rolls can almost be seen as obscene, but while we're on the subject, we can share U.S.

The Cullinan with its curb weight of 2,797 kilograms manages to reach the hundred mark in just 5.2 seconds

Top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h. If you translate these numbers into reality, the Cullinan feels a bit clumsy at first, but once you press the gas pedal properly, it's like a completely silent primal force is brought to life. That's exactly how a Rolls Royce is and should feel, the power should always be there and the car should never feel strained regardless of the driving conditions. Add to that that Cullinan can now also bribe this behaviour even when the road can barely be called a road anymore. The conditions in which the Cullinan has been tested are said to have been done in a large number of locations worldwide with good results. Sport buttons and the like have never been in Rolls Royce cars. In the Cullinan, on the other hand, there is an Offroad button that raises the car by four centimetres. Ground clearance in normal mode is 19 centimetres.

There is no doubt that the Cullinan is a model that will certainly make many loyal Rolls Royce customers want to leave the brand. In the same way as so many other brands which have gone against their genetic benchmarks. Just take Porsche and their model Cayenne, which in many ways has taken the brand to where it is today financially. Whether the Cullinan will mean as big a lift for the brand as the Cayenne did for Porsche remains to be seen, but probably not. A Rolls-Royce has always stood higher in the ranking than all other brands and so does the Cullinan with its luxury, price and size compare to all other SUVs.

Rolls-Royce Cullinan

Basic price	From SEK 3,459,000
Engine	6.7-litre V12, 571 hp. Torque 850 Nm
Transmission	Front engine, 8-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
Acceleration	0-100 in 5.2 seconds
Top speed	250 km/h
Fuel consumption mixed driving according to the manufacturer	1.50 l/mile
Weight	2,797 kg
Guarantees	New car 4 years, rust 6 years
Web	www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com