Rolls-Royce Not Calling All-New SUV an SUV (But It's an SUV)

Rolls-Royce Cullinan | Manufacturer image

By Brian Wong

February 13, 2018

CARS.COM — Rolls-Royce likes to take things slow. In 2015, the ultra-luxury British carmaker announced it was developing a new vehicle. In 2016, Rolls-Royce confirmed that said car was in development and would be tested. And now, in 2018, the project car finally has a name … Cullinan.

If that sounds familiar, it’s because the name is shared with the Cullinan diamond — a 3,106-carat rock that was unearthed in South Africa in the early 1900s.

Now, the most exciting thing about the Cullinan is that it debuts a new type of vehicle: the “high-sided car.” What’s so different about it, you ask? Well, to start with, it’s taller than a traditional car, which offers a more commanding driving position as well as more cargo space. Rolls-Royce also says that the Cullinan will be outfitted so it can perform off-road in a variety of terrain as well as on the street, fitting with Rolls-Royce’s credo for this vehicle of “effortless, everywhere.”

Wait, this sounds familiar. Let’s look at these photos:

Yep. It’s an SUV. Rolls-Royce is making an SUV.

Along with Lamborghini and Bentley, Rolls-Royce proves that not even the rare, highest end of the car market is immune from the SUV craze. The only details we have so far are:

The name
That it will be all-wheel drive
That it will feature a new all-aluminum architecture

We’ll keep an eye out for more information as the Cullinan comes closer to its yet-to-be-announced launch date.

High-sided car. That is rich.

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