Rolls-Royce Presents Cullinan Series II & Black Badge Cullinan Series II
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars revealed the new expression of the ‘Rolls-Royce of SUVs’: Cullinan Series II and its subversive alter ego Black Badge Cullinan Series II. The original Cullinan, launched in 2018, had to have genuine off-road capabilities equal to the most demanding and hostile environments on Earth. At the same time, it had to deliver the marque's peerless comfort and signature magic carpet ride, regardless of the terrain. It had to be nothing less than the definitive super-luxury SUV - rugged yet refined, unstoppable yet serene: effortless, everywhere.
“In 2018, Cullinan reframed super-luxury motoring, enabling Rolls-Royce clients to experience the brand’s hallmark magic carpet ride regardless of the terrain and in every corner of the world. In the six years since, Cullinan has attracted entirely new groups of clients to Rolls-Royce and profoundly altered perceptions of what a Rolls-Royce motor car is, and what it can mean to its owner. Cullinan Series II has been created to build on that success. By integrating new technologies, new materials, meticulously considered design updates and innovative opportunities for self-expression through Bespoke, we retain everything our clients love about this motor car, ensuring its continued allure.” Chris Brownridge, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
CULLINAN SERIES II
Since the first client deliveries, Cullinan fulfilled its purpose as a supremely accomplished off-road motor car, capable of taking its owner into locations never previously explored in a Rolls‑Royce. However, versatility and ease of use also made Cullinan a 'daily driver’ for many owners.
A key theme is verticality, which recalls illuminated skyscrapers in the megacities where Cullinan is increasingly at home – this is most apparent in the new lamp treatment. The front of Cullinan Series II is composed of simple feature lines and crisp edges, with an emphasis on clean, monolithic surfaces that amplify the motor car’s generous proportions and presence. The bumper lines form a shallow ‘V’ from the lowest point of the daytime running lights to the motor car’s centre point. Underneath, new air intakes angle outwards assertively, visually lowering the motor car when viewed head on.
The centrepiece is the illuminated Pantheon grille, which has been further refreshed with a lower leading edge. It also incorporates a new polished horizontal ‘horizon line’ between the daytime running lights. In profile, Cullinan Series II reveals further changes to the surfacing. A restrained yet precise feature line leads from the taillight forwards to the centre of the floating ‘RR’ centre caps on the rear wheel, creating a subtle taper and impression of movement. This is further amplified by the updated lower valance surfaces rendered in a rich high-gloss black, which lift at the rear.
Viewed from behind, the exhaust treatment of Cullinan Series II is a bold statement of power — each surround is presented in mirror-finish stainless steel, cleanly integrated and visually flush to the body. Changes at the rear conclude with a brushed stainless-steel protective plate running between the exhausts, which flows underneath the motor car. Resolving this younger and more expressive evolution of Cullinan’s styling are upsized 23-inch milled wheels. The three-dimensional and faceted seven-spoke design is available in a part or fully polished finish. In addition to the evolved exterior form, Rolls-Royce colour specialists developed a new paint finish in which to present Cullinan Series II. Inspired by a richly-veined brown marble, Emperador Truffle is a contemporary, minimalist solid grey-brown; when combined with the Bespoke ‘Crystal Over’ finish it gains a subtle shimmer reminiscent of fresh snow under morning light.
The most substantive change to the motor car’s geometry is the pillar-to-pillar glass-panel fascia in the upper portion of the dashboard - an elegant and versatile design element that stages both digital and physical craftsmanship.
The gauge cluster panel in front of the driver and new, permanently visible Central Information Display in the centre of the fascia are redesigned to form a stage for the advanced SPIRIT operating system, first introduced on the all-electric Spectre. It also presents digital Bespoke opportunities — clients can tailor the colour of the instrument dials. SPIRIT also sees Whispers, the Rolls-Royce private members application, integrated into Cullinan. Clients are able to send destinations directly to their motor car, view Cullinan’s location remotely and manage vehicle locking through the app.
Connectivity has been refined throughout the motor car. Clients are now able to connect up to two streaming devices to the rear screens, which now incorporate a Bespoke interface. Internet connectivity allows clients to enjoy a WiFi hot spot connection and independent streaming for each screen. In a Cullinan first, Bluetooth headphones of any type can be paired with the rear seat infotainment system.
Clients can enjoy the marque’s exceptional 18-speaker Bespoke Audio system, which benefits from the latest generation 18-channel 1400-watt amplifier. Cavities within Cullinan Series II aluminium sill sections are used as resonance chambers for low frequency speakers, effectively transforming the entire motor car into a subwoofer. Directly in front of the passenger is an Illuminated Fascia panel, featuring an illuminated Cullinan wordmark and a unique Cityscape graphic. Inspired by the skyscrapers of the world’s megacities at night, it is created using 7,000 graphical elements. Clients are also able to create their own Illuminated Fascia motif in collaboration with the marque’s Bespoke designers.
On the passenger side of the fascia is the new Spirit of Ecstasy Clock Cabinet – a unique inset vitrine displaying both an analogue timepiece and an up-lit Spirit of Ecstasy figurine, constructed from stainless steel. Incorporating the Spirit of Ecstasy into the interior of the motor car was the product of four years of development, and a unique partnership between analogue and digital craftspeople to create a dramatic and meticulously orchestrated flow of light.
The interior is comprised of a palette inspired by botanicals. Cullinan Series II introduces Grey Stained Ash, a richly grained natural open-pore wood with a delicate shimmer. Developed by Rolls-Royce Bespoke collective over four years, this material underpins Cullinan’s contemporary character. To achieve a complex, distinct texture, every log is individually selected, veneer ‘leaves’ are subsequently stained by hand and elevated with the addition of microscopic metallic particles, which creates a unique shimmering effect.
Cullinan Series II also continues Rolls-Royce’s exploration of textiles with a new rayon fabric made from bamboo, named Duality Twill. This material is inspired by the extensive bamboo grove in Le Jardin des Méditerranées on the Côte d'Azur, which neighbours Sir Henry Royce’s former winter home, Villa Mimosa. Members of the design team visited the gardens during a research excursion where they were inspired to develop a material made with the plant.
The twill textile is embroidered with an artistic ‘Duality’ graphic. Based on an abstract interpretation of the two interlinked letter R initials of the marque’s founders, thedesign reflects a clear nautical influence, reminiscent of the interweaving rope lines found on sailing yachts – another subtle allusion to the French Riviera. A full Duality Twill interior can incorporate up to 2.2 million stitches, 11 miles of thread and is the product of 20 hours of construction. To ensure uniformity in the pattern, each piece is individually crafted before being cut using a specially developed laser that seals the material’s edge and mitigates individual threads becoming loose. The base twill textile is available in three colours - Lilac, Chocolate and Black – and clients can select from 51 different colours of thread. This intricate embroidered textile was developed for more than a year.
Cullinan Series II integrates another new contemporary craft technique - Placed Perforation. This innovative practice enables artisans to create artworks, using seats as a canvas, through tiny perforations in the leather. For Cullinan Series II designers created a pattern, inspired by the constantly changing shapes and shadows of the clouds over the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood – it comprises 107,000 0.8- and 1.2-millimetre perforations.
“Since the launch of the first Goodwood-built Rolls-Royce, designers have taken great care to give every model its own distinctive aesthetic universe. Each is based on detailed insights gathered directly from our clients before the motor car is conceived, and throughout its life. Cullinan Series II is born of this approach: more energetic, focussed and expressive, in line with the priorities of today’s super-luxury consumers. In its new guise, Cullinan Series II remains effortless, everywhere — faithful to the principles and retaining the qualities that have made this motor car so successful. At the same time, it represents genuine progress and development, based on an evolved appreciation of luxury that adds statement and flourish to Cullinan’s original form.” Anders Warming, Director of Design, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
BLACK BADGE CULLINAN SERIES II
Black Badge Cullinan Series II is created for those who seek a more visceral interpretation of the Rolls-Royce experience. Its dark, primal elements, essential to the Black Badge character, are further amplified by dramatic coachwork, reflecting its assertive and uncompromising attitude.
Black Badge Cullinan Series II asserts its presence with an impactful front-end treatment. For Black Badge, the grille is finished in the series’ hallmark Black. A silver ‘horizon line’ creates a sense of breadth and solidity while framing the motor car’s vertical daytime running lights. For clients wishing to fully cloak their motor car in darkness, this is also available in an all-black finish.
Black Badge strongly appeals to a distinct group of clients who seek a more visceral interpretation of the Rolls-Royce experience. In its engineering, technology, materials, and design, Black Badge Cullinan Series II satisfies these 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.” Chris Brownridge, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
All exterior body detail elements and brightwork, including the Spirit of Ecstasy figurine, are also finished in Black. For the first time in the history of Black Badge, this now extends from the window surrounds and door spears to the door handles. Other darkened elements, including the rear tailgate and bumper accents as well as the motor car’s exhausts, are treated with a specific chrome electrolyte to achieve the mirror-black effect. Black Badge Cullinan Series II clients are now able to extend exterior colours to all lower body surfaces, as well as the subtly enhanced lower sill, valances, and lower front bumper – a treatment reserved for Black Badge Cullinan Series II.
Advanced, technical materials have become a hallmark of Black Badge Rolls-Royce motor cars. For Black Badge Cullinan Series II, this theme continues. Clients expressed their appreciation of the original Black Badge Cullinan’s Technical Carbon finish – on this basis, this exquisite material has been retained for Series II. The naked-weave carbon-fibre finish has been developed to create a precise repeating pattern of geometrical shapes that create a three-dimensional effect.
The dark ambience of Black Badge continues with the interior metals. Air vent surrounds on the dashboard and in the rear cabin are darkened. Black Badge Cullinan Series II also features the new Clock Cabinet. The Spirit of Ecstasy figurine, inset within, is rendered in Black, recalling the figure that sits on the prow of Black Badge Cullinan Series II. The new Illuminated Fascia displays an ethereal glowing infinity symbol within the new vertical Cityscape pattern.
If Individual Rear Seats are commissioned, clients can include the Black Badge family motif, known as the infinity symbol, onto the rear Technical Carbon ‘Waterfall’ section. In Lounge Seat configuration, the infinity symbol is embroidered. The seats themselves are available to commission in the marque’s stunning new Duality Twill textile. Black Badge Cullinan Series II is also the stage for an exclusive digital Bespoke treatment, with instrument dials now available in different neo-futuristic colourways: Vivid Grellow, Neon Nights, Cyan Fire and the kaleidoscopic-style Synth Wave.
The qualities that defined Black Badge Cullinan’s first guise, such as higher capacity air springs to alleviate body roll and the addition of even greater power reserves, were preserved for Black Badge Cullinan Series II. The twin-turbocharged 6.75-litre V12 engine generates a total output of 600PS, and 900Nm of torque.
To exploit the additional power, the transmission and throttle remain calibrated for more immediate acceleration. The ZF eight-speed gear box and both front- and rear-steered axles work together to adjust the levels of feedback to the driver, depending on throttle and steering inputs without compromising the motor car’s effortless magic carpet ride experience.
Depressing the ‘Low’ button on the gear selection stalk continues to unlock further Black Badge technologies. When activated, drivers experience a change in tone and volume from the Bespoke Black Badge exhaust system, signalling that all of the 900Nm torque reserves are available from 1700rpm – just 700rpm above tick-over. Low Mode also increases the speed of gear shifts by 50% when the throttle is depressed to 90%. To fully exploit Black Badge Cullinan Series II, the brake pedal travel has been decreased to create a more immediate response to driver inputs.
