rolls-royce cullinan
“thecabinis onanother
levelof opulence,asone
wouldexpect, andthe
leatherhas beentakenfrom
theleast flee-bittencows
andstitched toperfection.”
everRollswithfour-wheeldrive and it was alsothefirst nottohave
beennamedintheconventionalmannerwiththe usage ofethereal
words like Ghost, Spiritand Shadow—itsmoniker was derived from
theworld’s largest diamond,nowpartoftheBritishCrown Jewels.
Thecabin is on anotherlevel ofopulence, asone wouldexpect,and
theleatherhas beentakenfromtheleast flee-bittencowsandstitched
toperfection.Oneofthetopprioritieswas toensure there was ample
interiorspaceand thishasdefinitelybeenachieved;inthe second
row,where theownerwillverylikelybeseated,you cansitwithyour
legsstretchedoutnomatterhowtall you are (kickyourshoesoffto
reallyenjoythethickest lambs-wool floor mats). You’ll never feel
shortchangedbackhere; thehigherseatingposition,huge panoramic
sunroofand realwoodandchrometrimthroughoutlayered ina way
otherbrandscanonlydreamofensuresthat.Betweenthetwo rear
seatsisa centre consolewhichincorporatesa drinks cabinetand
refrigeratorandthe glasspartitiontoseparatetheseatingareafrom
thebootisa nicetouch(as isthe picnictableandleathercladseatsthat
swingoutelectronicallyfromthebackoftheboot).Therestofit isas
satisfyingas you wouldexpect—withthe‘jewellery’, Rolls’fancyword
forthe switchgear, sublimetolookatandtotouch. Thenewdigital
dashboard doesa greatimpressionofthoseclassic,analoguegauges
repletewithchromerings(you’ve gottolookcloselytobesure...)and it
isloadedwiththelatest featuressuchasNightVisionand VisionAssist
(withdaytime andnight-time Wildlife&Pedestrian warning),Alertness
Assistant,a four-CamerasystemwithPanoramicView, all-round
visibilityandhelicopterview,Active CruiseControl,CollisionWarning,
Cross-Traffic Warning, LaneDeparture,andLaneChangeWarning, a
High-ResolutionHead-Up Display, WiFihotspot,andnew-generation
navigationandentertainmentsystems.
Effortlesspower issuppliedbya butterysmooth6.75-litre twin-turbo
V12whichhas 563 horsesand 850Nmoftorquewith all the oomphsent
tothefourwheelsviaaneight-speedZFautomatic.Theself-levelling
airsuspension(double-wishbonesatthe front and a five-linkaxleat
therear)keeptherideassuppleascan beandyou feelasif you’re just
waftingalong—evenwhenyou’repushing100kphit feelslike you’re
doing10kph.Thatmagic-carpet rideexperienceisheightened in
theCullinandue tothefactyou sithigherup. Itcan alsobetakenoff
roadandwith just oneknobdepressed —knownwithinRollsasthe
‘Everywhere’ button—andit readiesitselfforany terrain,including
gravel,wet grass, mud,snow, or sand.Whetheryou oryourchauffeur
wouldornotisanothermatter.
Beinga Rolls-Royceownerisa lifestylethatnotmany canafford and
if theCullinanisgoingtocost overDh2millionthenit must feeltruly
special.Itdoes. TheGoodwoodcarmakermay haveraised eyebrows
whenit entered the SUV segmentbutit hasraisedthebar sohighthat
nobodybut Rollscouldpossiblytop this...