Rolls-Royce Cullinan Name Confirmed for Company's First SUV
The Cullinan nameplate has been used to refer to the Rolls-Royce SUV throughout its development process, but it was previously believed to be a working name only. Now the automaker has confirmed the Cullinan name will appear on the production vehicle when it’s shown in Geneva next month. The ‘Cullinan’ name comes from the Cullinan Diamond, which is the largest rough-cut diamond ever found and was presented to King Edward VII on his 66th birthday.
SEE ALSO: The new Rolls-Royce Phantom is so Quiet You Can Record Music in it
“We were inspired by the epic processes, over many millennia, which went into the creation of the Cullinan Diamond. The name embodies the many facets of our new motor car’s promise,” said Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös. “It speaks of endurance and absolute solidity in the face of the greatest pressures; it tells of rarity and preciousness and it alludes to the pioneering, adventurous spirit of The Hon. Charles Rolls and the engineering innovation of Sir Henry Royce; and, of course, it speaks of absolute luxury, wherever you venture in the world.”
The Cullinan shares a platform with the all-new Rolls-Royce Phantom and will likely receive power from the same 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V12 as the sedan. Rolls-Royce refers to the Cullinan not as an SUV, but as a “high-sided motorcar” and says it will “redefine luxury travel by making it Effortless, Everywhere.”
Check back for more info following the Cullinan’s upcoming debut in Switzerland.
Discuss this story on our Rolls-Royce Forum.
Sam McEachern holds a diploma in journalism from St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, and has been covering the automotive industry for over 5 years. He conducts reviews and writes AutoGuide's news content. He's a die-hard motorsports fan with a passion for performance cars of all sorts.
More by Sam McEachern
Comments
Join the conversation
it looks like a cow. Maybe they coulda called it the Cullinangus.