It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s a Taillight – Our “First Look” At the New Rolls-Royce SUV [News]

Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Rolls-Royce teased their new SUV, the Cullinan, ahead of its official May 10 reveal. [Photo: Rolls-Royce]

Rolls-Royce teased this slightly-revealing photo of the new Cullinan ahead of its upcoming reveal Thursday.

The winds of change are blowing for Rolls-Royce, as the company moves toward a whole new market. After more than a century producing luxury cars under one of the most prestigious nameplates in the industry, Rolls-Royce is producing their first SUV. They will officially reveal the new Cullinan on Thursday, May 10. However, Rolls-Royce has decided to show a small part of the all-new model before that.

The first clear shot we’ve had of the undisguised hyper-luxury SUV, even its taillights let the world know its a Rolls-Royce. Apart from sporting a distinctive “RR” badge in the taillight assembly, we’d expect the new Cullinan to take on more elements from the Phantom. That includes using the same space frame aluminum platform, as well as the same 6.75-liter, 563 horsepower V12 engine. That engine will come paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

What about suicide doors? Yes, the new Cullinan has those too, as we’ve seen from recent spy shots. Apart from the doors, we expect the Cullinan to come swathed in luxurious materials and the latest technology it can borrow from its lesser BMW brethren. Digital instrument cluster? Check. Driver – or should we say chauffeur – assistance systems? You bet. Supple leather covering every surface? In the spirit of the Phantom and other models, it truly wouldn’t be a Rolls-Royce without top-notch materials.

Now, as the company’s first SUV to date, its size and luxury means it won’t come cheap. Rolls-Royces never do, of course, but the Cullinan may be on a whole new level. We’ll know more about pricing information in the coming weeks and months. Stay tuned to TFLcar.com for more updates on Thursday, May 10!

In the meantime, check out our impressions of the new Rolls-Royce Phantom: