Rolls-Royce Cullinan
2018-present · Rolls-Royce Cullinan — Super SUV, V12 Twin-Turbo, designed by Giles Taylor.
The Story
In 2018 Rolls-Royce did the once-unthinkable and built an SUV. The Cullinan – named after the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond, the largest gem-quality rough ever found – brought the magic-carpet ride to a tall, all-wheel-drive body. Under the bonnet sits the 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12; beneath it, the Architecture of Luxury spaceframe gives genuine (if rarely exercised) off-road ability.
It became Rolls-Royce’s best-seller almost overnight and pulled a younger, broader clientele to Goodwood without cheapening the brand. Signature touches include a glass partition sealing the cabin from the luggage bay and an optional ‘Viewing Suite’ – two leather seats and a cocktail table that motor out of the tailgate. A Black Badge edition (600 bhp) sharpened the attitude, and a Series II facelift arrived in 2024.
The Numbers
Benchmarked against its class
Each dial ranks this car within its Super SUV class — fuller means higher, and the tick marks the class midpoint.
Signature Colors
The Designer
Giles Taylor
Coventry- and RCA-trained; chief designer of the Jaguar XK and XJ lines (to 2011) before joining RR, where as Director of Design (2012-2018) he shaped the Wraith, Dawn, Phantom VIII and Cullinan. Now global design VP at FAW’s Hongqi.
Studio Motors POV
The Cullinan made Rolls-Royce relevant to a new generation without diluting the brand – the SUV that prints money for Goodwood, and the easiest modern Rolls to use every day.
The Engine
BMW N73 / N74 V12
Lineage
Where it sits in the bloodline
Market & Value
Values on cars like this move monthly. Our brokers price from real transactions.
What Reviewers Said About Cullinan
Worth Knowing About the Cullinan
3 Things You Didn’t Know
- 1) It's named after the Cullinan Diamond (3,106 carats); cut stones from it sit in the British Crown Jewels. 2) It was Rolls-Royce's first-ever SUV and first all-wheel-drive car. 3) The optional 'Viewing Suite' deploys two leather seats and a cocktail table out of the tailgate at the touch of a button.
5 Fast Facts
- 1) 563 bhp standard / 600 bhp Black Badge. 2) First RR SUV (2018) – and quickly its best-seller. 3) Real off-road ability via AWD and all-wheel steering. 4) A glass partition isolates the cabin from the boot. 5) Series II update launched 2024.
Provenance
Owners & what to look for
Famous Owners
Kim Kardashian – documented (The Sun detailed her bespoke blue-interior Cullinan; widely photographed). Cristiano Ronaldo – documented via his own social-media posts.
Studio Buyer’s Brief
Black Badge for presence and the extra power. Verify the air suspension, AWD/AWS systems and electronics; tasteful factory colours hold value far better than aftermarket wraps. Running costs are serious – prize a fully-documented Goodwood history.
Full Specifications
- Make / Model
- Rolls-Royce Cullinan
- Class
- Super SUV
- Production years
- 2018-present
- Units built
- Not disclosed (RR does not publish per-model figures)
- Variants
- Black Badge; Series II (2024 facelift)
- Engine layout
- Front
- Engine
- V12 Twin-Turbo
- Engine family
- BMW N73 / N74 V12
- Displacement
- 6.75L (6,749 cc)
- Power
- 600 hp
- Torque
- 664 lb-ft
- 0–60 mph
- 4.9 s
- Top speed
- 155 mph
- Power-to-weight
- 214 hp/tonne · 10.3 lb/hp
- Transmission
- 8-speed automatic (ZF 8HP)
- Drivetrain
- All-wheel drive · Petrol
- Curb weight
- 6171 lb
Questions
Cullinan FAQ
Was the Rolls-Royce Cullinan the first Rolls-Royce SUV?
Yes. Launched in 2018, the Cullinan was Rolls-Royce’s first-ever SUV and the brand’s first production car with all-wheel drive.
What engine is in the Rolls-Royce Cullinan?
The Cullinan is powered by a 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 producing 563 bhp / 627 lb-ft in standard trim. The Black Badge raises output to 600 PS (about 592 bhp by U.S. press conversion) and 900 Nm (~664 lb-ft), paired with an 8-speed ZF automatic.
Why is the Rolls-Royce Cullinan named after a diamond?
The Cullinan is named after the Cullinan Diamond, the largest rough gem-quality diamond ever found at 3,106 carats, unearthed in South Africa in 1905. Cut stones from it are set in the British Crown Jewels.
What is the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge?
Black Badge is Rolls-Royce’s performance-focused Cullinan variant, raising output from 563 bhp to 600 PS (about 592 hp) and torque from 627 lb-ft to ~664 lb-ft (900 Nm), with darkened exterior trim and a more dynamic character.
How much does a new Rolls-Royce Cullinan cost?
The Cullinan launched in 2018 from $325,000. The 2024 Series II update and ongoing specification upgrades have raised the base price; Black Badge and bespoke options regularly push final figures past $450,000.
How fast is the Rolls-Royce Cullinan from 0 to 60 mph?
The Cullinan Black Badge accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, a strong result for a luxury SUV weighing over 6,100 pounds.
The Rolls-Royce Lineup
Explore every Rolls-Royce
Silver Wraith ’46Silver Dawn ’49
Phantom IV ’50Silver Cloud I ’55Phantom V ’59Silver Cloud II ’59
Silver Cloud III ’62Silver Shadow I ’65Phantom VI ’68
Corniche (1971) ’71Camargue ’75Silver Shadow II ’77
Silver Spirit / Silver Spur ’80
Corniche (2000) ’00Phantom VII ’03Ghost (1st Gen) ’09
Wraith ’13Dawn ’15Phantom VIII ’17Sweptail ’17Cullinan ’18
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