Rolls-Royce has unveiled the Cullinan Series II, a significant evolution of its groundbreaking super-luxury SUV. Since its debut in 2018, the original Cullinan redefined the super-luxury automotive landscape, allowing Rolls-Royce clientele to experience the brand’s renowned “magic carpet ride” across any terrain, anywhere in the world. Over the past six years, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan has broadened the marque’s appeal, attracting entirely new demographics and reshaping perceptions of what a Rolls-Royce motor car embodies. The Cullinan Series II is designed to build upon this success, integrating cutting-edge technologies, novel materials, meticulously refined design elements, and expanded opportunities for Bespoke personalization, ensuring its continued desirability.
Chris Brownridge, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, stated, “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.”
Anders Warming, Director of Design, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, added, “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.”
Launched in 2018, the original Rolls-Royce Cullinan was the world’s first super-luxury SUV, engineered to meet demanding specifications. It needed to be genuinely capable off-road, able to conquer the most challenging environments, while simultaneously delivering the marque’s signature comfort and ‘magic carpet ride’ on any surface. The goal was to create the definitive super-luxury SUV – robust yet refined, unstoppable yet serene: effortless, everywhere. Its global success surpassed even Rolls-Royce’s most optimistic projections, and today, the Cullinan remains the most sought-after Rolls-Royce model in their portfolio.
Given the Cullinan’s remarkable success and overwhelmingly positive global client reception, the task of evolving the ‘Rolls-Royce of SUVs’ was approached with utmost care. Rolls-Royce designers, engineers, and craftspeople leveraged five years of detailed client feedback, brand intelligence gathered through global Private Offices, and advancements in technology to refine the Cullinan. The Series II iteration represents the most comprehensive Series II development in Rolls-Royce history, responding to evolving luxury preferences and usage patterns, while staying true to the core attributes that have fueled the Cullinan’s unprecedented popularity.
Commanding the Urban Space
While the initial Rolls-Royce Cullinan proved its off-road prowess, venturing into previously uncharted territories for a Rolls-Royce, its versatility and ‘effortless everywhere’ nature also positioned it as a ‘daily driver’ for many owners. Rolls-Royce noted that numerous clients highlighted the unparalleled effortless performance of the Cullinan’s 6.75-liter V12 engine, even within their extensive car collections. These considerations were pivotal in shaping the Cullinan Series II.
Rolls-Royce intelligence specialists observed a growing concentration of their clientele in urban centers – from major global metropolises to rapidly expanding cities in emerging markets. Consequently, the Cullinan increasingly serves as a super-luxury statement piece, reflecting the owner’s personality and presence within the urban landscape, while retaining the ability to escape into nature whenever desired. Furthermore, there’s been a notable shift towards owner-drivers. At the Cullinan’s launch, less than 70% were self-driven; today, almost every Cullinan is driven by its owner, with chauffeur services retained by less than 10% of clients. Coupled with the brand’s rejuvenation and expanding Bespoke offerings, the Cullinan has contributed to a significant decrease in the average Rolls-Royce client age, from 56 in 2010 to just 43 today.
Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II: Exterior
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II exterior design is informed by an increasing urban focus, a younger client base, and the rise of self-driving. Verticality is a key design theme, mirroring the illuminated skyscrapers prevalent in the megacities where the Cullinan is increasingly seen. This is most evident in the redesigned lamp treatment, featuring tall daytime running light graphics that ensure instant Cullinan Series II recognition, day or night.
The front of the Cullinan Series II is characterized by clean feature lines and sharp edges, emphasizing monolithic surfaces that accentuate the vehicle’s generous proportions and imposing presence. The bumper lines form a subtle ‘V’ shape, flowing from the base of the daytime running lights to the vehicle’s central point, reminiscent of the sharp bow lines found on modern sports yachts. Below, newly designed air intakes angle outwards assertively, visually lowering the Rolls-Royce Cullinan when viewed head-on.
The centerpiece is the illuminated Pantheon grille, a first for the Cullinan. The grille has been refined with a lower leading edge and incorporates a new polished horizontal ‘horizon line’ positioned between the daytime running lights. This design element provides a clear visual connection to Rolls-Royce’s flagship model, the Phantom Series II.
In profile, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II showcases further surface refinements. While the front wings retain their sheer, vertical lines, designers have added a subtle yet precise feature line extending from the taillight forward to the center of the floating ‘RR’ center caps on the rear wheel. This creates a gentle taper and sense of motion, further enhanced by updated lower valance surfaces that rise at the rear. These surfaces are finished in a rich high-gloss black, reflecting the road surface and amplifying the feeling of movement in these static forms.
The rear view of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II makes a bold statement of power with its exhaust treatment. Each exhaust surround is presented in mirror-finish stainless steel, seamlessly integrated and visually flush with the body. Rear design updates conclude with a brushed stainless-steel protective plate running between the exhausts and extending beneath the vehicle.
Completing this more youthful and expressive evolution of the Cullinan’s styling are larger 23-inch wheels – the first time 23-inch wheels have been offered for the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Each wheel is milled from a solid aluminum billet, and the faceted seven-spoke design is available in a partially or fully polished finish.
To complement the evolved exterior, Rolls-Royce color specialists developed a new paint finish for the Cullinan Series II. Inspired by richly-veined brown marble, Emperador Truffle is a contemporary, minimalist solid grey-brown. When combined with the Bespoke ‘Crystal Over’ finish, a lacquer infused with glass particles, it acquires a subtle shimmer, evocative of fresh snow in morning light.
Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II: Interior
The interior of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II reflects client desires for bolder self-expression, innovative decoration, and intricate detailing. The most significant change to the cabin’s architecture is the pillar-to-pillar glass-panel fascia in the upper dashboard area – an elegant and versatile design element that showcases both digital and physical craftsmanship.
The redesigned gauge cluster panel in front of the driver and the new, permanently visible Central Information Display in the center of the fascia form a stage for the advanced SPIRIT operating system. This digital interface, initially introduced in the all-electric Spectre, makes its V12 Rolls-Royce debut in the Cullinan Series II. SPIRIT allows for Bespoke personalization to extend from the physical realm into the digital, enabling clients to customize the instrument dial colors to match the interior palette or exterior finish.
SPIRIT also integrates Whispers, the Rolls-Royce private members application, into the Cullinan. Clients can send destinations directly to their vehicle, remotely monitor the Cullinan’s location, and manage vehicle locking functions through the app.
Connectivity has been enhanced throughout the vehicle, particularly for rear passengers in the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II. Clients can connect up to two streaming devices to the rear screens, which now feature a Bespoke interface for in-car streaming management and control of seating functions such as massage, heating, and cooling. Internet connectivity allows for a Wi-Fi hotspot and independent streaming for each screen. For the first time in the Cullinan, any type of Bluetooth headphones can be paired with the rear seat infotainment system. Alternatively, occupants can enjoy the marque’s exceptional 18-speaker Bespoke Audio system, powered by a latest-generation 18-channel 1400-watt amplifier. The Cullinan Series II retains Rolls-Royce’s celebrated speaker architecture, utilizing cavities within the aluminum sill sections as resonance chambers for low-frequency speakers, effectively transforming the entire vehicle into a subwoofer.
Positioned directly in front of the passenger is an Illuminated Fascia panel – a striking expression of modern craftsmanship, previously featured in the Ghost and Spectre, now available in the Cullinan family. In the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II, it showcases an illuminated ‘Cullinan’ wordmark and a unique Cityscape graphic inspired by the nighttime skylines of global megacities. This is achieved using a specially developed technique involving 7,000 laser-etched dots on the rear of darkened, toughened security glass, each etched at minute variations in angle and dimension to create a sense of depth. Beyond this prêt-à-porter design, clients can also collaborate with Rolls-Royce Bespoke designers to create their own personalized Illuminated Fascia motif.
Adjacent to the Central Information Display on the passenger side of the fascia is the new Spirit of Ecstasy Clock Cabinet. This unique inset vitrine houses both an analogue timepiece and an up-lit Spirit of Ecstasy figurine. The figurine is crafted from solid stainless steel and placed on a stage with a matte black back panel and high-gloss side panels to create a reflective effect.
The integration of the Spirit of Ecstasy into the Rolls-Royce Cullinan interior was the result of four years of development and a unique collaboration between analogue and digital craftspeople to create a dramatic, meticulously orchestrated lighting sequence. This sequence begins with the driver’s display illuminating upon entry, followed by the Central Information Display, then the Illuminated Fascia, where light sweeps inward towards the vitrine, illuminating the timepiece. The Spirit of Ecstasy is initially illuminated from below, akin to a spotlight on a debut performance, before settling into a soft glow.
Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II: An Evolved Material Palette
Reflecting the Rolls-Royce Cullinan’s inherent capability to escape into nature, and the desire of many clients to do so, the interior material palette is inspired by botanicals. The Cullinan Series II introduces Grey Stained Ash, a richly grained natural open-pore wood with a delicate shimmer. Each log of this species is individually selected, and veneer ‘leaves’ are hand-stained and enhanced with microscopic metallic particles to create this unique effect – a process that took over four years to develop.
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II also continues Rolls-Royce’s exploration of textiles with a new rayon fabric made from bamboo, named Duality Twill. The use of bamboo was inspired by the extensive bamboo grove in Le Jardin des Méditerranées on the Côte d’Azur, near Sir Henry Royce’s former winter home, Villa Mimosa. Design team members visited the gardens during a research trip and were inspired to develop a material using the plant, which has grown in the gardens for over a century and would have been observed by Sir Henry Royce himself.
The twill textile is embroidered with an artistic ‘Duality’ graphic. Based on an abstract interpretation of the marque’s founders’ interlinked RR initials, the design has a clear nautical influence, reminiscent of the interwoven rope lines on sailing yachts – another subtle nod to the French Riviera.
This intricate embroidered textile was developed over a year in collaboration with a master weaver who has now joined Rolls-Royce full-time to oversee this complex process at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood. A full Duality Twill interior in the Rolls-Royce Cullinan can incorporate up to 2.2 million stitches, 11 miles of thread, and requires 20 hours of construction. To ensure pattern uniformity, each piece is individually crafted before being laser-cut to seal the material’s edge and prevent loose threads. The base twill textile is available in three colors – Lilac, Chocolate, and Black – and clients can select from 51 different thread colors.
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II integrates another new contemporary craft technique developed by Rolls-Royce artisans: Placed Perforation. This technique creates artwork through tiny perforations in the leather. Available for the first time on a series production model, the Placed Perforation in the Cullinan Series II features a pattern inspired by the constantly changing shapes and shadows of clouds over the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood. It comprises up to 107,000 perforations, ranging from 0.8 to 1.2 millimeters in diameter. Each individual perforation is inspected by a craftsperson to ensure absolute uniformity.
Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II: A Legacy Furthered
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan established a new legacy for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, shaped in collaboration with a bold and uncompromising generation of super-luxury consumers. The Cullinan Series II evolves and strengthens this model’s position within the brand, reaffirming that the marque’s future will be shaped in partnership with its clients and defined by exquisite contemporary craftsmanship.
Please find the Black Badge Cullinan Series II press release here.
CO2 EMISSIONS & CONSUMPTION.
WLTP (combined) CO2 emission: 380-363 g/km; Fuel consumption: 16.8-17.7 mpg / 16.8-16.0 l/100km.
