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2019 Rolls-Royce Cullinan First Drive Review | $325,000 of monolithic serenity

JACKSON HOLE, Wyoming – The north face of Snow King Mountain drops a dizzying 1,571 feet, forming the steepest ski slope in the lower 48 states. Considering the Rolls-Royce Cullinan's prevailing theme of superlatives– it's named after the world's largest uncut diamond and claims the highest starting price of any SUV on the planet– it's no surprise that my first experience in the $325,000 monolith involved driving it up Snow King's switchback crisscrossed trail. For a vehicle that proudly displays a retractable Spirit of Ecstasy ornament above the imposing "Parthenon" grille, there are a few subtle ways the Cullinan departs from Rolls-Royce's tried and true touchpoints. Though its platform is an expanded version of the Phantom VIII's new so-called Architecture of Luxury, the aluminum spaceframe houses Rolls-Royce's first-ever all-wheel drive powertrain. The twin-turbocharged 6.75-liter V12 is another familiar element that delivers 637 lb-ft of peak torque at an even lower 1,600 rpm; horsepower remains at 563, or as they once said in olden times, "sufficient." But unlike in Phantom and Ghost, the rear passengers aren't nestled behind the D-pillar like starlets in hiding but instead are exposed with a clear view of the surroundings thanks to considerable acreage of double-paned glass. The commanding visibility from the elevated seats is lovely, especially when approaching Snow King Mountain's initial ascent. Though Cullinan is positioned as having some degree of offroad capability, don't expect the complex Terrain Response settings you'll find in a run-of-the-mill Range Rover. The only drive mode setting is "Offroad," which elevates the air suspension, stiffens the ride (to avoid bottoming out the dampers), and ensures that wheels are pushed earthward if contact is lost. Throttle response is softened, and traction control becomes less restrictive and can be completely disabled. Cullinan feels large and commanding from the driver seat which makes tackling the steep grade seem all the more doable. Push the Offroad button and the vehicle lifts up in steps, like a camel getting on its feet. There's a notably softer pause between throttle input and forward motion when you're climbing loose gravel, so much so that you might need to bury the throttle to get going. What's actually happening beneath you, though, remains a bit of a mystery thanks to the surreal levels of isolation and sound deadening embedded into this platform.

2016 Rolls-Royce Dawn opens up in public [w/video]

This is the third time I've seen this exact car. Rolls-Royce first showed me the Dawn at a private residence in Beverly Hills, then I saw it behind closed doors in Pebble Beach. Now it makes its official public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and even though the car is old news to me, it's drawing quite a crowd. Of course, there's always reason to get excited when someone says, "New Rolls-Royce." The Dawn is a really pretty, four-seat convertible. It shares a lot of its underpinnings with the Ghost and Wraith, but nearly 80 percent of the body panels are new. Under that long hood sits Rolls' 6.6-liter, twin-turbo V12, producing 563 horsepower and 575 pound-feet of torque, mated to the silky-smooth ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Rolls-Royce says the Dawn will be its most versatile canvas yet, with nearly endless possibilities for customization. I like the blue and orange of the showcar, but I'm excited to see how different colors look on this nicely sculpted, elegant convertible. If you haven't checked out the Dawn already, see it from all angles in our live gallery above. Everything else you could ever want to know about the new Rolls-Royce can be found in the press blast, below. ROLLS-ROYCE DAWN – UNCOMPROMISED DROPHEAD LUXURY September, 8 2015 – Goodwood UK "Our new Rolls-Royce Dawn promises a striking, seductive encounter like no other Rolls-Royce to date, and begins a new age of open-top, super-luxury motoring. Dawn is a beautiful new motor car that offers the most uncompromised open-top motoring experience in the world. A true four-seater, it will be the most social of super-luxury drophead motor cars for those who wish to bathe in the sunlight of the world's most exclusive social hotspots. Quite simply, it is the sexiest Rolls-Royce ever built. The name 'Dawn' perfectly suggests the fresh opportunities that every new day holds – an awakening, an opening up of one's senses and a burst of sunshine. In its tentative, inchoate, anticipatory state, dawn is the world coming to light from the ethereal dark of the night. The early-day chill of dawn provides an erotic tingle on the skin, awakening the senses and passions as the day begins.

Rolls-Royce predicts it will set a delicious production record in 2020

Rolls-Royce suspended production at its Goodwood, England, factory in March 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic, but there's at least one part of its business that's not affected by the temporary shutdown. The 250,000 bees that live and work near its factory are on track to set another production record in 2020. The BeeMW-owned (sorry) firm opened its Bee Apiary in 2017. It currently consists of six hives named Phantom, Wraith, Ghost, Dawn, Cullinan, and Spirit of Ecstasy, respectively. Rolls-Royce announced the quarter-million bees that buzz around its premises emerged from winter in excellent health, and they're expected to make even more honey in 2020 than in 2019 (though Rolls-Royce didn't specify a quantity). Clearly, social distancing and work-from-home orders don't apply here. Rolls-Royce works with local beekeepers to process the honey when it's ready, but don't look for it in the breakfast aisle the next time you're out buying groceries. It's exclusively served to the company's guests, like the customers who travel to Goodwood to configure or take delivery of a car. Put another way, a taste of Rolls-Royce-branded honey will cost you at least $300,000 and a round-trip ticket to the British countryside. Surprisingly, the rivalry between Rolls-Royce and Bentley continues in the world of beekeeping. In 2019, Bentley built two giant hives for 120,000 bees near its headquarters in Crewe, England. It predicted they'd make about 33 pounds of honey annually, which amounts to about 50 jars. Ford keeps tens of thousands of bees, too; it's caring for at least 80,000 bees near the Rouge factory that currently manufactures the F-150. Bees are an often-overlooked part of the ecosystem. Plants depend on pollination to reproduce, and bees are nature's main pollinators; we'd ultimately have less food if bees were eradicated from the planet. They're endangered in many parts of the world, which is why some automakers are choosing to give them a home.  Related Video: Featured Gallery Rolls-Royce Bee Apiary Green Weird Car News Rolls-Royce