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Rolls-Royce to decide on SUV by year's end

The market for high-end luxury SUVs continues to climb, but Rolls-Royce is in no huge rush to jump on the leather-clad, high-riding bandwagon. The company has just announced a new sales record for the fifth year running, with over 4,000 units delivered in 2014. But it recognizes that SUVs are where the market is going, so it's going to carefully weigh its options, and make a decision on how to proceed by the end of 2015. This according to Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos in speaking with Auto Express. "There is not yet a final decision, because we still need to answer a couple of questions ourselves," said Muller-Otvos in regard to a potential SUV, admitting, "You need to move the brand from time to time, you need to go with the flow. We might even see in a few years that the classical sedan segments are shrinking due to the fact that SUV type vehicles are growing. So if you don't change your product portfolio to something that is up to date then at some point in time you might even die." If the storied Goodwood-based marque does proceed with an SUV, it would be following former sister-company Bentley into the segment. But they're not the only ones. Mercedes is said to be preparing a Maybach version of the next GL-Class, Jaguar Land Rover keeps making increasingly expensive and luxurious Range Rovers, and Maserati is preparing to launch its Levante crossover. The prospect of an SUV isn't the only project Rolls-Royce has in the works, though. It's got a convertible version of the Wraith coming soon, and sooner or later there will be a replacement for the thirteen-year-old Phantom saloon, potentially to include some carbon fiber in its construction to help trim weight. A hybrid powertrain could be in the mix as well, though customers have shunned the idea of a pure electric model. Just don't expect a Rolls-Royce more accessible than the Ghost: the company is glad to be growing its sales, but is not chasing any specific sales targets that would press it to cheapen the brand by going down-market.

Latest Rolls-Royce Wraith teaser reveals fastback form

In its fourth and final teaser before the 2014 Wraith is introduced next week, Rolls-Royce has released another image of the car showing a distinct fastback appearance. We've seen this car teased in its profile before, but that image had a heavy shadow over the rear of the car obscuring what should be the Wraith's defining element.
Rolls-Royce motorcars aren't exactly known for having overtly sporty proportions, but this could all change with the Wraith's styling. Judging by the teased drawing and official words from Rolls-Royce, the coupe's roofline will flow practically in a straight line from the A-pillar back to the rear of the car. With such a design, the Wraith could well become one of the world's most elegant and expensive hatchbacks, though it may also have a conventional hinged trunk opening.
Over the last month, we've also seen a rear shot of the car as well as glimpse of what the interior has in store, but the two images showing the car's profile give us our best idea of what to expect when the car is unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. Until then, you can check out our winter testing spy shots and read a brief quote from Rolls-Royce design director Giles Taylor in the press release posted below.

Rolls-Royce says SUV will in fact be called Cullinan, releases photos

We have known the upcoming Rolls-Royce luxury SUV is called is called Cullinan for a while now, but it took until today for the manufacturer to officially acknowledge the name. Referring to the quite simply enormous Cullinan diamond, Rolls-Royce says the name befits the new "high-bodied vehicle," carefully steering around the SUV moniker. "The name Cullinan has been hiding in plain sight since we revealed it as the project name some years ago," says Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos. "It is the most fitting name for our extraordinary new product. Cullinan is a motor car of such clarity of purpose, such flawless quality and preciousness, and such presence that it recalibrates the scale and possibility of true luxury. Just like the Cullinan Diamond, the largest flawless diamond ever found, it emerges when it is perfect and exists above all others." This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. At the same time, Rolls-Royce also released new official photos of the Cullinan, though it is still wearing camouflage. One of the photos depicts a test mule climbing a muddy hill, a territory unclaimed by Rolls-Royces except for ones modified by privateer rally teams. The Cullinan, based on a new proprietary aluminum spaceframe, is expected to be unveiled by late summer 2018, with deliveries starting in 2019. The vehicle's introduction is planned to lift the brand's yearly sales to 5,000 units per year, as they fell to 3,362 in 2017. View 5 Photos Related Video: Image Credit: Rolls-Royce Motorcars Rolls-Royce SUV Luxury rolls-royce cullinan