2023 Rolls-royce Phantom on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Rolls-Royce Cullinan test car takes the wheel — from a BMW 3 Series

The biggest, baddest Rolls-Royce will soon be here. We've seen spy shots the new Cullinan for months, but this is our first look at the SUV's interior. Though much of it is still covered, we can make out a few details hiding beneath the surface. There's no word on when the new Rolls will hit the streets, but look for a debut sometime this auto show season. At first glance, there seems to be a lot of parts taken straight from a BMW parts bin. BMW owns Rolls, so this shouldn't be too much of a surprise. Still, it's disappointing to see the steering wheel from a 3 Series in place of the handsome, thin-rimmed wheels you usually find in a Rolls-Royce. That said, this could simply be a temporary solution while the car undergoes development. The rest looks a lot like the new Phantom. This includes the digital instrument cluster and various switches and knobs. There really isn't anything new we can glean from the Cullinan's exterior. We've seen this all before. The rear doors are of particular note as they each appear to have two door handles. Look closely and you can see a regular one in the back and what appears to be another up front. The latter suggests it may have suicide doors, though it may simply be a trim piece meant to simulate that iconic Rolls feature. We'll have to wait for the full debut to find out more. Related Video: Featured Gallery Rolls Royce Cullinan Spy Shots View 12 Photos Image Credit: CarPix Spy Photos Rolls-Royce SUV Luxury

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.

Rolls-Royce Wraith officially revealed in profile

Well here's a nice twofer. On the same day Rolls-Royce releases its first official teaser image showing the 2014 Wraith, we also get a look at the car undergoing some cold-weather testing courtesy of some new spy shots. As the coupe version of the Ghost, the 2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith will make its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and it's expected to go on sale during the fourth quarter of this year.
Rolls-Royce already confirmed plenty of information in a teaser it released last week, but the latest image shows us a clear shot of what the car's midsection will look like. Comparing this image and the spy shots, we can see that the Wraith will have a pretty sleek - (almost Bentley Continental GT-like) roofline, and, like the Phantom Coupe, it will have rear-hinged doors. We can also tell from the spy shots that it seems to be keeping the same face as the Ghost and taillights, too.
Be sure to check out the latest spy photos for the Wraith as well as a brief press release from Rolls-Royce by scrolling below.