Rolls-Royce is updating its best-selling SUV after an incredibly successful first half-decade.
The storied British automaker unveiled the Cullinan Series II on Tuesday. The refreshed ultra-luxury bruiser has been treated to a rather drastic facelift, but its V-12 remains, thankfully, untouched.
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Rolls-Royce’s first SUV has been the marque’s most popular model since making its debut in 2019 and helped the brand break multiple sales records as recently as last year. With demand for the Cullinan still high, it’s easy to imagine that most automakers would be happy to leave well enough and make incremental changes if any with each new model year. But Rolls-Royce isn’t most automakers.
The Cullinan Series II is more of an evolution than a redesign, but it is visually distinct from its predecessor. The biggest change is the front fascia, which has been heavily revised. The brand’s iconic Spirt of Ecstasy and Pantheon grille are still there, but the latter is now illuminated and there are new LED daytime running lights and a new-look bumper. The vehicle looks mostly the same from the side and back despite some smoother lines, but it now rides on a set of seven-spoke 23-inch wheels that are each milled from a single billet of aluminum. Additionally, customers can now opt for a new paint finish called “Crystal Over” which is infused with glass particles that allow the SUV to shimmer in new ways.
The interior has also been treated to a makeover. Up front, there’s now a dashboard-spanning piece of glass that features an integrated digital gauge cluster, central touchscreen, and the new Illuminated Fascia which features a laser-etched design and can be customized. Between the latter two is the Spirit of Ecstasy clock cabinet which features an analog timepiece that includes an illuminated recreation of the famed hood ornament. There are also new material options, including open-pore Grey Stained Ash wood and a new rayon fabric called Duality Twill that’s made from bamboo. The leather seats also features a pattern made from 107,000 perforations that is inspired by the clouds in the sky above the marque’s Goodwood headquarters.
One Cullinan feature that Rolls-Royce has left alone is the SUV’s twin-turbocharged 6.7-liter V-12. The mill is connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends its 563 hp and 627 ft lbs of torque to all four wheels. That should be more than enough for most drivers, but those who want even more oomph can opt for the Black Badge variant that will also be available at launch. It has an updated version of the 12-cylinder engine that generates 592 horses and 664 ft lbs of torque. The high-performance SUV also comes with a special appearance package that includes darkened chrome and carbon-fiber trim.
Rolls-Royce will start taking orders for the Cullinan Series II later this summer, with deliveries expected to begin before the end of the year. The automaker has yet to say how much the SUV will cost, but an increase over the current version’s $341,000 starting price seems likely.
Click here for more photos of the new Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II.
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