The Rolls-Royce Cullinan gets a facelift and unveils its update

The arrival of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan was a real success for the brand. In 2018 this luxury SUV was presented, breaking with the tradition of high-end saloons that the British marque had. Certainly, those saloons remain active and we will not stop finding those incredible vehicles. But the presence of an SUV with these characteristics attracted a different type of customer to the brand. With a lot of money, mind you.

It is not a new generation of the model, but rather a restyling of the SUV presented in 2018. And it not only comes with an aesthetic update, but it is also accompanied by a high-performance version called Black Badge. This new version has the traditional front grille, which in this case is black and backlit.

In this Black Badge variant elements have been added that improve the driving experience. For example, the brake pedal has been improved, with a shorter travel. This makes it more fun to drive and react better to the driver’s demands. Another addition is Low Mode. This reduces the gear-shift time of the ZF eight-speed gearbox.

Overall, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan has 23-inch wheels that can be polished either fully or partially, thanks to the available customisation. The rear axle is steering, which improves control of the direction. It adjusts to the steering wheel angle and the pressure the driver applies to the accelerator when taking corners.

At the rear there are more changes to differentiate it more effectively. Inside, work has been done to create a new space. It now has a glazed panel, which combines technology with the traditional craftsmanship found in the brand’s cars.

In addition, there are two screens in the rear, and on all of them you can manage the SPIRIT operating system, exclusive to the brand and which allows maximum performance from the vehicle. This operating system offers control over Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, climate control and the vehicle’s other functions.

Inside the car we find a level of care in keeping with Rolls-Royce’s luxury. There are 2.2 million stitches, 17.7 kilometres of thread and a manufacturing time of 20 hours. The leather has 107,000 perforations of between 0.8 and 1.2 millimetres, made and supervised by an artisan. Another detail present is a Spirit of Ecstasy beneath the analogue clock. Furthermore, in the Black Badge version, the Spirit of Ecstasy is black, to differentiate it completely.

Engine of the new Cullinan

While there are quite a few changes at the aesthetic level, the engine remains intact. This means it has the 6.75-litre V12 engine that delivers 593 CV and a maximum torque of 900 Nm. The sportier version, the Black Badge, reaches up to 600 CV. As for the price, it remains prohibitive for most drivers around the world, but this is one of the Rolls-Royce models designed to be driven by its owner rather than a chauffeur.

In fact, the average age of buyers is 43, considerably younger than the typical users of Rolls-Royce models.