HIGH ROLLER
Yours for £250k, Rolls-Royce’s first off-roader
AS a byword for luxury, RollsRoyce was always going to set the bar – and the price – high when it moved into the off-road market.
And, sure enough, for £250,000 the latest Rolls has enough power to soar up the steepest hills – and a console cool box for a champagne picnic at the summit.
The off-roader, which has been named after the Cullinan diamond, has the power of six Ford Fiestas and has been launched to capitalise on the booming market for upmarket SUVs (sports utility vehicles).
As well as its all-terrain prowess, the Cullinan could tempt speed merchants with its ability to go from 0 to 62mph in around five seconds. Top speed is 155mph but, at way over two tons, the 4x4 is definitely on the thirsty side – doing just under 19 miles per gallon.
Rolls- Royce chiefs hope the ‘regal’ Cullinan will tempt Her Majesty out of her much loved Land Rovers and Range Rovers.
The BMW-owned company said the model had been ‘tested to destruction’ during rigorous trials around the world.
It added that the response since its unveiling had been ‘overwhelming’ and ‘exceeded expectations’. A source said that within an hour of a Cullinan being displayed in the window of their Mayfair dealership in London on Tuesday morning, a passing customer walked in ‘put down a deposit on the spot’.
It is hoped the 4x4 will make up a ‘significant proportion’ of future sales, which last year topped 3,362. It comes as fellow luxury car-makers Bentley and Lamborghini bring out their own SUVs.