The best SUV in the world?

patrons of true luxury.”

And, as you would expect, the Cullinan is at the very pinnacle of motoring luxury with prestige features such as TVs, champagne coolers and air suspension - but one more unusual ability is that this first ever 4x4 Rolls-Royce also has electronic four wheel steering and its construction is almost all aluminium - meaning despite its size the SUV weighs only around two-and-a-half tonnes.

There is also another first for Rolls-Royce at the back, a split rear tailgate - powered of course - giving access to the 600-litre luggage space which also has a powered floor that can give a level surface for bulkier loads.

In fact Rolls-Royce say this is also their first-ever familyfriendly car and expect sales of the 563bhp Cullinan will bring down even further the average age profile of owners of their cars, which has already fallen by a decade in recent years.

There’s also the usual array of pretty much any combination of the very best woods, leathers and metals available inside and any colour you want outside. RollsRoyce expect no two cars will leave their Goodwood factory exactly the same.

Getting into the back is via typically Rolls-Royce rear-hinged coach doors that, like the front doors, clamp over the sills to prevent you getting dirty as you get in and out and have pop out branded umbrellas for that typical Manchester weather.

And, as this is very much a driver’s Rolls-Royce, a functional dash layout features a symmetrical facia and simple connections plus Rolls’ version of BMW’s excellent iDrive infotainment system. The very latest technology is used including night vision with pedestrian and wildlife detection, adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning systems.

Engaging the ‘Everywhere’ button between the front seats will change the car’s settings ready for what is claimed to be the most serene ride over the most challenging surfaces anywhere in the world.

A stereo camera in the windscreen monitors the surface and will adjust the suspension accordingly, while the navigation system will also prepare the gearbox for the road ahead with its three-dimensional mapping. And, if you want to get your Cullinan wet, it has a wading depth of 540mm with the air suspension raised by 40mm to its highest ride height.

If you were wondering about that name it comes from a famous diamond which sits as the centrepiece of the crown of England.

Torsten added: “The name embodies what the car is about as the diamond took a long time to form to perfection and, as we know, diamonds are also highly valuable and really tough.”

So with first deliveries to customers expected at around Christmas time this could be the perfect present - provided you can find the £230,000 plus price tag and live with around 20mpg. Even so I expect to be seeing quite a few on our roads by early next year.