Prestige Hong Kong

CAR

Rolls-Royce Cullinan

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It’s not often you climb aboard a Rolls-Royce and are sent off into the wilds with the understand­ing that, when you return it around eight hours and a couple of hundred kilometres later, it’s going to be dirty. But then unless your name is Thomas Edward Lawrence, better known as the World War I hero Lawrence of Arabia, who in his campaigns across the desert was photograph­ed riding aboard an extremely grimy Silver Ghost, it’s doubtful that any car bearing the Spirit of Ecstasy ornament you’ve ever travelled in has been anything other than spotless. The vehicle that I’m driving, however, is a very different propositio­n from any Rolls-Royce we’ve seen before. The motor manufactur­er’s first-ever SUV, the Cullinan – which after a lengthy gestation and countless social-media teases was finally revealed to the world via a webcast in May – combines the company’s customary head-spinning luxury with offroad abilities we’d hitherto never have associated with the august British brand. And to underscore those facts I’ve been brought deep into the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming, where, in a spectacula­r autumnal setting of snow-capped mountains, rushing rivers, golden aspen forests and dusty trails – a backdrop normally suggestive of Stetson-wearing cowboys but never stately Rolls-Royces – we’ve been invited to put this astounding new monster through its paces. This, of course, is prime SUV country, one of those areas of the US where the footprint of the average runabout is similar to that of a decent-size residence in some countries. So that when standing next to the ubiquitous Cadillac Escalades, nine-seat Chevy Suburbans and Ford F150 pickups, the Cullinan doesn’t look excessive at all – or at least not in terms of size. Make no mistake, though, this new Rolls is huge and it’s in no way out of place on highways such as these. The numbers say it all. The Cullinan measures more than 5.3 metres from front to rear, which is a just a few centimetre­s short of a full-size Ghost limousine. At almost 1.84 metres high, it’s likely taller than most passengers, and its 2.16-metre girth makes it wider than many trucks. That it weighs just 2.66 tonnes dry, however, is a testament to its aluminium-rich Architectu­re of Luxury spaceframe constructi­on – I say “just”, because you must remember the Cullinan has a gargantuan, 6.75-litre

THE VAST THRONE I’M COSSETED WITHIN IS COVERED IN THE MOST BUTTERY HIDE IMAGINABLE

twin-turbo V12 up front, a heavy and complex four-wheel-drive system plus a satnav-assisted eight-speed automatic (SAT) beneath the floor, active air suspension, steerable rear wheels and an interior that has at least as many luxurious amenities stuffed into it as the Royal Suite in Claridge’s. And that’s not to forget 100kg of sound deadening inserted into every conceivabl­e bodywork cavity – and even the tyres – which would probably do Abbey Road Studios proud. I’d honestly feared that any SUV emanating from the Rolls-Royce factory couldn’t help but be outré and possibly – dare I suggest it? – vulgar, but the reality is that aside from the sheer grandeur of its proportion­s and presence, and the towering Parthenon grille that adorns its nose, the Cullinan’s exterior styling is classy and even in some respects subtle. This is partly because the designers have resisted the urge to overegg the SUV’s van-like silhouette with meaningles­s creases and power lines, opting instead for the suggestion of a truncated rear deck and a hint at the elegance of a convention­al limo’s “three-box” shape. The short front and long rear overhangs also lend grace and athleticis­m to a format that all can too often be utilitaria­n and functional. That same refined air even extends to the interior, which, though groaning with opulence and quite obviously customisab­le to meet every whim (I forget the number of leather, wood and colour options available, but the permutatio­ns are inexhausti­ble), still strikes me as tasteful and restrained. Naturally, all I can see and touch is made from the finest materials and could hardly be more exquisitel­y hand crafted, more beautiful to look at or more sumptuousl­y comfortabl­e – from the milledmeta­l organ stops that control the air vents to the lambs-wool mats beneath my feet. Equally regal is the vast throne that I’m cosseted within (rather than merely sitting upon), which is covered in the most buttery hide imaginable. This being 2018, however, there are also plenty of concession­s to contempora­neity, such as the digital dashboard, the touchsensi­tive infotainme­nt display, the suite of driver-assistance technologi­es and the superb sound system. Indeed, my car is even swisher than some other Cullinans that RollRoyce has brought along, as it has a pair of individual chairs in the rear (this option also gets a console-mounted refrigerat­or and a glass partition

that seals off the luggage area) as opposed to the standard-issue bench, which the company says is “more attractive to families”. Even better, were I attending a polo tournament – or, in this part of the world, perhaps a rodeo – I could open the split, electrical­ly operated tailgate and watch the action from the optional twin-seat Viewing Suite, occasional­ly throwing disdainful glances in the direction of less privileged spectators nearby. And of course, my ultra-SUV wouldn’t be a proper Roller if one pair of doors didn’t open the “wrong” way, a foible that – along with the car’s height, the absence of sills and the ability to squat on its suspension when parked – actually facilitate­s access to the cabin no end. Room is plentiful whether riding front or back, you sit higher than in a convention­al Rolls-Royce and the large glass area enhances the sense of airiness and space. From the driver’s seat, looking along the bonnet to the flying-lady mascot (think of it as a somewhat superior “gunsight”), the view is all-encompassi­ng and the sense of total command heightened by the excellent position and a helm that’s thicker and more wieldy than usual.

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 ??  ?? engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharg­ed V12 transmissi­on: satellite-assisted eight-speed max power: 563bhp max torque: 850Nm @ 1,600rpm max speed: 250km/h accelerati­on: 0-100km/h in 5.2 seconds dry weight: 2,660kg ROLLS-ROYCE CULLINAN
engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharg­ed V12 transmissi­on: satellite-assisted eight-speed max power: 563bhp max torque: 850Nm @ 1,600rpm max speed: 250km/h accelerati­on: 0-100km/h in 5.2 seconds dry weight: 2,660kg ROLLS-ROYCE CULLINAN
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 ??  ?? TOP: THE OPTIONAL REAR VIEWING SUITE IS THE PERFECT PERCH AT RODEOS. ABOVE: LAWRENCE OF ARABIA WREAKED HAVOC ON THE TURKS ABOARD (FULL-SIZE) ROLLS-ROYCE ARMOURED CARS SUCH AS THIS
TOP: THE OPTIONAL REAR VIEWING SUITE IS THE PERFECT PERCH AT RODEOS. ABOVE: LAWRENCE OF ARABIA WREAKED HAVOC ON THE TURKS ABOARD (FULL-SIZE) ROLLS-ROYCE ARMOURED CARS SUCH AS THIS

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