RR Project cullinan 2
Feann Torr6 Sept 2016
NEWS

Rolls-Royce Cullinan an HSV, not an SUV

World's most prestigious 4WD to be a "different interpretation" of an SUV; a high-sided vehicle

When the most polarising vehicle in Rolls-Royce's 110-year history — a high-riding crossover vehicle codenamed Project Cullinan — launches in late 2018, it won't be called an SUV.

So says the British company's global product communications manager Andrew Boyle, who insisted to motoring.com.au during a recent visit to Rolls-Royce HQ in Goodwood that the Cullinan was not an SUV – and that customers should expect the unexpected.

"Project Cullinan? We call it a high-sided vehicle. SUV is not necessarily the right thing to call it because it's not necessarily sports, it's not necessarily utility."

In typical Rolls-Royce fashion, the company wants to distance itself from the term SUV and although the high-sided vehicle – HSV? – is widely expected to be a high-riding luxury wagon, Boyle hinted the company could make a departure from this tried-and-tested route, further separating itself from the current prestige SUV king, the Bentley Bentayga.

"A number of other brands are entering into this area as well, with their own interpretations of what a luxury SUV should be. You'll have to wait to see what we decide it should be, but I think you'll find that it'll be a different interpretation to what's available today," said Boyle.

Although Rolls-Royce has never built a station wagon or estate vehicle at the factory, there were popular conversions in the past, including those by Radford, such as the 1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Radford Countryman.

RR Project Cullinan beg


"Project Cullinan will certainly be a very different experience of a Rolls-Royce. But it will also be a very different experience for the luxury customer," said Boyle, who added that the high-riding Roller would blend heritage and modernity in equal measures.

"They will come together very nicely with Project Cullinan," he stated. "I think that heritage will come through when you see what results from Project Cullinan."

The first Rolls-Royce crossover, which could be termed a shooting brake, will be underpinned by a new scalable aluminium architecture that will also form the basis for the next Phantom.

Both vehicles will be rolled out in 2018, the Phantom early that year, the Cullinan later.

The BMW Group-owned British car-maker is expected to incorporate many of the advances seen in BMW's flagship model, the 7 Series limousine, such as a carbon-fibre core to reduce weight and the potential of a more intuitive gesture control system, particularly for rear-seat passengers.

This new aluminium platform will also be future-proofed for autonomous driving functions and electric powertrains, but Boyle was coy on whether Project Cullinan – a name that's expected to change before it hits showrooms – will be offered with hybrid or EV options.

"Electrification is an interesting subject. Whether electrification is something that we bring as early as Project Cullinan we'll have to wait and see."

Although car-makers are having to downsize engines to meet tightening emissions regulations, it's expected the mould-breaking new Roller will continue to use the company's much-loved twin-turbo V12, possibly modified to offer improved efficiency.

Expect the Rolls-Royce 4x4 to arrive in Australia in 2019, with pricing tipped to start at around half a million dollars.

Just don't expect a Rolls-Royce ute anytime soon, even if a BMW ute someday becomes reality.

Share this article
Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
Stay up to dateBecome a carsales member and get the latest news, reviews and advice straight to your inbox.
Download the carsales app
    AppStoreDownloadGooglePlayDownload
    App Store and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.
    © CAR Group Ltd 1999-2024
    In the spirit of reconciliation we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.