Rolls Royce has finally revealed the long-awaited Cullinan Series II, the facelift, and it honestly looks way better than before making it one of the world’s most luxurious SUVs on the wheel, Upfront is an entirely new facia with stretched LED lights, a new smoother bumper design, and a more prominent, glowing, grille. There are also new 23-inch wheels and fresh paints to add to a near-unlimited collection.
The Cullinan Black Badge makes 591HP and 664 lb-ft of torque from a Twin Turbo V12, The Cullinan Black Badge also gains unique 23-inch wheels along with black badges, and extended dark trim. Inside, the layout is largely the same though there is a new carbon trim on the Black Badge with 6 coats of lacquer taking 21 days to make. The Black Badge also gains a new Duality Twill leather interior using 2.2 million stitches and 11 miles of thread. The dash gains a new full-width glass panel with illuminated motifs, a new analogue clock design, a new digital dash, and the Rolls Spirit infotainment system.
The changes for the Cullinan Series II are driven by the evolving Rolls customer, who is just 43 in 2024. And that younger customer wants, says Rolls, ‘bolder forms of self-expression’. On the outside, that means new vertical daytime running lights, an illuminated ‘Pantheon’ grille and 23-inch wheels.
Inside, the luxe is dialled up even more, with the likes of a bamboo-based ‘Duality Twill’ interior that has up to 2.2 MILLION stitches and 11 MILES of thread, while ‘Placed Perforation’ seats create imagery through the position of over 100,000 tiny holes.
There’s also a Cullinan Black Badge model from the get-go, again determined by that younger customer: when the Cullinan was launched in 2018, over 30% were chauffeur-driven; today, it’s less than 10%. There’s more power than standard, an uprated chassis, and no shiny chrome.
The biggest changes concern the Cullinan’s exterior, with some new tricks employed to enhance its stance and soften its proportions. The new daytime running lights draw the eye out to make the car seem wider, and new air intakes reduce the Cullinan’s loftiness. Lines on the bumper create a ‘V’ that alludes to a super-yacht’s prow. The Pantheon grille is illuminated for the first time on the Cullinan, and the sills are fitted with gloss black elements.
A line runs from the tail lights forward through the centre of the floating RR centre caps. The exhaust surround has a mirror-finish stainless steel, with a protective plate connecting them. Finally, the Cullinan now rides on 23in part or fully polished alloys, with a new seven-spoke design.
