10 Things You Didn't Know About the Rolls-Royce Cullinan

The Rolls Royce Cullinan is the top of the line when it comes to SUVs. The name of the brand speaks for itself and conjures images of high performance, safety, reliability, and prestige. A Rolls Royce price tag is just a part of the package. Mass production has not been the tradition of any model produced by the company and this makes them even more special. The Cullinan, as many of its family members, comes packed with extra special surprises. With this in mind, here are 10 things that you didn't know about the elusive Cullinan.

1. It's equipped with suicide doors

The fact that the Cullinan comes with suicide doors should really come as no surprise. It's the habit of Rolls Royce to design all their vehicles with this feature. In fact, it's somewhat of a signature of the automaker. The thing that makes this addition to the Cullinan so noteworthy is that it is currently the only SUV in the entire world to come with suicide doors. They set that standard for SUVs, but we've heard rumors that Kia is planning to take a shot at this novel design feature in their upcoming Telluride. We'll have to wait and see what becomes of that.

2. Its name is derived from something of great value

When Rolls Royce chose the name for this one of a kind SUV, they knew that it had to reflect something very special. They decided to bestow the name of the largest diamond ever to be discovered in the world. The Cullinan diamond, found in South Africa holds the record with a whopping 3,106-carat weight in its rough form. The name of the diamond comes from Cullinan, the South African region it was found. The area itself reflected the name of the chairman of the mine, Thomas Cullinan. This rare gem became a gift that was bestowed upon King Edward VII in celebration of his 66th birthday.

3. The doors feature an innovative design

Let's begin with the lovely clamshell design of the Rolls "coach doors." They wrap under the vehicle's body to protect the interior from getting dirt inside. They open via a single touch and when opened the vehicle takes a 2-inch drop for the ultimate in easy entry and exit.

4. It shares the Phantom platform

The engineers and design professionals at Rolls-Royce made the decision to create an SUV that dripped with luxury. They based it upon the architecture of the Rolls-Royce Phantom, and the latest generation in the lineup to boot. Optimal comfort is achieved through the stiff chassis that is crafted of all aluminum and tweaked for the best results.

Rolls Royce Cullinan

5. The Cullinan features a 3-Box design

Upon first glance, the Cullinan may appear to be a 2 box, but looks can be deceiving. The passenger cabin of the Cullinan is divided by a glass that separates it from the trunk space. This helps to ensure that no passenger is required to ride with their luggage staring them in the face. The glass can be retracted or deployed at will.

6. The Cullinan has the most luxurious interior available

While it's not a departure from the Rolls-Royce tradition to fully load their vehicles with the ultimate in luxury and comfort, it's not usual to find this elegance in an SUV. In fact, you won't find one that stacks up as well on the market today. This SUV lives up to the high standards set by the brand with plenty of space, real wood and genuine leather materials with a choice of two different passenger configurations for maximum comfort and convenience.

7. The Cullinan is a first for Rolls-Royce

While the Cullinan is the first SUV made by the brand, it's also the first all-wheel drive that has been made by the automaker. Each of its predecessors has featured rear wheel drive. This new model had to be made within certain constraints that identify it as a Rolls-Royce, bearing certain characteristics, but the all-wheel drive is a true departure from tradition that had not yet been launched by the brand until this time.

8. It's not just a fancy car

This SUV is beautiful inside and out and it is every bit the finest luxury SUV on the market today. Having said this, it's no sissy when it comes to going off-road. Rolls employed a self-leveling air suspension. On top of this, the suspension has been specifically calibrated to accommodate the rigors of off-road use as well as comfort and luxury when it's on the road.

9. The trunk can be controlled electronically

The Cullinan has gone over and above on its convenience features. It not only offers a 21 cubic foot trunk, it can be extended to an impressive 67 cubic feet by folding down the rear seats and removing the parcel shelf. You can even raise the trunk electronically when the back seats are folded, or lower it to suit your preferences.

10. It detects nearby animals and much more

The advanced technology built into the Rolls-Royce Cullinan is mind-boggling. It offers a touch operated central display, and this is just for starters. It also delivers both day and night vision that offers animal detection, a WiFi hotspot, cruise control, 5 USB ports for wireless charging and a variety of systems geared towards collision avoidance.