Jump to content
Create New...
  • 💬 Join the Conversation

    CnG Logo SQ 2023 RedBlue FavIcon300w.png
    Since 2001, Cheers & Gears has been the go-to hub for automotive enthusiasts. Join today to access our vibrant forums, upload your vehicle to the Garage, and connect with fellow gearheads around the world.

     

  • William Maley
    William Maley

    Rolls-Royce Teases Project Cullinan Prototype

      The luxury SUV for those who believe other luxury SUVs aren't sufficient 


    Rolls-Royce is the latest automaker to announce they are working on an SUV known as Project Cullinan and today, the company has dropped a couple of pictures to give us a glimpse of what's in store.

    Rolls doesn't call Project Cullinan an SUV. Instead, they describe the vehicle as being as an “all-terrain, high-sided vehicle.” (Is there such a thing too much pomp and circumstance? -WM) From the two pictures Rolls-Royce has released, Cullinan looks like a raised Phantom wagon. 

    “This is an incredibly exciting moment in the development of Project Cullinan both for Rolls-Royce and for the patrons of luxury that follow us around the world. Bringing together the new four-wheel drive system and the new ‘architecture of luxury’ for the first time sets us on the road to creating a truly authentic Rolls-Royce which, like its forebears, will reset the standard by which all other luxury goods are judged,” said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Rolls Royce's CEO in a statement.

    Project Cullinan is also an important vehicle for Rolls-Royce. It will be one of the first vehicles, alongside the new Phantom to use a new aluminum architecture that will underpin future models. The SUV or “all-terrain, high-sided vehicle” is expected to debut sometime late next year.

    Source: Rolls-Royce
    Press Release is on Page 2


    PROJECT CULLINAN TAKES NEXT STEP IN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

    In an open letter published in the Financial Times on 18 February 2015, Rolls-Royce undertook to regularly inform its stakeholders about the progress of Project Cullinan. Continuing this dialogue, which has seen twice-yearly updates, Rolls-Royce today publishes photographs depicting the latest key milestone in the development programme of this new ‘all-terrain, high-sided vehicle’. This first full development vehicle will begin testing in public from tomorrow.

    The world’s leading luxury goods brand has regularly informed its patrons about this painstaking development programme. Advocates of the marque have been shown the first engineering mule built for the development of the new all-wheel drive suspension system, as well as those created to test the all-new aluminium architecture that will underpin all Rolls-Royces from 2018 onwards.

    This latest development vehicle will travel to numerous locations around the world in a challenging testing programme to ensure that the end product will be ‘Effortless … Everywhere’. Just after Christmas, for example, Project Cullinan will enter the Arctic Circle to undergo cold weather durability and traction testing. Later in 2017, it will travel to the Middle East to endure the highest of temperatures and challenging desert conditions.

    “This is an incredibly exciting moment in the development of Project Cullinan both for Rolls-Royce and for the patrons of luxury that follow us around the world,” comments Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “Bringing together the new four-wheel drive system and the new ‘architecture of luxury’ for the first time sets us on the road to creating a truly authentic Rolls-Royce which, like its forebears, will reset the standard by which all other luxury goods are judged.”

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    This is going to be the most LAMEST luxury vehicle offering introduced, because the thing that this and the Bentayga sorely lack is the passion behind the product. 

    It's just a simple deal about milking even more money. Yes, luxury cars are meant to serve the bottom line. But a maker like Rolls and Bentley, following the masses? 

    It's just LAME. I would never buy a SUV from these two makes, only because, well, they're not about that. They're about their cars, their luxo limos, their thoroughly "adequate" sedans.  

    I mean, Land Rover has the prestige of being the British SUV.

    What the f*** is this? It doesn't look stately, nor does it have the presence. And honestly, it reminds me of the EXP 9 Bentley concept. And that was a concept. This is not a concept. 

    What I mean is, regardless of how well this does, it just kind of has no element of surprise. DFelt hit it home, there's just nothing new to see here. We all have an idea of what a Rolls SUV would look like. And instead of redefining the brand, to signify the changing times, this is an utterly predictable extension of the brand.

    Now if this was a super EV, with 400 miles of range, and fast charging, throw everything out the window, because Rolls and Bentley have the prestige to change their brand formula to include cutting-edge innovation that commands the highest premium in the industry.  But no, they have here another competent, "adequate" SUV, that will never change the current dynamics of the market. Probably it will just take sales away from their sedans to the crossover, not much conquest potential.

     

     

    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    I think it will look better when done and I think it will sell too.  The Ballers and Rappers that buy Escalades now will flock to this and there will be a waiting list.  It probably looks like a tall wagon in the teasers because the Phantom on which it is based is a huge car.  The Phantom is longer than a Chevy Suburban, it is over 2 feet longer than a Cadillac CT6.  I bet this truck is taller and wider than it appears here, and will look rugged enough to be an SUV, but restrained enough for Rolls-Royce.  

    And now Rolls Royce Phantom owners won't have to spend winters slumming in a paltry $150,000 Range Rover Autobiography.  

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Man, haters out thick on this one. 

    This vehicle does not appeal  to me in the slightest, but it's  no surprise it's  being built. SUV's are all the rage right now. This  is  RR take on that. This brand has never been about innovation or creativity. It's about excess. This continues that. People will eat it up. 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Just now, Frisky Dingo said:

    Man, haters out thick on this one. 

    This vehicle does not appeal  to me in the slightest, but it's  no surprise it's  being built. SUV's are all the rage right now. This  is  RR take on that. This brand has never been about innovation or creativity. It's about excess. This continues that. People will eat it up. 

    Sadly correct...but that does not mean we have to like it!

    They essentially built an uglier, more expensive, less competent Lincoln Navigator with nicer materials.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    2 minutes ago, Frisky Dingo said:

    Of course we don't have to like it. But acting like this is some kind of surprise or slight against the brand is not a real reasonable position.

    I think most of us would just rather see something else from Rolls.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites



    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
    Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




  • Support Real Automotive Journalism

    Cheers and Gears Logo

    Since 2001, Cheers & Gears has delivered real content and honest opinions — not emotionless AI output or manufacturer-filtered fluff.

    If you value independent voices and authentic reviews, consider subscribing. Plans start at just $2.25/month, and paid members enjoy an ad-light experience.*

    You can view subscription options here.

    *a very limited number of ads contain special coupon deals for our members and will show

  • Similar Content

  • Posts

    • Its simple capitalism.   More precisely to say though...its GREED. And because this is happening in the US in 2025, and to be fair it is reciprocated here in Canada, and this phenomenon has been in effect since the 1980s, its CORPORATE GREED since both of our countries have made ourselves servants and lackeys  to these corporations. We abide by everything they tell us through their shytty adverts. We have stopped patronizing mom and pop shops etc...   And when Trump was tooting tariffs as his election campaign, the democrats warned of such dangers about corporate greed...about how tariffs work (the citizen pays the tariff and not the country as its a fancy word for tax and how corporations will augment the un-tariffed product to be closer in sales price as the tariffed product...  But, Harris and her party were all doom sayers.   And she has a weird laugh on top of that.  And the talk went on to be about how they are eating the dogs and they are eating the cats...     Basic education is terrible in the US.  And its by design as a certain political party in the US (and Canada to be fair but the tactic is less successful as Canadians are more community oriented)  defunds education every time they go into power. Its also by design that in today's world, the two most northern countries in North America choose to glorify ignorance and vilify knowledge and education. To a lesser extent up here in Canada for whatever reason.  Canadians in general continue to value enlightenment.     Critical thinking skills be shrinking in the US of A.   Liittle catchy slogans is what grabs attention though.  They are eating the dogs and eating the cats.  We did have something similar in Canada though.  Trudeau has nice hair was our cat/dog moment 10 or so years ago.  But Trudeau won.  And if it wasnt for Doge, Musk, tariffs, Epstein, 51st state rethoric, 36 counts of felonies, we too, be having our Maple Maga movement.  But...education is a priority up here in Canada still...      
    • AGREE!!! Dating myself, but back in the late 70's/early 80's I worked at the cinema and was the snack bar shift lead. One of the basic tests to get a position and make more money was those that worked the snack bar had to be able to do basic math in their head. I would daily have to test them by placing random order of products and they had to add it up in their head and then based on the cash received give back proper change but a requirement here in Washington state was to count it back so as a simple example. You order up $13.50 in food, give them a $20 dollar bill and they would have to count it back as food, $13.50, two quarters make it $14, a one makes it $15 and a five makes it $20 so they know they got the correct change. Today, go to any store and most struggle to look at the screen and figure out the proper change to give back and then they just hand you a pile of coin and paper without counting it back to ensure it is proper.  Basic math in America is terrible.
    • Yep. We're already not in a great place because of the tariffs, but companies are absolutely taking advantage of that and charging so much more than the tariff itself and then claiming it's raised because of tariffs. It's as if they don't think people understand how to do math.  Then again, in all fairness, most people don't know how to do simple math. So, there is that.
    • Agree with 15% on items from Ireland, it is crazy the price gouging that is going on. Retail grocery stores are even worse I see for items like Kerrygold butter.
  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online
  • My Clubs

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search