Rolls-Royce project Cullinan previews upcoming SUV drivetrain

Last Edited RT:

Rolls Royce testing line (©Rolls Royce Motor Cars Limited)

Motor Authority archivesMore>>
Speeders beware: Ford develops stealthy light bar for cop cars
Speeders beware: Ford develops stealthy light bar for cop cars
Ford has now made the Explorer Police Interceptor even more enticing for law enforcement agencies around the country thanks to the new “no profile” light bar design.
More Content
Ford has now made the Explorer Police Interceptor even more enticing for law enforcement agencies around the country thanks to the new “no profile” light bar design.
More Content
Jerry Seinfeld sells off part of Porsche collection for $22 million
Jerry Seinfeld sells off part of Porsche collection for $22 million
Jerry Seinfeld pocketed enough money to buy more than a few coffee shops, let alone cups of coffee, thanks to the $22 million earned by selling some of his Porsches at an auction.
More Content
Jerry Seinfeld pocketed enough money to buy more than a few coffee shops, let alone cups of coffee, thanks to the $22 million earned by selling some of his Porsches at an auction.
More Content
2016 Audi Q7 first drive
2016 Audi Q7 first drive
Don't worry, America, it's not a wagon. It just drives like one, is as useful as one, and, if you squint at it the right way, kinda looks like one.More Content
Don't worry, America, it's not a wagon. It just drives like one, is as useful as one, and, if you squint at it the right way, kinda looks like one.More Content
2016 Chevrolet Camaro preview, prototype first drive
2016 Chevrolet Camaro preview, prototype first drive
A new version of the the third member of the classic American muscle-car trio arrives later this year.More Content
A new version of the the third member of the classic American muscle-car trio arrives later this year.More Content
2016 Ford Mustang gets minor updates, California Special
2016 Ford Mustang gets minor updates, California Special
The Ford Motor Company has announced a new round of updates for the Mustang's 2016 model year, whose timing no doubt has been purposefully made to coincide with this week's arrival of an all-new Chevrolet Camaro.More Content
The Ford Motor Company has announced a new round of updates for the Mustang's 2016 model year, whose timing no doubt has been purposefully made to coincide with this week's arrival of an all-new Chevrolet Camaro.More Content
2016 Cadillac ATS-V first drive video
2016 Cadillac ATS-V first drive video
For a comfortable, capable, high-tech car that's utterly satisfying and massively capable when pushed to the limit, the ATS-V could be the best pick every time.More Content
For a comfortable, capable, high-tech car that's utterly satisfying and massively capable when pushed to the limit, the ATS-V could be the best pick every time.More Content
Rolls-Royce project Cullinan previews upcoming SUV drivetrain
Rolls-Royce project Cullinan previews upcoming SUV drivetrain
The hyper-luxury British SUVs are coming.More Content
The hyper-luxury British SUVs are coming.More Content
BMW i3 And Mercedes-Benz C-Class make Ward’s 2015 Best Interiors list
BMW i3 And Mercedes-Benz C-Class make Ward’s 2015 Best Interiors list
There was a time when having a decent interior in your car meant spending the big bucks.More Content
There was a time when having a decent interior in your car meant spending the big bucks.
More Content
2016 Audi R8 fully revealed: Live photos, video from Geneva
2016 Audi R8 fully revealed: Live photos, video from Geneva
Known and respected for its ability to blend daily-driver comfort with world-class handling and pace, the first-generation Audi R8 ran from 2007 through 2015 as the brand's halo car. Now, it's fresh once again.More Content
Known and respected for its ability to blend daily-driver comfort with world-class handling and pace, the first-generation Audi R8 ran from 2007 through 2015 as the brand's halo car. Now, it's fresh once again.More Content
2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 S first drive
2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 S first drive
The whole world seems to be going turbo. That's mostly a good thing. In the case of the Mercedes-AMG C63 S, it's a very good thing.More Content
The whole world seems to be going turbo. That's mostly a good thing. In the case of the Mercedes-AMG C63 S, it's a very good thing.More Content

By Nelson Ireson

The hyper-luxury British SUVs are coming. Bentley has its Bentayga in the works, and Rolls-Royce is joining the party too. The latest step toward fine hand-crafted off-roading procession is Project Cullinan.

Project Cullinan is an engineering mule, riding on a shortened Phantom Series II platform, that will be used to develop the all-wheel-drive suspension system to underpin the company's SUV.

Rolls-Royce says that the mule “may hint at the size of the new car, but it features no design aspects of the eventual high-sided, all-terrain motor car announced by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in February this year.”

The engineering project is just beginning at this point, with the first iteration of the suspension being tested to deliver both off-road ability, but also the “magic carpet” ride quality the brand is known for—both on-road and off.

Thus far, the mule has been photographed only on-road, at the company's Goodwood facility. In the future, the car will test at a variety of facilities and on many surfaces, including: Belgian Pavé, corrugated concrete, cobblestones, acceleration bumps, a resonance road, and other testing and development surfaces.

Apart from the high-sided, high-bodied nature of the upcoming Rolls-Royce SUV, little is known other than the fact that it will be built on an all-aluminum architecture, possibly sharing some of the engineering beneath the skin with the upcoming BMW X7 full-size SUV.

This story originally appeared at Motor Authority

*DISCLAIMER*: The information contained in or provided through this site section is intended for general consumer understanding and education only and is not intended to be and is not a substitute for professional advice. Use of this site section and any information contained on or provided through this site section is at your own risk and any information contained on or provided through this site section is provided on an "as is" basis without any representations or warranties.

Rolls-Royce project Cullinan previews upcoming SUV drivetrain