Cullinan
Introduced in 2018, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan was Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ first production SUV. Its name refers to the largest rough diamond ever discovered, now associated with the British Crown Jewels. The model combines a raised body, all-wheel drive and the company’s 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V12, while placing exceptional emphasis on quietness, ride comfort and Bespoke personalisation. Rolls-Royce developed it to deliver the composure of a luxury car on the road while remaining capable of travelling across demanding terrain. Distinctive details include its split tailgate, rear-hinged coach doors and lifestyle-focused equipment such as the Viewing Suite. In the ScanRacer catalogue, the Cullinan is covered for the 2018-2024 period, including the Base version listed from 2018 through 2024.
Variants by year
2024
2018
Model summary
Data from the ScanRacer library, organized to compare versions quickly.
Model introduction
Introduced in 2018, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan was Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ first production SUV. Its name refers to the largest rough diamond ever discovered, now associated with the British Crown Jewels. The model combines a raised body, all-wheel drive and the company’s 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V12, while placing exceptional emphasis on quietness, ride comfort and Bespoke personalisation. Rolls-Royce developed it to deliver the composure of a luxury car on the road while remaining capable of travelling across demanding terrain. Distinctive details include its split tailgate, rear-hinged coach doors and lifestyle-focused equipment such as the Viewing Suite. In the ScanRacer catalogue, the Cullinan is covered for the 2018-2024 period, including the Base version listed from 2018 through 2024.
History
The Cullinan emerged as Rolls-Royce sought to answer demand from customers who wanted a super-luxury vehicle able to reach a wider range of environments. Officially presented in May 2018, it was developed on the aluminium Architecture of Luxury introduced by the eighth-generation Phantom. Rolls-Royce adapted that platform for a taller and more versatile vehicle, adding revised air suspension, all-wheel drive and four-wheel steering. The first published specifications also identified a 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 producing 563 bhp and 850 Nm of torque. The Cullinan’s concept goes beyond a conventional SUV body. It uses a partition between the passenger compartment and luggage area, together with a two-section tailgate known as The Clasp. The available Viewing Suite and Recreation Module underline the vehicle’s travel and lifestyle focus. In 2019, Rolls-Royce introduced the Black Badge Cullinan, giving the model a darker appearance and a more assertive character. In May 2024, the company revealed the Cullinan Series II, a substantial evolution with a redesigned front end, an updated digital interface and additional personalisation opportunities. The 2018-2024 period therefore covers the original Cullinan and the transition to its Series II development.
Generations
Rolls-Royce does not present the 2018-2024 Cullinan as a sequence of separate generations in the traditional sense. For this period, it is more accurate to describe an original series launched in 2018, followed by the Cullinan Series II announced in May 2024. The first model is identifiable by a front end shaped around established Phantom design cues, horizontal headlamps, a tall body and a two-section tailgate. Its engineering package centres on a 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12, all-wheel drive and air suspension intended to preserve comfort on both paved roads and uneven ground. Cullinan Series II retains the model’s basic architecture and market position, but Rolls-Royce changed its exterior expression. The front end uses vertically oriented daytime-running-light elements within a revised bumper treatment, and the grille can be illuminated. Inside, the vehicle receives a more advanced digital interface and a new Clock Cabinet incorporating a Spirit of Ecstasy figurine. These changes amount to an evolution in design, technology and personalisation rather than a complete mechanical break. Exact year-to-year equipment can nevertheless differ by market, Bespoke specification and the distinction between production and customer-delivery dates.
Key differences
The most important differences initially concern the vehicle’s presentation. The standard Cullinan follows Rolls-Royce’s more traditional interpretation, with a restrained exterior treatment and a wide range of interior configurations. Introduced in 2019, the Black Badge Cullinan adopts a darker identity, including blackened exterior details, specific 22-inch wheels and more assertive trim. Rolls-Royce also states that this derivative receives increased power, although specifications should not automatically be applied to every market. The 2024 Series II is mainly distinguished by its revised front end, new lighting elements and digital updates. A recent Cullinan should not automatically be identified as a Series II: model year, production date and ordered specification all matter. Equipment differences can also be substantial because of Rolls-Royce Bespoke, which allows customers to alter paint, materials, seating layouts and lifestyle equipment. For catalogue work, visual identification is therefore useful but should be cross-checked against the vehicle’s build documentation whenever a precise version is required.
Photo recognition
The Cullinan is first identified by its large-SUV proportions combined with familiar Rolls-Royce cues: a tall Pantheon grille, the Spirit of Ecstasy on the bonnet, a high hood line and notably upright sides. Its rear-hinged coach doors provide another useful clue. At the back, the two-section tailgate creates a distinctive profile that is unusual among luxury SUVs. The lower section can serve as a loading platform, while the upper section opens upward. Early cars use visually more horizontal front lighting and a front-end treatment closely related to the contemporary Phantom design language. The Cullinan Series II, revealed in 2024, adds vertically oriented daytime-running-light elements and a more pronounced bumper design; an illuminated grille is also available. Black Badge examples may be recognised through darker exterior details and distinctive wheels, but extensive Bespoke ordering makes visual identification less definitive. A photograph alone cannot always confirm the exact model year or derivative, so build records, registration data and market-specific documentation remain preferable for precise identification.
Important versions
Three stages are especially significant in the model’s history. The original Cullinan, launched in 2018, established Rolls-Royce’s production SUV with a 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12, all-wheel drive and genuine off-road intent. The Black Badge Cullinan, introduced in 2019, added a darker and more assertive interpretation, with dedicated trim details and increased stated power. Finally, the Cullinan Series II revealed in May 2024 updated the exterior design, digital interface and selected personalisation features. These names describe official stages or derivatives within the range; they do not replace the market, production and specification information associated with an individual vehicle.
References
- Effortless Everywhere: The Rolls-Royce CullinanRolls-Royce Motor Cars PressClub
- Rolls-Royce Completes Black Badge Family with CullinanRolls-Royce Motor Cars PressClub
- Rolls-Royce Presents Cullinan Series IIRolls-Royce Motor Cars PressClub
- Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV ReviewAutoTrader
- https://www.autobild.de/artikel/rolls-royce-cullinan-2018-preis-test-suv-0-100-4532035.htmlautobild.de
- https://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/2018/2994605/rolls-royce_cullinan.htmlautomobile-catalog.com
- https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/rolls-royce/cullinan/honestjohn.co.uk
- https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/rolls-royce/cullinan/104865/new-rolls-royce-cullinan-2018-review?_mout=1autoexpress.co.uk
Technical specifications
Structured data available for versions linked to this model.
| Version | Power | Torque | Top speed | Drivetrain | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | 563 chevaux | — | — | Transmission intégrale / Boîte automatique à 8 rapports | — |
Frequently asked questions
- What years was the Rolls-Royce Cullinan produced?
- ScanRacer's referenced versions cover 2018 - 2024.
- How many Rolls-Royce Cullinan examples are documented on ScanRacer?
- 42 published scans from 27 members, with the latest photo added in September 2026.
- What is the power output of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan?
- The sourced technical data lists 563 chevaux.