The Rolls-Royce Cullinan is the pinnacle of the luxury
SUV, but when it debuted, it lacked the Black Badge trim that adorned
other Rollers -- and brought in a whole bunch of younger, hipper
customers. Thankfully, for those looking to pick up a Cullinan with a
bit more edge, that has now been remedied.
Rolls-Royce on Thursday unveiled the Black Badge Cullinan. Positioned
to appeal to buyers with more interest in driving and more interest in
standing out from the crowd (something the Cullinan already does with
ease), Black Badge will offer a more customized look and the oomph to
match.
Under the hood is Rolls-Royce's 6.75-liter V12, but power
and torque are up 29 horsepower and 37 pound-feet to a net 600 hp and
664 lb-ft. Hitting the "Low" button on the transmission stalk will open
up the car's new exhaust system, which provides a far more sinister
note. There is no Sport mode, per se, but pushing the throttle past the
50% mark will change how the engine and transmission work together,
making for a more exciting drive. Rolls-Royce also adjusted the brake
pedal's bite point and decreased its pedal travel.
The aesthetics
are the real draw when it comes to Black Badge vehicles. Its signature
color is (as you may guess) black, but there are tens of thousands of
colors on offer, provided the owner doesn't supply a specific shade for
Rolls-Royce's Bespoke department to recreate. The signature Spirit of
Ecstasy hood ornament is presented in black chrome, its finish mirroring
what's found on both the grille and the liftgate. Much of the remaining
exterior shiny bits are clad in black, and for the first time ever,
Rolls-Royce will offer a painted brake caliper.
Inside, the focus on color and materials continues. There's a wild
"technical carbon" veneer on the trim that takes the usual carbon-fiber
finish and gives it a more premium, three-dimensional look, a process
that takes 21 days to complete. Buyers have nearly too much choice when
it comes to interior colors, and to make the decision slightly more
difficult, Rolls-Royce introduced a new leather color -- forge yellow --
as part of the Black Badge Cullinan's unveiling.
The coolest part
of the interior requires one to look upward. The Black Badge Cullinan
has finally picked up Rolls-Royce's "Starlight" headliner, which uses
1,344 hand-woven fiber optic lights to recreate the night sky, including
shooting stars. You can pick a default pattern, or you can give
Rolls-Royce a date and location and they will create a custom headliner
that shows the night sky on that particular occasion.
The Rolls-Royce Black Badge Cullinan is now available for commission, since this isn't the kind of vehicle you purchase on a casual stroll past a dealership. Given the sheer amount of customizability, the sky's the limit when it comes to the car's individuality -- and its price, which Rolls-Royce did not mention in its release.
The Rolls-Royce Black Badge Cullinan is now available for commission, since this isn't the kind of vehicle you purchase on a casual stroll past a dealership. Given the sheer amount of customizability, the sky's the limit when it comes to the car's individuality -- and its price, which Rolls-Royce did not mention in its release.
