In conjunction with the launch, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Kuala Lumpur invited CarSifu to its pre-launch activities a day before.
It showed us how the Cullinan was being prepped and introduced us to two women detailers who formed part of the team tasked with ensuring the Cullinan is at its shiny best when the wraps come off. You can watch the video below of the detailing process as elaborated by detailer Joyce Lua.
Now, back to the launch model.
The Cullinan is fitted with a 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine, developed from the ground up to provide high torque at low revs. Peak torque of 850Nm is available from just 1,600rpm, coupled to an all-wheel drive system via an 8-speed transmission, enabling the super luxury SUV to rise from the get-go with grace and pace.
It gets auto self-levelling air suspension that allows it to be lowered by 40mm to make entry easier through coach doors, or raised 40mm to traverse any terrain. A four-wheel steering system aids urban drivability.
The Cullinan has a stiff yet light body to handle rough terrain and a "Magic Carpet Ride" that Rolls-Royce is known for. This is attributed to Rolls-Royce’s unique all-aluminium architecture called the ‘Architecture of Luxury”.
The high bodied Cullinan riding on 22-inch wheels, reaches 1,836mm, a height accentuated by a large glass to metal ratio as seen from the side. The SUV rides on Continental ContiSeal self-sealing tyres. The front tyres have internal damping foam to make them run more silently than those on the rear axle.
At the rear, two narrow upright units house all the lights and are minimally adorned by thin narrow strips of jewellery at their centre. The rear is also characterised by the exposed metal exhaust pipes and skid plate.
Off-road, the electronically-controlled air suspension uses a powerful compression system to actively push down any wheel when the system detects loss of traction - to ensure every wheel is constantly in contact with the ground and maximum torque is delivered usefully to all wheels.
The "Effortless, Everywhere" sensation when driving the Cullinan starts with the so-called "Everywhere" button, offering four different programmes within the off-road driving mode. Cullinan also delivers the deepest wading depth of any super-luxury SUV at 540mm thanks to its ride height. Both front and rear coach doors wrap low under the sill of the Cullinan, ensuring that dirt remains outside the door and not on passengers’ trouser legs.
Cullinan’s cabin can be ordered in two formats – Lounge Seats or Individual Seats. The former caters to families – creating space for three passengers in the rear, and featuring fold-down seats for the first time in a Rolls-Royce.
The four-seater Individual Seat configuration provides for the highest level of luxury in the SUV segment.
The two individual rear seats are separated by a fixed rear centre console, which contains a drinks cabinet with Rolls-Royce whisky glasses and decanter at the front, and champagne flutes and refrigerator in the rear. The seats feature ventilation and massage functions, and can be adjusted over a number of planes to offer ultimate comfort for rear seat passengers over longer journeys.
In the Individual Seating configuration, a glass partition behind the rear seat isolates the passenger cabin from the luggage compartment, resulting in some of the lowest levels of noise recorded in an SUV cabin, while also protecting Cullinan’s occupants from temperature changes even when the luggage compartment is open.
Those in the rear sit higher than those in the front of the car on Rolls-Royce’s Pavilion Seating, enjoying grandstand views of their surroundings thanks to the large glazed area of Cullinan’s side windows and industry-leading panoramic glass roof.
The interior has a fully-digitised LCD TFT display. For the first time in a Rolls-Royce, touch-screen entertainment systems at the front and rear integrate with the Spirit of Ecstasy rotary controller to enable access to advanced features in the driver-focused cockpit.
On activation via its bespoke key, Cullinan lowers itself by 40mm to make entry – through unique coach doors – easier. Passengers are greeted by wide aperture, electronically-closing doors with touch sensitive door handles.
A studio-grade 18-channel, 18-speaker Bespoke audio system, touch-screen operated video entertainment systems as well as Rolls-Royce’s signature picnic tables stepped up the luxury.
The cabin is flushed with a fashion theme, with the upper dashboard fascia clad in a newly-developed "Box Grain" black leather – a durable and water resistant boarded leather similar to that used in Italian high-end luggage and handbag design.
The Cullinan features laser headlights (600m range); Night Vision (300m), Vision Assist (1000m - oncoming vehicles), daytime and night-time Pedestrian warning; Alertness Assistant; a 4-Camera system with Panoramic View, all-round visibility and helicopter view; Active Cruise Control; Collision Warning; Cross-Traffic Warning, Lane Departure and Lane Change Warning; an industry leading 7x3 High-Resolution Head-Up Display, Wi-Fi hotspot, and the Navigation and Entertainment Systems.
The cabin is equipped with five USB-C ports, whilst phones can be wirelessly charged in the front of the cabin.
Boot volume is generous at 560 litres and can reach 1930 litres when rear seats are folded flat.
With expensive performance cars like this, going custom is the name of the game. Rolls-Royce offers several option packs called modules.
For example, there's a Drone Racing Module from a list of Recreation Modules that the owner can order to meet his or her recreational pursuits. A Cullinan Viewing Suite is also part of the options. Ordered from the authorised dealer and slotted into the boot of Cullinan and powered via its systems, each Recreation Module contains a motorised drawer housing the equipment and paraphernalia specific to each Cullinan owner’s pursuits.
The Cullinan was revealed to the world at its Goodwood home ground in May, 2018 and made its South-East Asian debut in Singapore in August. It is priced from S$1.27mil (RM3.9mil) in the island republic.
READ MORE: Rolls-Royce Cullinan: At this price, it should come with a driver
Last year has been a good haul for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. It charted a double firsts, announcing its highest annual results in its 115-year history. It was also the most successful year for its bespoke division.
The SUV is named after the largest diamond discovered, which is now installed atop the British Crown Jewels.
Reading from a smartphone? Click this link to Cullinan specs (pdf)
