Rolls-Royce Cullinan: The Definition Of Freedom

There is just one true reason pushing anyone to buy a Rolls-Royce: freedom. The feeling of freedom someone gets when they know affording one of the world’s most luxurious brands is not a question of “if”, but rather “when” or “how many”. Even if the average ownership age of a Rolls-Royce dropped by almost 10 years, most owners are not even looking to drive their car, but rather be driven. However, this is where the base feeling of freedom kicks in. You may not want to drive it, but you are free to choose. The Rolls-Royce Cullinan is expected to see most of its miles on asphalt, regardless of its SUV denomination. Is the Cullinan owner free to take it off roading? Yes. Is the Cullinan a capable off roading machine? More than most of us expected.

Engineering-wise, the Cullinan brings a hefty package to the table. The 6.75-liter V12 engine shared with the Phantom is good for 585 hp and 625 lb-ft. Power is there, but the suspension and chassis do most of the heavy lifting in off road conditions. For this, the aluminum frame is kept level by the most advanced hydro-pneumatic suspension in the industry. The suspension processing unit computes millions of changes each second and adjusts the double wishbone front axle and rear 5-link rear accordingly. A press on the “Off Road Button” and all wheel drive engages, suspension raises by 40mm, throttle and brakes become highly sensitive to input.

It all looks good on paper, but, how well does the Cullinan actually work on slopes, dirt and stones? Is it free to attack any terrain? By the looks of it, it’s good enough to win off roading competitions. Emme Hall (an off road racer) took the Rolls-Royce Cullinan to the 7-day long Rebelle Rally stretching between Lake Tahoe and Glamis, near Mexico.The $400,000 Cullinan tackled rocky hills and washboard roads without a huff, not even once having to go around big rocks for fear of hitting the undercarriage. In the end, the Cullinan was victorious, winning the event.

The rally win was not the sole demonstration of Cullinan’s liberty to go everywhere. YouCar received permission to take the luxury SUV and tackle the steep dunes of the desert, once again putting Magic Carpet Ride suspension to the ultimate test. The wheels of the Cullinan freed themselves from the claws of sand and masterfully dug a new path towards the finish. Can the Cullinan be considered a proper off-roading vehicle? Yes.

While it won’t rock crawl like the Wrangler, it provides a different perspective. The Rolls-Royce Cullinan puts emphasis on its most basic function; giving the status symbol of freedom to do anything, anywhere. This alone goes beyond dune climbing. It showcases the state of the owner, who is just as free as the car.