So everyone is jumping on the SUV bandwagon! A leaked image shows the Rolls-Royce Cullinan in all its production glory before tomorrow's official reveal. This week marks the long-awaited debut of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV. In the run up to its reveal, the teaser campaign for the automaker’s first ever SUV is now underway, and we expect there will be more teaser images and details released in the meantime. But just one day before the big reveal, a leaked image of the ultra-luxury SUV in all its production glory has emerged online. The photo, sent to Carscoops by a reader, appears to have been taken from a private viewing event of the swanky SUV.
The picture looks like it was taken with an early 2000's Razor flip phone and the image's authenticity has yet to be verified, but if the image is legitimate it gives us a clear look at the Cullinan’s front end. The SUV is instantly identifiable as a Rolls-Royce with its prominent grille and signature Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament. While the redesigned Phantom sported a sleeker front fascia, the Cullinan looks boxier. Elsewhere, it has familiar rectangular headlights and large air intakes with chrome accents. The lower front bumper also appears to be unique to the Cullinan and features either chromed center section or a metallic skid plate.
There’s also a pronounced hood like other Rolls-Royce cars, and we can see the rear suicide doors are open. The Rolls-Royce Cullinan will finally be revealed on Thursday May 10, and we fully expect it to be one of the most luxurious SUVs ever made. Like the Phantom, it will ride on an aluminum spaceframe platform, which will underpin all future Rolls-Royce models. It will also be the first Rolls-Royce vehicle to feature all-wheel drive. Powertrain details haven’t been confirmed, but the Cullinan is expected to inherit the Phantom’s twin-turbo, 6.75-liter V12 engine that produces 563 hp and 663 lb-ft of torque. While this is no rally car, its got some umph under the hood!
However, Horacio Pagani wants to create an electric car with a manual transmission. “That was the first question when I went to the design and engineering team: Can we have a manual transmission with an electric car?” While unnecessary to an electric drivetrain, Pagani knows it’s important to the purists. “Looking at what our customers around the world want, we can tell you that maybe some clients didn’t buy the Huayra because it didn’t have the option of a manual transmission. There was a time when everybody wanted a dual-clutch transmission, but now the purists are saying that they want to go back to a manual because [an auto] lacks the emotion that you get changing gears yourself.”
