Rolls-Royce Turns to the Dark Side With New Cullinan Black Badge
Welcoming power upgrades, new dynamics, and a menacingly dark appearance.
Rolls-Royce has introduced the Cullinan to its Black Badge line, reworking the luxury SUV with all-new dark design cues to create a bespoke and menacing new look.
The Black Badge service deviates from Rolls-Royce’s signature aesthetic, introducing a range of bespoke options originally introduced to the 2016 Wraith and Ghost. For the Cullinan, Rolls-Royce has overhauled the entire car inside and out, developing an SUV designed for urban utility.
There are 44,000 bespoke paint options available, with black expected to be the most popular. Elsewhere, the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot and its base appears in high-gloss black chrome for the first time, while its technical carbon fiber trims are given six coats of lacquer before being left to cure for 72 hours, then hand-polished to Rolls-Royce’s hallmark mirror finish which takes a total of 21 days to perfect, before being inspected for complete uniformity.
All-new 22-inch forged alloy wheels add a new contemporary feel to the SUV, while a striking yellow Coachline graces the entire length of the Cullinan’s side panels. Rolls-Royce also upgraded the 6.75-liter V12 engine to produce almost 600 BHP and 900 Nm of torque (663 lb-ft).
Continuing its urban utility theme is a re-engineered drivetrain and chassis that delivers a more dynamic performance, an entirely new exhaust system that produces a baratone-like sound, and a bespoke transmission and throttle treatment for a “sense of urgency without ever undermining its Rolls-Royce peerage.”
Inside the Cullinan Black Badge, you can find the dark theme continued with technical carbon veneers and a full-leather cabin. The iconic Starlight headliner is delivered in the same fine black leather found on the seats and is woven with 1344 fiber optic lights. Nodding to its new-found dynamic nature is the introduction of a darkened clock case featuring red hands — which also appear on the instrument display — as well as an Infinity lemniscate motif which is found on the fold-down rear arm-rest, illuminated treadplates and brushed steel clock.
Take a look at the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge in the gallery above, and enquire about how to commission your own online or at your nearest Rolls-Royce showroom.
In other automotive news, Aston Martin has unveiled its first motorbike.
