Rolls-Royce’s interpretation of super-luxury in 2019 is this: black. Actually, that’s been the British automaker’s idea of ultimate luxury for a few years now. It created the Black Badge series back in 2016 with the Wraith and Ghost, followed by the Dawn in 2017. Now, after a two-year hiatus, R-R is back in black, this time with its SUV having received the shadow treatment to become “the darkest and most urban statement of Black Badge yet.”The Rolls-Royce Black Badge Cullinan is all-around more ominous, with a black exterior that’s been hand-finished at Rolls HQ in Goodwood; darkened chrome on details like the grille surround and exhaust pipes; a high-gloss black chrome Spirit of Ecstasy badge; and 22-inch forged alloy wheels finished in black and dark chrome. Power gets amped a decent boost, too. The Black Badge model boasts an upgraded 6.8-litre V12 good for 600 horsepower and 664 lb.-ft. of torque, up from the 563 hp and 627 lb.-ft. delivered by the standard Cullinan model. To fully appreciate the symphony of that turbocharged V12, Rolls-Royce has installed a ‘Low’ button on the gear selector that amplifies the sound to give off a deep growl to match its sinister look. Now, some have referred to the Cullinan as “the world’s most expensive mullet,” which it may be, but even mullets, if given the proper attention, can look respectable in a tailored black suit. Think John Wick, but with more business in the front. “Black Badge reflects the desires of a distinct group of Rolls-Royce clients: men and women who take risks, break rules and build success on their own terms,” said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, in a press release, unintentionally playing straight into my John Wick reference. “Indeed, before we launched Black Badge in 2016, the idea of creating a product that would satisfy this subversive cohort (…) caused a great deal of internal debate. However (…) it became clear that these motor cars could not only exist comfortably beneath this revered and historic brand but they would define a new space within the super-luxury market.”“In this spirit, the time has come for Rolls-Royce’s boldest and darkest expression of Black Badge yet. The King of the Night, Black Badge Cullinan.”King of the Night or mullet in a black suit? You be the
Origin: Rolls-Royce gives the Cullinan the Black Badge treatment
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Electric London black cab launches with 187-mile range
A pure electric black cab has been launched, rivalling the plug-in hybrid LEVC TX and offering up to 187 miles of range. The Dynamo Taxi, produced by new cab maker Dynamo, is the first fully electric taxi since the 1897 Bersey Taxi. The vehicle is based on the Nissan e-NV200 Evalia MPV, which Dynamo buys from the maker and modifies. Dynamo has added wheelchair accessibility and re-kitted the model’s interior to meet strict London taxi regulations. Other changes include incorporating contactless payment into the Evalia’s infotainment system. There is also an enlarged glass roof and heated seats, while Dynamo claims the seating has been overhauled to better cater for passengers. The cab has the same drivetrain as the standard Nissan e-NV200, producing a range of up to 187 miles. Recharging the Dynamo from empty to 80% takes between 40 and 60 minutes on a 46kW fast charge. The reworked Nissan also benefits from a significantly tighter turning circle to help drivers navigate London’s streets. Dynamo aims to produce at least 500 taxis next year, with a minimum of 1500 targeted for 2021. Although the taxi was launched in London, Dynamo hopes they will be adopted across the UK. Dynamo CEO Brendan O’Toole said: “The UK’s new-car market is experiencing an electric revolution, with record numbers of fully electric vehicle registrations taking place each year. Electric vehicle technology is now a viable alternative to petrol and diesel vehicles, and it’s imperative the UK’s taxi market changes with the times. “The Dynamo Taxi is the UK’s first Transport for London-approved fully electric taxi and is designed with both drivers and passengers in mind. With a low starting price, and a reliable vehicle architecture in the Nissan e-NV200, we are offering a truly unique solution to the tens of thousands of taxi drivers in London and cities across the UK.” The taxi costs £55,495 outright. This figure is reduced to £47,955 for buyers eligible for a £7500 government plug-in car
Origin: Electric London black cab launches with 187-mile range
2020 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series spotted testing
Mercedes-AMG’s fastest accelerating car yet, the GT Black Series, has begun road testing ahead of its unveiling next year. Pictures taken by Autocar reader Pedro Lopez show the Black Series will bear a close resemblance to the recently launched AMG GT R Pro, sporting the same prominent rear spoiler and low, wide stance, but will go without that model’s track-oriented winglets and splitters. The future range-topping coupé will be beaten only by the limited-run AMG One hypercar when it arrives in mid-2020, AMG boss Tobias Moers confirmed to Autocar at the New York motor show. Moers said: “It will be the fastest AMG yet, bar the One. Not in terms of top speed, but lap times. “Driveability is most important but, with balance, it gets good lap times too.” First confirmed by Moers back in 2016, the Black Series is mooted to receive AMG’s turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine in a state of tune offering at least 630bhp. This is the figure offered by the current most powerful AMG model with that unit, the GT 4-door Coupé. Any growth on that would ensure the Black Series dwarfs the peak output offered by the current GT champions, the 577bhp GT R and GT R Pro (pictured). It would also edge it towards one of the category’s most radical supercars, the 690bhp Porsche 911 GT2 RS. According to Moers, the Black Series will be “great competition with our close neighbour.” The GT Black Series’ extra grunt will be accompanied by a more focused chassis and aerodynamic set-up, which may go even further than the track-focused GT R Pro launched at last year’s Los Angeles motor show. That car was designed with uprated suspension and aero upgrades, but received no extra power over the regular GT R. Such a set-up should ensure the GT Black Series tips the scales at around 1575kg, in line or slightly less than the GT R Pro. The 2020 arrival of the GT Black Series will mark a return for AMG’s most extreme moniker after a seven-year hiatus. The last Black Series model was based on the SLS and entered production in
Origin: 2020 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series spotted testing
2020 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series to be fastest-accelerating AMG yet
The upcoming Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series will be the fastest-accelerating AMG car yet, according to AMG boss Tobias Moers. The future range-topping coupé will be beaten only by the limited-run AMG One hypercar when it arrives in mid-2020, Moers confirmed to Autocar at the New York motor show. First confirmed by Moers back in 2016, the Black Series is now under development and mooted to receive AMG’s turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine in a state of tune offering at least 630bhp. This is the figure offered by the current most powerful AMG model with that unit, the GT 4-door Coupé. Any growth on that would ensure the Black Series dwarfs the peak output offered by the current GT champions, the 577bhp GT R and GT R Pro (pictured). It would also edge it towards one of the category’s most radical supercars, the 690bhp Porsche 911 GT2 RS. The GT Black Series’ extra grunt will be accompanied by a more focused chassis and aerodynamic set-up, which may go even further than the track-focused GT R Pro launched at last year’s Los Angeles motor show. That car was designed with uprated suspension and aero upgrades, but received no extra power over the regular GT R. Such a set-up should ensure the GT Black Series tips the scales at around 1575kg, in line or slightly less than the GT R Pro. The 2020 arrival of the GT Black Series will mark a return for AMG’s most extreme moniker after a seven-year hiatus. The last Black Series model was based on the SLS and entered production in
Origin: 2020 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series to be fastest-accelerating AMG yet
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