Rolls Royce SUV in White Rock, NM (and Anasazi Hotel, Santa Fe, New Mexico)Douglas Merriam for Rolls-Royce The classic definition of a “mullet” – business up front, party in the back – typically applies only, at least in the automotive world, to Chevrolet’s ungainly El Camino crowd. But Rolls-Royce, having finally joined this, the automobile industry’s most crowded automobile sector, has staked a claim on four-wheeled mullet-dom with a huge – nay, dominant – ostentatious, glamorous off-roader. And when you wed, and weld, two such disparate concepts into one vehicle, you have to anticipate the raised eyebrows that come along with the applause.Named after the largest diamond ever mined, the Cullinan is the world’s most expensive, gorgeous, ridiculous SUV ever. It’s really not fair to put it in a class with other SUVs. While upscale brands all went SUV later than everyone else, there was no denying there was too much money lying around the segment to ignore. When I interviewed Ian Callum, Jaguar’s long-time chief designer, for instance, at the launch of the F-Pace, he openly sighed and said he’d pushed back as long as he could — against the idea. SUVs are a no-brainer, even among the elite. Even, as it turns out, Rolls-Royce. And, when you have just four models in your lineup and youve been the most celebrated manufacturer since the turn of the last century, to add something like the Cullinan to your parade is a statement. Rolls-Royce, unlike lesser marques, doesnt have to chase after customers. But the introduction of this car is a signal it understands and acknowledge the brand, long the staple of the oldest of old money, simply cant ignore the fact there is a lot of new money out there.Lots and lots of new money. If the traditional Rolls-Royces are sought after by the Downton Abbeys of the entertainment world, its todays athletes and musicians, swimming in fortunes quickly accumulated and sometimes just as quickly spent that prompt the storied manufacturer to retain the status of the brand while appealing to individuals who are themselves a brand.Its tempting to say its a case of if you cant beat em, join em. but this car isnt even close to anything else calling itself a sport utility. The deeply luxurious seating is made from only bull hides (no girl cows need apply); the lambswool carpeting is thick enough to resemble fur; and the wood and aluminum finishes are made from, well, wood and aluminum. There is no faux anything, and you can individualize to your hearts content.No ask is too big with Rolls-Royce, and bespoke finishes can run $40,000 to $50,000 (Canadian). If you chose one of the more exclusive finishes that include glass, silver, gold or even diamonds, that number can go much higher. When theyre hand-building you a car, you truly can have it your way. From the front, it’s classic Rolls-Royce, with the Spirit of Ecstasy unfurling her nightgown as she flies down the road. Or off the road, as we’re going to pretend will be the case. Powered by a 563-horsepower twin-turbo 6.7-litre V12 engine, it flies. The cabin is silent, save for one of the most incredible in-house sound systems you will find in any car, anywhere. As we prowled around the Santa Fe countryside, the run-flat tires finally threw back a little road noise on the gravel fire roads. It’s Rolls-Royce’s first offering with all-wheel drive, and the 637 foot-pounds of torque would effortlessly power even this 2753-kg (6069-lb) comfort kingdom up a mountainside (sand if you’re in Saudi Arabia, snow if you’re in Aspen). Rolls Royce SUV in White Rock, NM (and Anasazi Hotel, Santa Fe, New Mexico) Douglas Merriam for Rolls-Royce If you manage to wreck a tire, in true regal fashion, you dont change it yourself you cant, since there isnt a spare. You just call for assistance. They say theyll come get you no matter where you are, a promise that will undoubtedly rarely be tested. The point of the Cullinan is to let everyone know you could go conquering the wilderness if you really wanted to, not to actually do it.There is no need to select from the off-road settings you might be accustomed to in lesser rugged rigs. You simply punch a button that says, rather vaguely, “off road” and satellite linkage determines what’s to come, and the car sets itself up accordingly. Attending the Santa Fe Opera House after a day off the road was a fitting close. They let you tailgate here, and the Cullinan has an optional picnic table and two chairs (leather-wrapped, of course) that pop out of that clamshell hatchback. Inside, you can get a fridge, and two champagne flutes are neatly tucked into the space between the rear seats. The overhead panoramic roof is intergalactic, with space for my cowboy-hatted head. Heck, I could even go ten-gallon.You can drop those rear seats if you need to head to Home Depot, though it’s hard to imagine a more not do-it-yourself owner than someone who has just plunked out a half-million or more for this
Origin: The Rolls-Royce Cullinan is the world’s most expensive mullet