Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV ISN’T the Cullinan after all

The Rolls-Royce Cullinan – RR’s forthcoming ultimate luxury SUV – isn’t going to be called the Cullinan when it arrives on the market in 2019.

It was 2015 when we first got to ‘see’ the new Rolls Royce SUV as RR revealed photos of a mule for the new car which was nothing more than a Heath Robinson looking Phantom with a raised ride height and big spoiler at the back.

At the time, Rolls-Royce were referring to it as ‘Project Cullinan’ (Cullinan being the name of the world’s biggest diamond), but subsequently we’ve got used to referring to the SUV as the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

But although the name seems to fit, and we’ve all got used to it, RR were being accurate when they referred to it as ‘Project’ Cullinan, because it’s actually going to get a different name for production, and Cullinan was only ever meant to be a project name.

Speaking to SUV Authority, the head of Rolls-Royce in Asia Pacific, Hal Seridun, made it clear that Cullinan was not the production name, but that we can expect an announcement in the first quarter of 2018 when we should find out what name has been chosen.

But whatever the name is, the new Rolls Royce SUV is set to move the luxury SUV to a completely new level, with underpinnings based on the new Phantom and, probably, the 6.75 litre V12 from the Phantom too.

There are a number of Rolls-Royce names from history not actually attached to current models – like Camargue, Cloud, Shadow, Corniche and Spur – but RR could opt for something entirely new.

If you have any bright ideas, drop them in the comments below.