Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Manila welcomes one of the most luxurious SUVs in the world as they introduced the Cullinan to the Philippine market. The Rolls-Royce Cullinan is the marque’s first SUV, underpinned by the same “Architecture of Luxury” platform found in all Rolls-Royce cars moving forward. Willy Tee Ten, President of Autohub Group, authorized distributors of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in Manila, remained confident in the Cullinan’s success in the country, saying “The Philippines is an SUV country, and we are very excited to launch Cullinan today. Cullinan is the car our customers have been waiting for, perfectly suited for this market with unmistakable presence on and off-road. This is the car that will set the new benchmark for super-luxury in the SUV segment, and all-purpose Rolls-Royce for the captains of industry.” From the Pantheon grille sitting on a chamfered edge and iconic Spirit of Ecstasy ornament on the hood, to the deep-set laser headlights and brow-shaped LEDs, the Cullinan’s exterior design conveys a spirit of adventure while retaining the class and elegance that is every bit Rolls-Royce. Large 22-inch wheels give it a sense of sporty ruggedness, while exposed metal exhaust pipes and skid plates hint at the Cullinan’s off-road capabilities. The Cullinan comes with two interior options: a five-seater “Lounge” seating version with flat folding seats for more load capacity, or a four-seater variant known as the “Individual Seat Configuration”. In the four-seater version, the two seats at the rear are separated by a fixed rear center console which contains a drinks cabinet with Rolls-Royce whisky glasses and decanter at the front, and champagne flutes and refrigerator at the rear. The seats feature ventilation and massage functions and can be adjusted to offer ultimate comfort for rear seat passengers over longer journeys. Touted as the most technologically advanced SUV of its type in the world, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan also showcases a number of convenience features. The Cullinan can lower itself by 40mm to make entry through its coach doors easier. The doors can electronically close via touch-sensitive door handles. Already pampered by an industry-leading panoramic glass roof, passengers can also enjoy a studio-grade 18-channel, 18-speaker Bespoke audio system, touch-screen operated video entertainment systems, as well as Rolls-Royce’s signature picnic tables. As for safety features, nothing in the industry quite measures up, with Night Vision and Vision Assist including obstacle warnings, alertness assistance, a four-camera all around view system, active cruise control, collision warning, cross-traffic warning, lane departure and lane change warning, and an industry-leading 7x3-inch high-resolution heads-up display. The Cullinan is powered by a new 6.75-liter twin-turbo V12 Rolls-Royce engine which produces 563 bhp at 5,000 rpm and 850 Nm of torque available at 1,600 rpm paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Handling the Cullinan’s ride comfort is a self-leveling four-corner air suspension setup, while off-road journeys are helped along by an all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering system. As with all Rolls-Royce offerings, the Cullinan is highly customizable, allowing the customer to make each one uniquely their own. From fly fishing to photography, rock climbing, snowboarding, kite boarding or base jumping, the Rolls-Royce Recreation Modules are easily slotted into the Cullinan’s boot, with each Module containing a motorized drawer that houses the equipment and paraphernalia specific to each Cullinan owner’s chosen adventure. From left: Luke Aston-Abbott, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Asia Pacific Regional Marketing; Sven Grunwald, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Asia Pacific Regional Product Manager; Willy Tee Ten, President of Autohub Group; Owee Cruz, VP-PR & Marketing for Rolls Royce Motor Cars Manila, Brendan Mok, Corporate Communications of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Asia Pacific; Arun Suppan, Ownership Services Manager of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Asia Pacific and Mr. Lito Jose, General Manager of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Manila. With prices starting at P53-million, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan is now available for order in the Philippines, with first customer deliveries beginning in the second quarter of 2019. Text by Chris Van Hoven, Photos by Neil Pagulayan