Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II makes debut in Singapore

Rolls-Royce Singapore's House of Luxury has a new tenant, and it takes the form of a boldly-styled and superlatively luxurious SUV, carrying the latest advancements in technology and exquisite interior craft.

More than six years after the first-ever Rolls-Royce Cullinan was unveiled globally, the Cullinan Series II has celebrated its official arrival on Singapore's shores. Its local launch on Wednesday morning (30 October 2024) at the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Singapore Showroom also marked its debut for the larger Southeast Asian region.

Singapore has the honour of being the first country in Southeast Asia to launch the Cullinan Series II 

A bit of context about the original Cullinan will help pave the way for understanding the updates introduced on the Cullinan Series II.

Prior to its 2018 release, Rolls-Royce states that less than 70% of its clients were self-driven - but more than nine out of 10 Cullinan owners now drive themselves. Additionally, the super-luxury SUV has apparently had an outsized role in widening the brand's appeal among a younger demographic. In 2010, the average age of a Rolls-Royce buyer was 56; today, that number has fallen to 43.

Coming back now to the Cullinan Series II, the brand states that an "increasingly urban focus" and the "youthful cadre" of its clients were key influences in shaping the car’s exterior.

The Cullinan Series II gets new daytime running lights that trace its front end down to its revised lower bumper - which has been shaped to mimic a luxury yacht's bow lines

With 'verticality' being one of the pillars of its design, the SUV gets new daytime running lights that trace the outlines of its front end, as well as a revised pantheon grille, which can illuminate for the first time.

It's likely a Rolls-Royce client spends a fair bit of time on luxury yachts too, and in homage to them, the Cullinan Series II's new lower bumper is also shaped diagonally to mimic their bow lines. Also new on the Cullinan Series II: Massive 23-inch wheels offered as standard (one size larger than before), with a 3D seven-spoke design, available in part or fully polished finish. This particular car seen in the pictures is finished in an all-new grey-brown coat, too, called Emperador Truffle. 

Rear passengers now have better connectivity options, with the ability to connect their devices independently to each rear screen as well as enjoy independent streaming 

Expectedly, it's really on the inside, however, where sensations of luxury are taken to seriously dizzying heights.

For starters, rear passengers now enjoy better connectivity options, who can connect up to two streaming devices to the rear screens, each of which offers independent streaming capabilities. Additionally, an aural feast awaits even if they're not keen on connecting their Bluetooth headphones to the rear seat infotainment system; the Cullinan Series II offers an 18-speaker Bespoke Audio system with a latest-generation 18-channel 1400-watt amplifier.

The Cullinan Series II's all-new 'Placed Perforation' leather brings the constantly changing cloud formations over Goodwood to life; Rolls-Royce states that up to 107,000 perforations can be found in a single car's interior 

New to the Cullinan Series II as well is what the brand is calling 'Placed Perforation' leather, which is also debuting for the first time on a series production Rolls-Royce model.

These comprise up to 107,000 tiny perforations of between 0.8 to 1.2mm in the car's leather, and form a 'Crafted Breeze' pattern, inspired by constantly changing cloud formations over the brand's home in Goodwood.

If these aren't to an owner's fancy, a new Duality Twill embroidered textile can be opted for instead too, offering similarly fastidious levels of intricacy: A full Duality Twill interior apparently requires 20 hours of construction, and can incorporate up to 2.2 million stitches as well as nearly 18km of thread.

Also new is this Illuminated Fascia panel, which contains 7,000 laser-etched dots meant to emulate the skyscrapers of the world's biggest megacities at night

There's plenty for the senses to feast on up front too, starting with a new Grey Stained Ash open-pore wood that covers the dashboard (and can also be found on all four doors). Up close, the material emits a "delicate shimmer", thanks to the embedding of microscopic metallic particles into the wood.

And like its exterior, the interior also boasts its own urban-inspiration with a new Illuminated Fascia panel, which bears an illuminated 'Cullinan' wordmark atop of a 'Cityscape' graphic meant to emulate skyscrapers at night.

The brand's unparalleled attention to detail is evinced once more here; the Illuminated Fascia contains 7,000 laser-etched dots at differing angles and dimensions, all to achieve the dynamic perception of depth for the lucky occupants up front. Again, if what Rolls-Royce has designed by default isn't to a client's liking, they can speak to the designers at its Bespoke division for their very own Fascia.

Equipped for the first time with the latest SPIRIT operating system, the Cullinan Series II's new instrument cluster contains digital dials whose colours can be tailored to match its interior

Specially for the driver, the Cullinan Series II also runs on Rolls-Royce's latest SPIRIT operating system and sports a new digital instrument cluster, whose dials have customisable colours that can be tailored to match the car's interior colours - for a truly harmonious interior environment.

Beneath its long, sculpted hood, the Cullinan Series II continues to be powered by the Rolls-Royce's unmistakable 6.75-litre V12 engine, pushing out 563bhp and 850Nm of torque. (Its clients are said to have given the feedback that no other SUV continues to match the Cullinan in offering smooth, effortless performance.)

Performance in the Cullinan Series II continues to be effortless, thanks to its massive 6.75-litre V12 engine under the hood

But if it's a bit more edge a driver wants from his Cullinan Series II still, Rolls-Royce Singapore is also making the Black Badge Cullinan Series II available at launch. This marks the first time that the darker 'alter ego' has been introduced at the same time as its unaltered twin. 

Crafted for extra viscerality and expressiveness, the Black Badge Cullinan Series II gets darkened and more dramatic treatment outside and in for a more brooding look - which extends even to the Spirit of Ecstasy figurine, finished in black. 

Still, it's not just in the surfaces a buyer can touch and feel, but under the hood too, where the drama lies: Its 6.75-litre V12 is tuned for extra performance, generating a total output of 592bhp and 900Nm of torque (or 29bhp and 50Nm more than its twin).

Irene Nikkein, Regional Director Asia-Pacific of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, believes that the Cullinan Series II has evolved to new heights of refinement while offering more opportunities for self-expression to clients

Speaking at the launch, Ms. Irene Nikkein, Regional Director Asia-Pacific of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said, "The Cullinan Series II remains very faithful to the principles and the qualities that have made it successful since 2018, [and] offers much more opportunities for self-expression through the services of Bespoke. Over the years, it has evolved to new heights of refinement and unparalleled capabilities."

The super-luxury SUV's local debut also marked the first model launch at the brand's new Singapore showroom, dubbed the 'House of Luxury', which will celebrate its first anniversary come December. As part of the $106 million Eurokars Centre opened last year, the space was the largest of its kind in the Asia Pacific region when it opened its doors, and also the first to incorporate Rolls-Royce's new visual identity. 

While expressing her excitement at Singapore being the first Southeast-Asian country to debut the car, Ms. Renee Chua, Managing Director of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Singapore, also revealed that it continues to be the brand's most-requested model at its showroom.

Rolls-Royce states that the first local deliveries of the Cullinan Series II will commence from Q1 2025, and while the official line is that pricing will depend on client specification, Sgcarmart understands that prices start from approximately $2.05 million, before COE and options.