Rolls-Royce has revealed a Black Badge version of the Cullinan, giving the super-luxury SUV design changes and a bump in power to justify the badge.
Along with a gloss black coat of paint, the British brand's Spirit of Ecstacy also receives a black accent, for the first time encompassing the mascot’s mounting plate. In addition, the usually chrome front grille surround, side frame finishers, boot handle, boot trim, lower air inlet finisher and exhaust pipes also gain a darker hue. The Black Badge rolls on new 22-inch forged alloy wheels, while the brake callipers are gloss red.
Inside, the Cullinan Black Badge features a headliner woven with fibre optic lights to resemble the night sky – a feature premiered in 2016 on the Wraith. The seats are black leather, while yellow detailing features throughout the cabin.
The powertrain is boosted from the standard Cullinan; the 6.75-litre V12 engine now delivers 600hp and 900Nm, transmitted through an 8-speed automatic gearbox, rather than 571hp and 850Nm. However, Rolls-Royce has yet to release performance or economy figures for the model.
The Cullinan joins the majority of the British brand’s line-up – the Wraith, Ghost and Dawn – that are now available with a Black Badge version, the SUV is the darkest model yet in the family.
Although the company hasn't specified an exact price for the car, it anticipates it being roughly 20 percent more expensive than the standard model on sale in international markets. Customers generally spend more than the base price, however. First deliveries of the car in those markets will begin between the end of 2019 and the start of 2020.
There is no word on if this version of the Cullinan will be brought to India, where the standard model was launched at the end of last year for Rs 6.95 crore (ex-showroom, pan-India).
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Suraj Viswanathan
