The Rolls-Royce Cullinan is the pinnacle of a full-sized luxury SUV. Even it’s name is derived from the Cullinan Diamond, the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever discovered.
Revealed in 2018, the front grille and the headlamps, which make up the majority of the Cullinan’s exterior design, took inspiration from the cutting-edge 8th-generation Rolls-Royce Phantom. New design leather-applied seats and wood features can be found inside. The vehicle also boasts brand-new leather “cocktail suit” camping seats that can be opened from the trunk, a first for its kind. And the Cullinan is the only Rolls-Royce that has a glass wall separating the passenger area from the cargo area.
The Cullinan comes in two variants; The Cullinan and the Cullinan Black Badge. The Black Badge is a unique, performance-based version of the Cullinan. Its exterior features, including the Spirit of Ecstasy, are painted black, and applications of carbon fibre can be found within. The interior leather is made of black leather with external colour-coordinating borders.
Enter 2023, Rolls-Royce introduces a Cullinan Black Badge Blue Shadow edition. It draws inspiration from the Kármán Line, which marks the starting point of outer space above the surface of the Earth. Only 62 units will be produced and yes, all of them have already been reserved by clients.
Exterior
The blue sky of Earth and the darkness of space are combined at the Kármán Line. By giving the SUV a special coat of Stardust Blue paint and adding black trim, this Cullinan draws influence from this phenomenon. Satin is used to finish the grille and a translucent lacquer is applied to the wheels.
A limited edition Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament is also included with the special edition. It is made of blue-tinted lacquer over titanium that was 3D printed. The name Blue Shadow and the Black Badge infinity logo are engraved on the base by the company. This portion is inlaid by artisans in the colour Charles Blue.
Interior
The dashboard and door panels inside transition colour from bottom to top, going from black to blue to white. To get this appearance, Rolls-Royce applies six layers of paint in five different colours. Blue and transparent glass particles are combined with a clear finish on top.
This Cullinan also features a unique variation of the brand’s Starlight Headliner. There are five different colours of thread used to give it a textured effect and display the moon with all of its craters. Two days are needed to finish the design, which calls for 250,000 individual stitches. Additionally, there are 384 blue LEDs and 799 white LEDs.
Astonishing details are also delivered to the seats. An image of Earth from space serves as the idea for the pattern made by perforations in the leather. Over 75,000 tiny holes, made by hand by a craftsman, are present in each chair. The tables in the back feature a Piano Black veneer with an inlaid aluminium top and a glass sparkle finish. On the dashboard sits a unique clock. It contains Blue Shadow etching and light blue anodized portions.
The Cullinan Black Badge Blue Shadow has a number of incredible accessories. The pattern of the seats matches that of the car cover. The SUV’s luggage is the same colour as its body. If that’s not enough, customers can order a 1:8 scale replica of the unique car that has working interior and exterior illumination.
The cost of the Cullinan Blue Shadow has not been disclosed by Rolls-Royce, and the SUV was only made accessible through its Private Office. Want one? Well, you can’t. Except for perhaps on the used market later on.
