Rolls-Royce Cullinan name confirmed with luxury SUV paying tribute to 3,000 carat Crown Jewels diamond
The famous British brand has finally given a name to its much anticipated SUV. And the first ever Rolls-Royce off-roader has been named after the flawless, prized diamond found in the Crown Jewels
THE £250,000 Rolls-Royce SUV has finally been given a name - and it pays tribute to one of the world's most famous diamonds.
The Cullinan takes its name from the flawless 3,106 carat gemstone found in the Crown Jewels.
The Cullinan Diamond was extracted from a South African mine in 1905 and remains the largest diamond ever discovered.
It was cut into nine stones with the two largest portions living in the royal crown and sceptre.
The luxury SUV - the first ever from the British maker - will be fully revealed later this year but has been spotted testing across the world.
Over the past three years Rolls-Royce has taken the motor to the deserts of Africa and the Middle East plus the freezing conditions of the Arctic Circle.
The firm remains tight-lipped on the 4x4's technical figures - but it is likely to be powered by a 6.8-litre V12 engine developing more than 500bhp.
This should give it a 0-62mph time of less than six seconds and an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph.
It is also expected to have a price-tag of around £250,000.
Torsten Müller-Ötvös, chief executive officer of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said: "The name Cullinan has been hiding in plain sight since we revealed it as the project name some years ago.
"It is the most fitting name for our extraordinary new product.
"Cullinan is a motor car of such clarity of purpose, such flawless quality and preciousness, and such presence that it recalibrates the scale and possibility of true luxury.
"Just like the Cullinan Diamond, the largest flawless diamond ever found, it emerges when it is perfect and exists above all others."