Rolls-Royce has finally offered up a glimpse of its upcoming SUV, although the British automaker doesn’t call it that.
Rolls-Royce refers to it as an “all-terrain, high-sided vehicle,” and this latest development mule finally reveals the vehicle’s true shape. Before this, Rolls was using a lifted version of the Phantom to develop the all-wheel drive, suspension system and all-new aluminum architecture.
The mule seen here will be headed around the world to undergo testing in extreme conditions. Just after Christmas, Project Cullinan will head to the Arctic Circle to undergo cold weather testing while later in 2017 it will head to the Middle East to test in a hot, desert climate.
SEE ALSO: Rolls-Royce Cullinan Architecture Details
“This is an incredibly exciting moment in the development of Project Cullinan both for Rolls-Royce and for the patrons of luxury that follow us around the world,” said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
The new aluminum architecture that will debut with Project Cullinan will eventually underpin the entire Rolls-Royce lineup from 2018 onward. The new SUV, or “high-sided vehicle,” is expected to debut in late 2017 as a 2018 model.
