2018 Rolls-Royce Cullinan revealed

The Rolls-Royce of off-roaders has officially been revealed.

The British luxury car maker has issued two images of the first prototype of its upcoming SUV, confirming it will commence a rigorous public testing program from this week.

While the vehicle is wearing camouflage to hide its details, it is the first time Rolls-Royce has showcased the size and overall shape of the car, which is being developed under the codename Project Cullinan and is referred to not as a traditional SUV but an "all-terrain high-sided vehicle". Previous spy shots showcased an early development mule that was a jacked-up version of the flagship Phantom limousine.

The production prototype clearly indicates it will feature a more conventional five-door wagon body style while carrying some hallmark Rolls-Royce design cues such as its imposing vertical grille that leads into a raised bonnet section, allowing for bold two-tone paintwork.

It has yet to reveal any more technical details of the car, with the exception that it is based on an all-new lightweight aluminium platform that will underpin all new models from 2018 onwards, indicating the Cullinan (or whatever it will be called) is due to go into production within the next 18 months.

Rolls Royce has admitted that "advocates of the marque" (or loyal owners) have been shown the engineering development car already and that it is currently being transported to the Arctic Circle to conduct extreme cold-weather testing for durability and traction. At the opposite end of the temperature scale, it will head to the Middle East sometime next year to conduct hot-weather trials in the desert.

"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 M?ller-?tv?s, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

"Bringing together the new four-wheel drive system and the new 'architecture of luxury' for the first time sets us on the road to creating a truly authentic Rolls-Royce which, like its forebears, will reset the standard by which all other luxury goods are judged."

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