The Rolls Royce Cullinan is named after the largest and most flawless diamond ever discovered. While it is certainly large, taking up the same space as a double cab pick-up truck, whether it is flawless or not is more of an open question. Its looks have divided opinion with many noting that it resembles a modern London taxi. Perhaps not the look Rolls Royce was going for. The customer base that Rolls Royce is going for is also an interesting question. It is mainly likely to be overseas mega wealthy clients, many from the Middle East. It will provide a useful mode of transport for the mega rich who wishes to have a vehicle more capable of adventure than the standard Rolls Royce.  Rolls Royce must have targeted their market reasonably well as they have sold all of the vehicles planned for their first year’s production run already.

As one would expect the materials used in the production of the Cullinan are of the highest quality. The leather that encases the interior is usually found in top end Italian luggage. Everywhere you look inside is either leather or wood, all highly polished. Every surface is heated, from the seats and steering wheel to the centre consul arm rest. The 6.75 litre twin turbo V twin engine produces 565 bhp and transports the car from 0-60 in a blistering 5 seconds. It will sweep on to a restricted 155mph. It is hard to imagine that anyone would want to go any faster in a vehicle that weighs 2,735 kg at the kerb.  The car moves its occupants around in typical Rolls Royce near silence. The car can be set up to be a four or five seater according to the wishes of the buyer. The boot is the first hatch back ever produced by Rolls Royce and can be customised to include specialist carrying capacity for skis, mountaineering equipment and photography gear. The rear seats include a drinks cabinet with a chiller box to keep champagne cold on those long journeys.

If, as an oligarch, one is inclined to take a vehicle skiing this may be the perfect choice. It can also drive in water that would ask questions of a landrover discovery. Although it is an open question as to how many people who have just spent nearly £300,000 on a car would want to drive it into water. On price alone the car doesn’t have any real rivals. The closest are the Bentley Bentayga and top of the range Range Rovers but both of those cost half as much as the Cullinan.

For most the Cullinan exists as an irrelevance. It has a price tag that eliminates all but the very wealthiest from even considering it. For those who can afford it, though, it has all of the advantages that a modern SUV has to offer in a package that doesn’t stint on luxury. Pulling a horse box to the polo? This could be the vehicle to be seen in.