The luxury 
SUV bug has bitten its share of automakers in recent years. Up to now, Rolls-Royce has been an exception. Come 2015, luxury automaker has confirmed it is working on an SUV of its own.
Better late than never, Rolls-Royce.
News of Rolls’ interest in developing a luxury SUV came to light after design chief Giles Taylor told Autocar that his design team had begun tinkering with sketches of a potential SUV, possibly to gauge the feasibility of building one in the future. Taylor was also quick to point out that the team was still in the infancy stage of an SUV design and that any talk of “proportions and three dimensions” were premature. This changed dramatically in February 2015, when Rolls revealed that it’s working on a car “that offers the luxury of a Rolls-Royce in a vehicle that can cross any terrain.”
Although Rolls-Royce has no history with SUVs, the company cited vehicles from the past which have been successful in events such as the Scottish Reliability Trials and the Alpine Trials, and had the ability to carry their owners “over challenging terrain with absolute reliability and comfort” in Australia, India, and other parts of the world. The SUV’s true purpose is to challenge Bentley’s upcoming Bentayga , but the two won’t meet face to face earlier than 2017. Meanwhile, let’s see what Rolls-Royce might have in store for its first-ever SUV.
Updated 09/17/2015: In a recent interview at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, Rolls-Royce boss Torsten Muller Otvos confirmed that the company’s first SUV should be unveiled by the end of 2018. The car will most likely retain the current “Cullinan” codename, which was given by world’s largest rough diamond. (AutoExpress)
Continue reading to learn more about the future Rolls Royce SUV.
Exterior
Although this will be Rolls-Royce’s first-ever SUV, I don’t expect the company to come up with a revolutionary design for it. As shown in our rendering above, look for the same massive chrome grille to dominate the nose, as well as a pair of slim headlamps similar to those seen on Ghost and Phantom sedans. However, the SUV will sport a different configuration below the grille, where it will receive a larger bumper and the obligatory skid plate.
The rear end is where this Rolls-Royce will be like no other production car from the firm, mostly due to its wagon-like roof and tailgate. This is also where Rolls-Royce might ditch the traditional Ghost/Phantom taillights in favor of larger, horizontal units. The slightly upswept bumper will showcase more underbelly protection and larger exhaust pipes. Expect the same clean design to distinguish the SUV’s profile below the waistline. Naturally, the SUV will ride higher than any other Rolls-Royce vehicle and feature 22-inch, if not larger, wheels.
Interior
Even though the SUV is still a few years away from launch, it’s safe to assume its interior will mirror current Rolls-Royce offerings. Expect the cabin to come draped in the finest leathers and Alcantara, with plenty of wood veneers and aluminum to decorate most of the dashboard and the door panels. All these features will be highly customizable, with hundreds of colors and finishes available. Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke division will also enable buyers to configure their SUV to unique specifications.
On top of offering segment-leading roominess, the cabin should also be very quiet and comfortable. Since many Rolls-Royce owners spend most of their time in the back seat, the Brits will focus on turning that area into a luxury lounge.
Drivetrain
A lot may change in this department before this SUV goes into production, but knowing Rolls-Royce, a V-12 powerplant is very likely. The Brits will most likely go with the Ghost’s twin-turbo, 6.6-liter mill, which should receive an extensive update before then, as well as the already familiar eight-speed, ZF automatic transmission. I expect the combo to send in excess of 600 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque to the wheels, to make the SUV the second-most powerful Rolls-Royce after the Wraith.
Although Rolls doesn’t use hybrid drivetrains as of 2015, it is very likely the SUV will receive one, especially since both the Bentley Bentayga and the Lamborghini Urus are set to make use of this technology. If I were to guess, I’d say the Brits will borrow it from parent company BMW.
Prices
The Bentley Bentayga might become the world’s most expensive SUV when it breaks cover later in 2015, but it will most certainly lose that title as soon as Rolls-Royce’s hauler becomes a reality. At around $200,000, the Bentayga will be somewhat of a bargain compared to the $350,000 Rolls-Royce is likely to ask for its SUV. This figure is only speculation, but I don’t see Rolls-Royce placing it below the Ghost’s sticker, which is set at around $250,000.
Competitors
Bentley Bentayga
The Bentley Bentayga is the obvious choice as the most direct competitor to the Rolls-Royce SUV. The idea of an SUV coming from both luxury brands seemed far-fetched as recently as 10 years ago, but times sure have changed.
In its first foray into the luxury SUV market, Bentley has prepared the Bentayga to be a cut above the rest, literally and figuratively. Covered in rich materials, the interior is class-leading with amenities expected in such a vehicle. Power is provided by a new 6.0-liter W-12 engine rated at 600 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque and mates to an eight-speed automatic. Capable of hitting 60 mph in four seconds and a top speed of 187 mph, the Bentayga is the quickest and fastest SUV in the world. Pricing starts from a whopping $229,100.
Read our full review on the Bentayga here .
Lamborghini Urus
Its “Urus” name is derived from one of the largest cows to ever roam the Earth, at 61 to 71 inches tall at the shoulders and weighing up to 1,500 pounds. And while the SUV is still in concept form, a production model is likely to arrive by 2017.
Under the hood, the concept features a 4.0-liter V-8 engine fed by a pair of turbochargers. This pushes the super-SUV to 600 horsepower and an estimated 600 to 650 pound-feet of torque. Driving the wheels is a dual-clutch automated-manual transmission with an enhanced, permanent all-wheel-drive system. We estimate the Urus to hit 60 mph in the mid- to high-three-second range.
Although the Urus won’t be as luxurious as its Bentley and Rolls-Royce counterparts, it will be the quickest of the bunch, no matter what drivetrain it gets under the hood. I also expect it to fetch more than the Bentayga, but less than the Rolls-Royce.
Read our full review on the Urus here.
Conclusion
It’s way too early to draw a conclusion here, but I do know for a fact that Rolls-Royce’s SUV will set some benchmarks once it arrives in dealerships. Building the most luxurious SUV out there will not be an easy task, but Rolls-Royce is indeed one of the very few manufacturers that has the means to do it.
Updated History
Updated 03/16/2015: Based on the recent details and our own speculations, we’ve created a rendering of the future Rolls Royce SUV. We hope you’ll like it.