Rolls-Royce has applied the Black Badge treatment to the Cullinan. The super-luxury SUV thus joins the Dawn, Wraith and Ghost with similar visual updates and a bump in power.
The 6.75-liter twin-turbo V12 now puts out 592 HP (600 PS / 441 kW) and 664 lb-ft (900 Nm) of torque, up by 29 HP (29 PS / 21 kW) and 37 lb-ft (50 Nm) from the standard version. The new Cullinan Black Badge can get from zero to 60 mph (0-96 km/h) in just 4.9 seconds, in spite of its 6,069 lbs (2,753 kg) curb weight, maxing out at 155 mph (250 km/h).
Video: Here’s A Chance To See A $400k Rolls-Royce Cullinan Going Off-Road
To help it cope better with all the increased power, Rolls-Royce has upgraded the suspension and brakes, as well as added the ‘Intuitive Throttle’ technology that provides a more aggressive shift pattern for the 8-speed transmission. Another special touch comes from the ‘Low’ button on the gearshift lever that transforms the way the exhaust sounds, giving it a deeper tone.
Finished in a hand-polished black coat of paint, the Cullinan Black Badge has darkened grille surround, side frame finishers, boot trim and handle, lower air inlet finisher and exhaust pipes. The Spirit of Ecstasy has been blacked out too, and the whole bad-boy look is contrasted by the polished vertical grille bars, two-tone 22-inch forged alloy wheels, red brake calipers and yellow lines.
More yellow details are found inside, on the seats, dashboard and door panels, along with the black leather that wraps around most touchable surfaces. The starlight headliner has finally made its way into the Cullinan, adding 1,344 individual fiber optic cables that resemble the night sky, complete with the new shooting star feature.
The 2020 Cullinan Black Badge is already on sale, with a $382,000 starting price in the United States.