2023 Rolls-Royce Cullinan

• Rolls-Royce's first SUV
• Delivered new in the UK
• First owner from March 2023 to June 2024
• Two owners from new

"This car manages to behave like no other SUV, be it Bentley Bentayga or Range Rover. It's smoother, quieter and more dignified than any other. It understands the essence of luxury is not endless screen menus and mood lighting, it's about tactility, quality and imperviousness to what's happening outside." – Top Gear

It is a sign of these fast-changing times that only a few years ago the idea of a Rolls-Royce SUV would have been unthinkable, but such is the commercial importance of that burgeoning market sector that even the world's most famous luxury brand cannot afford to ignore it, particularly as rivals such as Bentley and Lamborghini were establishing a presence there.

Named after the Cullinan diamond, the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever discovered, the Cullinan is historically significant as Rolls-Royce's first all-wheel drive car. The Cullinan was unveiled at the Villa d'Este concours in May 2018 and launched in the USA the following autumn with a list price of US$325,000 (£255,000). Despite the sky-high asking price, the Cullinan was soon Rolls-Royce's second best-selling car of all time, beaten only by the long-running Silver Shadow.

Power comes from a twin turbocharged 6.75-litre V8 engine, which transmits its maximum of 563bhp via a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox. The chassis is an aluminium spaceframe featuring double-wishbone front suspension and a five-link rear axle. The air suspension system is self-levelling and there are electronically controlled dampers all round. The Cullinan is also fitted with a stereo camera integrated into the front windscreen, which scans the road ahead and proactively adjusts the suspension to improve ride quality.

Many of the Cullinan's exterior design elements are shared with contemporary Rolls-Royce Phantom, while the interior features many details found in other Rolls-Royces. Other notable features include power closing doors, double paned windows, and a choice of an optional 'Starlight' fibre optic headliner or a panoramic sunroof. The Cullinan is offered as either a five-seater, with three-across seating in the rear (as in this case), or as a four-seater, with two reclining and massaging rear seats with a centre console in the middle.

Finished in striking all-black livery and fitted with after-market wheels, this Rolls-Royce Cullinan was delivered new in March 2023 and kept by its first owner until June 2024. The second custodian has owned the car since then. It is hoped that the Cullinan will have passed its first MoT by time of sale.