Rolls-Royce has finally introduced a ‘Black Badge’ version of its uber-luxurious Cullinan SUV. In case you aren’t aware of the Black Badge Collection, it’s a special, dark-themed treatment Rolls-Royce gives to its cars to attract younger, well-heeled buyers. Over the past few years, we’ve seen RR launch the Black Badge versions of the Dawn, Ghost and Wraith; however, in our opinion, the Cullinan is the most deserving product in the British marque’s line-up to receive the sinister makeover. Black Badge editions not only feature visual updates but also pack more oomph and sportier driving dynamics to match. Under the hood is Rolls-Royce’s 6.75-liter V12 which has been massaged to churn out 29 more horses and extra 37 pound-feet of torque, taking the total to 600 hp and 664 lb-ft. Rolls-Royce hasn’t released performance or economy figures for the model, however.
In terms of aesthetics, it gets Black Badge’s signature Black along with a contrasting hand-painted Coachline in gold. However, the owners can pick their own bespoke exterior paint if they wish to. The signature Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament is presented in black chrome, while chrome surfaces such as the front grille surround, side frame finishers, boot handle, boot trim, lower air inlet finisher, and exhaust pipes are darkened. On the inside, the Black Badge features a headliner woven with fiber optic lights to resemble the night sky and comes with a “technical carbon” veneer on the trim that takes the usual carbon-fiber finish and gives it a more premium, three-dimensional look. The whole process takes 21 days to complete. Rolls-Royce hasn’t said anything on the price as of yet but has said the deliveries will begin between the end of 2019 and the start of 2020.
