When your four-year-old son dreams of the cosmos, and you happen to have the means to make those dreams tangible, you commission a one-off Rolls-Royce Cullinan that literally brings the universe into the luxury SUV. That’s exactly what happened with the extraordinary Cullinan Cosmos, commissioned by a family who shares a fascination for the universe with their toddler.
Taking center stage is a Rolls-Royce first, a hand-painted Starlight Headliner painstakingly developed by one of the marque’s in-house artists over 160 hours. Unlike the traditional fiber-optic Starlight Headliners, which Rolls-Royce is famous for, the artistry here can be compared to the automotive equivalent of the Sistine Chapel.
The artist created the stunning scenery by hand using over 20 successive applications of acrylic paint with various brushes, including a makeup brush that was used to achieve the mist effect.
Painted entirely freehand, it shows the Milky Way as a luminous band of stars and cosmic mist. The result is an ethereal interpretation of space that should transform every journey into an interstellar adventure, especially for younger passengers.
The Cullinan itself is Rolls-Royce’s luxury SUV flagship, powered by a 6.75-liter twin-turbo V12 producing 563 horsepower. But specifications become secondary when you’re dealing with the marque’s Bespoke department, where virtually anything imaginable can become reality.
Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke division has created some extraordinary one-offs over the years. Previous commissions have included the $13 million Sweptail, which held the record as the world’s most expensive new car, and various themed vehicles incorporating everything from meteorite materials to hand-embroidered silk. The modern coachbuilding division began operations when a VIP client commissioned the Sweptail in 2013.
While Rolls-Royce doesn’t publish specific pricing for bespoke commissions like the Cullinan Cosmos, it’s safe to assume that such extensive hand-painted work, combined with the base Cullinan’s $400,000+ starting price, likely pushes this space-themed Rolls well into the seven-figure territory. Not a small price to pay up front, but an absolute bargain if you consider that every drive for the family can be a journey through the stars.
