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Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge combines elevated power, style, luxury

For once, a black-themed special-edition vehicle actually has some depth. And it had better, because it's a Rolls-Royce. The new Cullinan Black Badge is not simply an SUV with black exhaust tips, a black grille, and black trim work, though it does have all three. In addition to a myriad of design treatments, some of which have never been applied to a Rolls-Royce, the Cullinan BB has increased power, a sportier drive setup, and unique features specific to this vehicle.  One of the most significant upgrades between the base Cullinan and the Black Badge is the performance. Rolls-Royce finessed the twin-turbocharged 6.75-liter to make 600 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque, both up from 563 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. Zero to 60 takes only 4.9 seconds, and it tops out at 155 mph. The Black Badge also has "intuitive throttle," which makes the ZF eight-speed transmission shift a little more aggressively, and a "low" button on the gear shift opens up a deep-voiced exhaust note. Furthering the package, Rolls-Royce made changes to the suspension components and settings to ready for lively driving. A higher brake point in the pedal travel and redesigned high-temperature-resistant brake discs help keep the SUV in check. This is also the first time ever a Rolls-Royce has used colored brake calipers.  Said to represent the style of a younger generation, "permanent bespoke" Black Badge vehicles undergo a dark transformation. We say dark, because black is not the only paint option. A white model was also shown at the unveiling and contrasted well with other darkened parts on the SUV. Apparently, each paint job is hand-polished for up to five hours to ensure peak shiny. Rolls-Royce emphasized how big of a deal it was to use a black Spirit of Ecstasy, which changed color thanks to a chemical process, not paint or wraps. The inverted badging, grille surround, side frame finishers, trunk handle, trunk trim, lower air inlet finisher, and exhaust pipes also received black makeovers, and new 22-inch black and silver wheels adorn each corner. Inside, "The King of the Night," as Rolls-Royce says (guess that title is available after the last season of "Game of Thrones"), has more all-new features. Crafted with a leather headliner and 1,344 fiber optic strands, the Starlight ceiling is introduced to the Cullinan with eight white shooting stars integrated into the pattern. The carbon fiber has been redesigned with aluminum weave and shows off a 3D geometric pattern.

Rolls-Royce dealer incentive could take $15K off a Cullinan or Ghost

When a carmaker wants last year's models off dealer lots at the beginning of the new year, one standard tactic is to offer incentives either to customers or to dealers. Rolls-Royce is an automaker with last year's models on dealer lots at the beginning of the new year, and on top of that, a refreshed Cullinan and a refreshed Ghost are due later this year. That explains the dealer bulletin Cars Direct said it saw that informs dealers, "Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA is introducing a Non-FS and Regional Rate Cash Program to stimulate sales and to promote all aging units to be retailed by the end of March 2024." The cash specifics: $15,000 that can be spent on the $375,000 Cullinan and Black Badge Cullinan, as well as the $350,000 Ghost, Ghost Extended and Black Badge Ghost.  The "non-FS" part refers to the financial services division, meaning the vehicles in the promotion can't be financed through the automaker's loan department. BMW, Rolls-Royce's parent company, makes this distinction regularly, offering a $9,900 "Non FS Credit" on the XM last November, for instance. In that case, buyers who did finance an XM through BMW Financial were also offered a $9,900 loan credit. No such deal on the English side of the Munich empire. Because this is a factory-to-dealer incentive, dealers don't need to disclose the offer nor give the buyer the benefit even if a buyer knows about it; this is a reward for the storefront for getting the model off the lot at a price the dealer is happy with, not an incentive for a shopper. Don't get the idea that Rolls-Royce shoppers are put off by discounts, though. It's all about the phrasing and the delivery. Dropping $15,000 on the hood would be unthinkable. A dealer asking an interested shopper who's on the fence, "What if I threw in the 21-inch tri-colored pinstripe wheels you want and took $10,000 off?" Well, that's making a deal, and everyone loves making a deal. So if Santa was especially kind, or you were especially naughty and made your own bundle, there's almost three months left to take advantage. According to the bulletin, the program ends March 31, 2024. Related video: 2020 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Tour

Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II introduced for 2023

Rolls-Royce sent its Phantom off to finishing school for 2023. What came back is the Series II, which Rolls itself acknowledges as a "subtle" evolution of the iconic superluxury sedan. To mark the occasion, the company commissioned a one-off model named Platino (for "platinum"), which is pictured below.  "The subtle changes we have made for the new Phantom Series II have all been minutely considered and meticulously executed. As Sir Henry Royce himself said: ‘Small things make perfection, but perfection is no small thingÂ’,” said Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos in the company's official announcement.  The Phantom Series II received what Rolls-Royce described as a "light-touch" aesthetic update. The grille is just a touch more upright and is now illuminated (a cue borrowed from the Ghost) and the headlights now feature a laser-cut pattern designed to mimic the Rolls-Royce-signature "Starlight" headliner in the Phantom's interior. Two new wheel options have been added. The first is a 3D-milled stainless wheel featuring triangular facets; the second is the 1920s-style disc available in either stainless or black lacquer finish.  Inside, nothing has really changed, but you'd be unlikely to notice one way or the other since no two Phantoms ever really look alike unless they're deliberately commissioned thusly. Rolls-Royce says the steering wheel is the only interior upgrade of note; it was made slightly thicker. The infotainment system was also updated to incorporate Rolls-Royce Connected, which talks to its digital concierge smartphone app, Whisper. That allows owners to monitor the Phantom's vitals, send destinations to the navigation system or schedule service.  The Phantom Platino (that white one above) is a perfect illustration of what we said above about no two Phantoms looking the same. Rolls-Royce's Bespoke individualization program is busy pretty much 24/7 putting together one-of-a-kind creations for its uber-wealthy customers. The Platino's fabric rear seats are a nod to the early days of Rolls-Royce, when front seats were leather-adorned but the rear were covered in upholstered cloth.  Related Video This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.