When Rolls-Royce announced it was to build an SUV, the project was codenamed Cullinan.
Cullinan is also the name of a diamond found in 1905 in Cullinan, 40km east of Pretoria, South Africa. It is believed to be the largest diamond ever found and is part of the British Crown Jewels. It was cut into several pieces, the largest named Cullinan I.
There's a lot of weight that comes with a moniker that prestigious, so it was only natural for Rolls-Royce to adopt it for one of its upcoming models.
A ‘HIGH-BODIED ROLLS’
The automaker was reluctant to use the word SUV when talking about its new model, instead it used the team a new "high-bodied Rolls-Royce".
Spy photographers spotted the first engineering prototype undergoing testing at the automaker's development centre in Dahlewitz, Germany.
IMAGE GALLERY: Rolls-Royce Cullinan
The prototype was developed on a shortened Phantom Series II body and for now will only serve as a base for an all-wheel drive system.
Rolls-Royce will test its prototype on various types road surfaces both in their facilities and on public roads.