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Photo: Rolls-Royce
Mention Ibiza, and images of unbridled hedonism in the world’s clubbing capital naturally and notoriously come to mind. So when Rolls-Royce invited us to the Spanish isle to experience its revivified version of the Cullinan, its super-luxury SUV, over the summer, we had an inkling that something more magical than the carmaker’s legendary “magic carpet ride” oath might await — even if our partying days may be over. You won’t find us dancing our soles and souls away at Pacha or Ushuaïa till dawn.
As we travel along the rugged coastline, fringing turquoise waters glistening under the Mediterranean sun, the beauty of the Balearic is upstaged only by the magnificence of a convoy of Rolls-Royce Phantoms ferrying the likes of us like super VIPs.
The gods had blessed this land as both party and terrestrial paradise, an enchanting portal to wonder and awe and “Earth’s final refuge,” as Nostradamus prophesied.
We arrive at Six Senses Ibiza in the quieter north of the island. As our chauffeur-driven alter egos egress, I envisage the days ahead filled with excess and finesse, a hedonism of a different kind, for Rolls-Royce masterfully traffics in the art of the exquisite and the sublime.
Changing codes of luxury
Under the Mediterranean sun: The rugged coastline of Ibiza provided the epic backdrop upon which we test-drove the Cullinan Series II over the summer. (Photo: Rolls-Royce)
Just before sunset, when the gods show off once again, gloriously painting the sky all manner of ripe citrus speckled with gold, Rolls-Royce decides to unwrap the Cullinan Series II, and the “Rolls-Royce of SUVs” stands regal against this proportionately epic backdrop.
First introduced in 2018, the once-blasphemous super-luxury SUV has since become the most popular product in the Rolls-Royce portfolio, further signalling a decisive shift towards self-driving with almost every Cullinan driven by its owner today — compared with more than 70 per cent chauffeur-driven when it was launched six years ago, according to the company.
The new Cullinan Series II arrives with a more modern countenance characterised by clean lines, crisper edges, and a commanding presence. (Photo: Rolls-Royce)
Fittingly, the facelifted Cullinan makes an even more dynamic statement that amplifies its monolithic form and already commanding presence.
A key theme in its new guise, says Rolls-Royce, is verticality. Think of gleaming skyscrapers luminous in twilight, and then cast your eyes towards the iconic Pantheon grille, now illuminated for the first time on the Cullinan Series II.
Changing codes of luxury calls for more modern energy, and the centenarian carmaker most synonymous with the British royal family has, dutifully, imbued the Cullinan with a more modern countenance, characterised by clean lines and crisper edges.
New vertical daytime running lights echo the theme of verticality, also reflected in the iconic Pantheon grille, illuminated for the first time on the Cullinan Series II. (Photo: Rolls-Royce)
This is most apparent in the new lamp treatment, and those vertical daytime running lights, for instance, are a resounding triumph in expression and evolution. Curious, then, that stepping into the interior feels a little like a step back in time.
Capturing a timeless spirit
While you can certainly expect more digital-forward interfaces and greater connectivity like Wi-Fi hotspot connection, independent streaming of each screen even for those in the rear, and the ability to pair Bluetooth headphones with the rear seat infotainment system for the first time, Rolls-Royce has introduced an element on the passenger side of the dash that instantly transports you back to your boomer aunt’s 1980s home.
The Spirit of Ecstacy Clock Cabinet makes its debut, featuring an up-lit Spirit of Ecstasy figurine ceremoniously positioned below an analogue clock in an inset vitrine. (Photo: Rolls-Royce)
Particularly if you’re a Gen Xer — that oft-forgotten sandwich generation whose first crush was that cute brunette Winnie Cooper from The Wonder Years. Oh, the feels.
The time capsule in question is the new Spirit of Ecstacy Clock Cabinet featuring an up-lit Spirit of Ecstasy figurine ceremoniously positioned below an analogue clock.
Think of it as a little Oscar statuette poised on a mantel, if you will, that plays a leading role in some carefully orchestrated light play. Upon entering the vehicle, the driver’s display is first illuminated, followed by the Central Information Display and the Illuminated Fascia.
Also making its debut on the Cullinan Series II are the new Duality Twill seats that clients have the option to commission. Made from bamboo, the new rayon textile interior is embroidered with the “Duality” graphic, an abstract interpretation of the two interlinked “R” initials of the marque’s founders. A full Duality interior boasts up to 2.2 million stitches and 11 miles of thread. (Photo: Rolls-Royce)
Finally, the flow of flight sweeps towards the inset vitrine, and the figurine is slowly bathed in a soft, ethereal glow from below, reminiscent of a spotlight settling on a Broadway ingenue on her debut performance — delivering just the right amount of drama if you happen to be a Streisand or Streep stan.
As we meander through Ibiza’s gorgeous geography from behind the wheel of the Cullinan Series II, it’s almost disconcerting how remarkably easy it is to drive. It glides effortlessly across the winding landscape, powered by the quietest V12 known to man.
Equally at home in an urban environment or off the beaten track, the “Rolls-Royce of SUVs” has true off-roading capabilities, fitted with 23-inch wheels for the first time. (Photo: Rolls-Royce)
You hear nary a grunt from its twin-turbocharged 6.75-litre engine nor a sonic trace of its 600PS (435.4kw) power as this consummate SUV does what Rolls-Royce does best — a kind of quiet luxury that won’t risk stirring any of your hungover mates.
