Car Review: The Rolls-Royce Black Badge Cullinan survives the Dubai desert

The Rolls-Royce Black Badge Cullinan is like a magic carpet ride on Singapore roads, but what if we took it on an Arabian adventure?

By Justin Harper / 26 Oct 2022

Car Review, Cars, Rolls-Royce

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Take one posh SUV, add unpaved roads and sandy desert, and you have a recipe for luxury fun. The posh vehicle in question was a special Rolls-Royce Cullinan, and the desert was a 30-minute drive south of Dubai’s skyscraper-laden city centre.

I’d driven the uber-upmarket Cullinan in Singapore and loved how luxurious such a Sports Utility Vehicle can feel to the uninitiated. However, I was curious to find out if that famously smooth magic carpet ride could still be enjoyed during Dubai’s harsh summers, especially in the deserts and on gravel roads. This was my chance.

By the way, this wasn’t just any old Cullinan, but one of its Black Badge offerings. In their bespoke form, Black Badge editions tend to be strikingly bolder, darker and mysterious. As Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös says about Black Badge: “It is an attitude that represents an authentic and confident response to the desires of a new group of clients who proudly practise bold self-expression.”

And they are popular. Black Badge cars now represent 27 per cent of Rolls-Royce product commissions.

On the dusty sand dunes of Dubai

Rolls-Royce

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At first glance, big and bold seem appropriate adjectives to describe it. The Cullinan is big in practically every department, particularly the engine. Thanks to its 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged engine, this baby shifts like a dream. With a staggering 850Nm of torque, you can reach 100km in just 5.2 seconds, which is quite impressive for a car of this size.

Before heading south into the sand dunes of Dubai, my Black Badge Cullinan definitely turned some heads on the glamorous streets of the popular emirate.

Unlike Singapore’s 90kph top speed limit, Dubai’s is higher at up to 110kph (although it’s widely accepted that you can go up to 120kph without any penalties). Out in the quiet desert, I discovered that people go much faster than that.
On the tarmac, there are plenty of opportunities to push the Cullinan. Because it is so big and sturdy, you feel as if you are floating above the road at all times. However, I was more interested in what it could do off the tarmac, on the sand and gravel of Dubai’s deserts and many unmade roads. This was where I really wanted to take the Cullinan, shift it into off-road mode and see if I could still achieve the magic carpet ride on rougher terrain.
Having driven along a 7.5km unmade road in my own SUV to reach a newly built lake, I knew it could get a bit bumpy and uncomfortable. But the Cullinan took the bumps and potholes, rubble and sand in its stride and made me feel like I was still on smooth tarmac. I couldn’t believe how silky it felt. The only indication that I had been off-road was the sand and dust that covered the beautiful paintwork. Sorry, Rolls-Royce marketing team.

Related: Rolls-Royce’s Phantom Series II is a subtle step forward

Equally glamorous yet dusty, shiny yet sandy

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A ride like this doesn't happen by accident, of course. The Cullinan’s unique aluminium space frame is fitted with sensors that make millions of calculations every second, while self-leveling air cushioning reacts lightning-fast to changes in the terrain.

This might sound like marketing copy, but it truly delivers. Simply push the off-road button to engage all-wheel drive. To give a little more clearance, the suspension is lifted 40mm, while the brake and accelerators adapt for greater responsiveness.
The drive for me was such a highlight in all my years of test-driving cars, that I almost forgot about the interior. But then again this is Rolls-Royce, you will always feel pampered and special, with soft leathers, multiple massage functions and ample legroom. With the addition of a starliner ceiling (or tilted sunroof ) and a champagne cooler, the desert doesn’t feel so bad after all.
It would seem that the Cullinan had been built specifically with Dubai in mind. Equally glamorous yet dusty, shiny yet sandy, Dubai is the perfect setting to show off the Rolls-Royce SUV and what it can do.

Related: Object of Desire: Rolls-Royce Cullinan 1:8 replica that comes with its own bespoke options

Car Review, Cars, Rolls-Royce