---
title: "New Rolls-Royce SUV Spotted Testing in the Snow"
description: "There's no camouflaging that iconic grill."
date: "2017-03-29"
modified: "2017-03-29"
authors:
  - name: "Kyle Cheromcha"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/article/8771/new-rolls-royce-suv-spotted-testing-in-the-snow"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Rolls-Royce News"
tags:
  - "Bentayga"
  - "Cullinan"
  - "luxury"
  - "Rolls-Royce"
  - "Spy shots"
  - "suv/crossover"
---

# New Rolls-Royce SUV Spotted Testing in the Snow

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/03/rolls-suv.png>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com\</em\>*

Eight years after the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, the world is suddenly flush with supremely expensive SUVs. It's the [Bentley Bentayga's world now](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/2012/the-bentley-bentayga-is-the-most-expensive-suv-ever>), and we're just living in it. It makes sense, then, that Rolls-Royce is excited about the launch of its new Cullinan SUV—so excited, in fact, that the normally secretive company sent a camo'd version (along with a possible AWD Phantom or Ghost update?) out to play in the snow recently in front of a few cameras. It's looking a little like the love child of a Ghost and a Range Rover, but then again, those are two pretty great parents to have.

The first half of the video from autoevolution shows the Cullinan (named for the largest gem-quality diamond ever found) cruising up and down some snowy streets, with the second half showing it tackle a few closed packed-snow courses. It looks like the newly-designed AWD system works quite well, as the Cullinan climbs and descends a few steeper sections that might give a RWD Rolls some trouble.

[Powered by a twin-turbo V12](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/6296/rolls-royce-gives-us-the-best-look-yet-at-the-cullinan-suv>), the Cullinan will tie a new aluminum structure to that traditional "magic carpet ride" suspension for gains in fuel economy and comfort. When the cold weather testing is completed, Rolls-Royce plans to take its testing to the Middle East for some sandy summer fun. It's due to launch in late 2018—[as Rolls-Royce's website says](<https://www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com/en-GB/house-of-rolls-royce/new-horizons-for-rolls-royce.html>), "you can't rush perfection."

https://youtube.com/embed/5wC-0k\_Lh-o

## Author
Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/kylecheromcha.bsky.social>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/kylecheromcha>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-cheromcha-1550248a/>)