ROTIMI ASHER
M
otoring Journalists from Nigerian leading mainstream and digital press, including Motoring World, on Saturday, test-drove the Rolls Royce’s first ever Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), the Cullinan through the rough, sandy and smooth terrains in Lagos.
Though launched into the Nigerian market about two years ago, Coscharis Motors Plc, Nigeria’s exclusive representative of Rolls Royce cars, released the car to the motoring press at a Ride-and-Drive event held at the luxurious Azuri Towers, Eko Atlantic city, Victoria Island.
Addressing newsmen before the test drive, Coscharis’ General Manager, Corporate Communications, Abiona Babarinde said the event was aimed at giving the nation’s motoring press an opportunity to have a taste and feel of the car.
He said: “We have brought motoring press to this luxurious place to enable you have a taste and feel of the first SUV from the Rolls Royce brand, the Cullinan, which was introduced into the market two years down the line. But, due to the COVID pandemic, the launch was delayed.”
On the choice of holding the event around the luxury apartments by Azuri Towers at the Eko Development City right beside the Atlantic Ocean, Babarinde said his company selected the venue to enable media test-drivers to experience what he described as the smooth drive a Rolls-Royce Cullinan delivers effortlessly on different road terrains.
“Right here,” he pointed out, “you will enjoy the drive on a smooth road and sandy areas on the beach side that gives you both the on and off road capabilities of the Cullinan within an environment like what we have at this Eko Development City here in Lagos.”
According to him, for Roll Royce, Cullinan SUV is a departure from the norm, which is being appreciated by Roll Royce lovers across the world, judging from the patronage being enjoyed by the product already.
“A combination of luxury and off road capability and agility is what Cullinan is designed to achieve both on and off the road,” he added.
On some of the features of the vehicle, Tolu Gbadamosi, the Business Manager, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Lagos described the SUV as the Rolls Royce of SUV in the world with coach doors.
He explained: “The body of Roll Royce is called the coach. There has never been anything like it; built to compete and out- market its competitor, this one comes with arctic white exterior and a silver satin bonnet finish adorning the whole vehicle. There is also a spirit of ecstasy to make the body unique.’’
“In this particular one, the spirit of ecstasy is embossed on the doors. This goes further to make the car unique in itself. It has rear curtain in black, and on each door, there is a button that controls the curtain.’’
According to Gbadamosi, one of the things that also make the Roll Royce special is the umbrella.
“At the press of a button on the door,” he pointed out, “the umbrella pops. With this, Rolls Royce has made provision for a rainy day’.
‘’For this specification, the interior is bespoke, which means it is deliberately built by combining two interesting colours. We have a hotspot red and black.
‘’When Rolls Royce is being configured, you have to take note of colours, which complement each other. It has a starline headliner, which consists of 1,200 stars that pops. It is the fiber optic that goes into the headlining. This gives beauty, opulence and elegance. Of course, we also have 360 degree camera.”
At the push of the off road button on the Cullinan, it gives a different dynamism that ensures easy ride on a rough terrain. This car is 71 inches in height, 76 inches wide with 850 torque, making the car relatively fast.
The highlight of the event was the test drive. Motoring journalists took turn to test-drive the car through the rough, sandy and smooth terrain in the Atlantic City, Victoria Island.
On offerings that are available to give Cullinan’s customers the ‘peace of mind’, Michael Onyewuchi, the brand’s Ownership Services Manager said: “Aside the warranty that is guaranteed from the purchase of the Cullinan from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Lagos, you are guaranteed of genuine parts to be fixed with the right tools by certified Rolls-Royce technicians to deliver the ultimate peace of mind to the customer based on the set global standards.
”Apart from four years warranty with service interval of 6,000km once in a year, the most interesting thing that makes Rolls Royce stand out from other brands in the market is the fact that Rolls Royce owners can still enjoy a goodwill for another seven years after the warrantee.”
Verdict
Cullinan is a luxury in its purest form blended with perfect practicality and off-road capability. On the road, the Cullinan delivers a high degree stability and agility. With a twin turbo engine capacity of 6.7 liter V-12 and 563 horsepower, Cullinan is peculiarly configured to offer safe, smooth and comfortable driving experience on any terrain. No wonder, as we drove off the road in the Atlantic City, a push of the off-road button actually caused a switch of the engine and unleash of4-wheel-drive power to conquer the sandy terrain effortlessly. A unique and mysterious automotive technology it is.
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