Images of the first Rolls-Royce SUV mule – code named Project Cullinan – have been released. This early engineering mule is based on a shortened Phantom Series II body and has been created purely to begin the development of a new all-wheel drive suspension system that will assist Rolls-Royce engineers in developing a final all-wheel drive system. According to Rolls-Royce, the body of the mule hints at the size of the SUV but does not feature any design aspects of it.
The first series of tests will focus on Project Cullinan’s on-road behavior, from suspension throw to high-bodied stability, and will test the new suspension across all types of international road surface specification at test facilities, as well as on public roads.
Test surfaces will include: Belgian Pavé, cobblestones, corrugated concrete, noise development and measurement surfaces, resonance road, and acceleration bumps.
Project Cullinan mules will spend equal amounts of time testing on-road and off-road to ensure that the customer will experience the same ride quality on loose surfaces and challenging terrain as they do in current Rolls-Royce vehicles.
April 8, 2015