Rolls-Royce Code-Names SUV After a Giant Jewel

Rolls-Royce is reportedly code-naming its SUV after the world’s largest diamond.

Internally called “Cullinan,” the super luxury utility vehicle is expected to arrive in 2018 according to a report by German magazine Autobild. The BMW-owned brand has yet to officially confirm that it plans to sell an SUV, but CEO Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes has been quoted in the past saying he thinks there is a market for such a high-end vehicle.

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Bentley is already several steps ahead and has prototypes of its SUV undergoing testing with what looks like production sheet metal. Its SUV – still unnamed – is scheduled to arrive in 2016 and will be offered as a the first plug-in hybrid, eventually to be followed by the rest of the Bentley product portfolio.

Rolls-Royce is also expected to offer a plug-in hybrid version of its ultra-luxury utility vehicle, which will likely share an aluminum and carbon fiber structure with the next Ghost and planned BMW 9 Series flagship.

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[Source: Autobild]