Black Badge is more than just a styling package. For starters, RR engineers eke out more power and torque from the V12 - to the tune of 592 hp and 664 lb-ft - while reprogramming the powertrain for sharper performance and the suspension for better handling. Visually, Black Badge changes the majority of the bright exterior trim - including the Spirit of Ecstasy - to black chrome in finish, while the RR logo is inverted to be silver on black. Black 22-inch wheels are exclusive to this trim. Inside, new upholstery options, and the unique Technical Carbon trim design further set the Black Badge apart.
The Cullinan's twin-turbo 6.7-liter V-12 provides 563 horsepower (592 in the Black Badge model) and is whisper quiet, lest it disturb the VIPs in the cabin. The one we tested recorded a 60-mph time of just 4.5 seconds—impressive for a vehicle that weighs about three tons. All-wheel drive is standard, although we suspect buyers will never venture off the tarmac and risk damaging the paint. The Cullinan rides on an air suspension that receives information from a road-scanning camera and automatically adjusts the vehicle's height to compensate for imperfections in the pavement. Ride comfort is beyond the standards of regular luxury vehicles, as the Cullinan wafts down the road and transmits nothing unpleasant to the people inside.