Elite Traveler Summer 2020

INSPIRE TOP CARS

Rolls-Royce 2020Black BadgeCullinan Long recognized as the pinnacle of luxury, Rolls-Royce currently finds itself in a peculiar position: It’s popular. The lynchpin of the shift from bombastic chauffeurs’ car to en vogue automobile arrives courtesy of the Cullinan, Rolls-Royce's lavishly capable SUV. Catapulting the brand into the fresh decade as the fastest-selling new model in the firm's history, nearly half of Rolls-Royce’s 5,152 deliveries (the most in its 116-year history) in 2019 were Cullinans, all of them bespoke. The arrival of Black Badge Cullinan — deemed ‘the King of the Night’ by the British brand — drives that momentum forward as the BMW group subsidiary inaugurates a handful of firsts. The first-ever colored brake caliper, a high-gloss red paint, offsets the new 22-in forged alloy wheels. The famed starlight headliner makes its SUV arrival on Black Badge Cullinan. Its 1,344 individual fiber optic cables showcase a brand-new feature: eight shooting stars. Hand-polished for up to five hours in what the brand considers the most comprehensive surface-finish process ever applied to a solid paint color, the exterior is coated with multiple layers of paint and lacquer. Re-engineered for enhanced dynamic performance, the drivetrain and chassis deliver a 600 hp, 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V12 punch — enough for any escapade. Marketed as the more avant-garde edition, Black Badge Cullinan features a ‘low’ button, a supplement to the gear shift that unlocks an audible rumbling exhaust — yet another demonstration of Rolls-Royce’s commitment to charming a younger demographic. From $382,000, rolls-roycemotorcars.com

Although one in five Rolls-Royce commissions is executed as Black Badge, Cullinan will assuredly increase that ratio