The vehicle – which was named after the Cullinan Diamond, the largest of gem-quality ever discovered –represents a comprehensive update to the super-luxury SUV the manufacturer released in 2018, which succeeded in the difficult task of making the brand’s famously smooth ride available on varied, off-road terrains.

This second model shares the same 6.75-litre V12 engine as the original – something that contributed to it becoming a prevalent choice in urban areas despite its off-road credentials. So prevalent, in fact, that it is now Rolls-Royce’s bestselling model.

As a result, it is the modern city that has informed the redesign of the Cullinan Series II’s exterior: a sense of verticality conveyed by a new lamp treatment and a Pantheon grille that is the first-ever to be illuminated. Defined edges and angled bumper lines on the front reinforce the vehicle’s self-assured presence while the 3D, seven-spoke design of the 23-inch wheels recall urban monoliths. And the car’s grey-brown paint finish, combined with a lacquer infused with glass particles, references the lavish marble fixtures adorning the kind of address inhabited by a typical Rolls client.

The makeover of the interior is just as impressive. Here, a full-length glass-panel fascia features an illuminated “Cullinan” mark and a graphic that brings to mind the scattered lighting of apartment windows composing cityscapes by night. The latter is a microcosm of what this car is really about – a reservoir of hard work, precision and attention to detail tapped to ensure even the slightest of effects are achieved. For this entailed laser-etching 7,000 dots onto the back of the darkened security glass at slightly varying angles, thereby effecting a subtle sense of depth. Similarly understated is an artwork consisting of 107,000 perforations in the leather, inspired by the flux of clouds over the home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood.

Duality Twill, meanwhile, is the name given to a new rayon fabric made from bamboo and inspired by the bamboo grove in Le Jardin des Méditerranées near Sir Henry Royce’s former villa on the French Riviera. While evoking sailing yachts’ rope lines, it features an abstract design reminiscent of the interlinked R initials of the marque’s founders, who first met 120 years ago, and offers colour customisation.

Through the Spirit operating system first made popular by the Rolls-Royce Spectre, clients can also personalise the colour of the instrument dials. And the tech is much more comprehensive than that, including an integrated Whispers application for sending destinations directly to their motorcar, viewing its location remotely and managing vehicle locking. Passengers can connect two streaming devices to the rear screens while enjoying seating functions such as massage, heating and cooling. And this grand motorcar features wifi hot spot connection, Bluetooth pairing with the infotainment system, and a powerful 18-speaker Bespoke Audio system. Sounds good to us.

See more at rolls-roycemotorcars.com