Rolls-Royce unveils the seat of power

ROLLS-ROYCE’S first SUV, the Cullinan, will have just the thing for a tailgate party at the polo or picnic lunch in the members’ carpark at the Melbourne Cup – the Cullinan Viewing Suite.

With two folding seats and a matching cocktail table, the electric-operated suite slides out of a case mounted in the cargo area of the Cullinan so the owner and a partner can relax while taking in “the world’s most breathtaking vistas or view a sports event or even watch their children take part in their school sports day”.

The device will most likely be an optional extra for the Cullinan after it is released in Britain late this year, and then in Australia in 2019.

Rolls-Royce announced the gadgetry in its latest drip-feed teaser press release, with company CEO Torsten Mueller-Otvos describing it as “a beautiful piece of furniture” and “the best seat in the house”.

The folding seats apparently are upholstered in the same fine leather as those inside the Cullinan’s cabin, and embossed with the RR logo.

A video supplied with the release shows a flap on the case occupying the full width of the boot opening at the touch of a button, with the folded suite than sliding out over the tailgate and unfurling.

Although most other details about the Cullinan are yet to be announced, we expect that it will include a cooler to hold a bottle of iced Moet for such occasions.

The only problem with the Viewing Suite seems to be the boot space taken up by the case, which appears to be about 20cm deep across the entire floor of the cargo area. Mind you, it is still a pretty big boot in what appears to be a gargantuan vehicle.

This also raises the loading height for luggage that sits on top of the suite’s case.

One thing we do learn from the images is that the Cullinan has a large vertical-lifting rear hatch, but it is unclear if the lower fold-out tailgate section is part of a spilt hatch or simply a convenient bench.

The Cullinan is name after the largest flawless diamond ever found. Sections of the diamond are set in to Britain’s crown jewels.