Rolls-Royce is preparing its second EV, a large SUV that will succeed the Cullinan

• Rolls-Royce was spotted testing its second electric car, an SUV, in Scandinavia and with relatively little camouflage.
• The SUV has angular proportions, largely echoing the petrol-powered Cullinan, but with a new interpretation of Rolls-Royce’s staid front-end design.
• The EV SUV should reach the US for the 2028 model year and could co-exist alongside the Cullinan for a while.

After dipping its toe into the EV pool with the Specter, Rolls-Royce is now preparing to dive in headfirst. The Spectre, a large, opulent coupe, was an impressive first step into the world of electric power for the British brand, but was limited in size by the number of doors. Now, however, Rolls-Royce is being spied testing its second electric car, a large SUV that could eventually serve as a replacement for the Cullinan.

Our spy photographers captured the electric SUV tests in Scandinavia, plowing through the snow with relatively minimal camouflage. The EV’s proportions are quite similar to the Cullinan, with a long hood and a boxy cabin. The front stands upright and appears to feature square headlights beneath LED daytime running lights that match the iconic Pantheon grille. The grille, however, looks like it will have a new look, with a pair of thin slots on either side of a flat, visible section that houses a small camera or sensor. Most of the cooling appears to be provided by a wide vent in the front bumper.

The SUV has a flat side and the side windows seem to end just above the rear wheels, leaving a large D-pillar. At the rear, the vertically oriented rectangular taillights mimic those of the Cullinan. There’s very little information about the SUV’s powertrain at the moment, but we expect it to follow the Specter’s lead with a dual-motor setup and well over 500 horsepower.

We think the electric SUV could be unveiled before the end of this year, although it might not arrive in the United States until the 2028 model year. Initial reports suggested that this SUV would act as the next-generation Cullinan, but while the Specter has been a relative success for the automaker, we’re not sure it would be wise for Rolls-Royce to ditch the gas-powered Cullinan, its best-selling model, for the time being. We wouldn’t be surprised if this EV co-exists for a while with the current Cullinan, last updated for the 2025 model year.

Ultimately, Rolls-Royce also plans to launch an electric sedan to continue the transition to electrification. The Cullinan EV will rival the upcoming electric Bentley SUV, due in 2027, although spy photos suggest this model may turn out to be slightly smaller than Rolls-Royce’s challenger.

---

➡️ Skip Fate. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.

Shop new cars Shop used cars

Caleb Miller started blogging about cars at the age of 13, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and driver team. He enjoys quirky and obscure cars, with a goal of one day owning something as bizarre as a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsport fan.