Rolls-Royce starts testing its SUV's all-wheel drive suspension system

No, that is not a Rolls Royce Phantom that the company is readying for the track. This is an early engineering mule, based on a shortened Phantom Series II body that has been created purely to begin the development of an all-wheel drive suspension system for the British luxury marquee’ upcoming SUV. The all-new suspension system will be studied by Rolls-Royce engineers to develop a final all-wheel drive system that delivers Rolls-Royce’s hallmark “magic-carpet” ride not only on the road, but off-road too.

The company is calling this Project Cullinan and will begin the first series of tests focusing the on-road behaviour from suspension throw to high-bodied stability. The new suspension will be tested across all types of international road surface specification at test facilities, as well as on public roads. Test surfaces will include Belgian Pavé, cobblestones, corrugated concrete, noise development and measurement surfaces, resonance road, and acceleration bumps.