High Rollers

Ultra-marquee SUVs for the affluent are preposterously priced but they do make the owners feel like a million bucks. Here’s a closer look at vehicles that make it to the upper crust's shopping list.

Jul 02, 2021 ARUP DAS No Comments Like

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What happens when luxury SUVs become too bourgeois for one’s liking? Instead of mirroring one’s personality and standing out in the crowd, they simply blend in with everything else on the road. If you’re one of those privileged few who believe that they’ve become a victim of this wrongdoing, fret not, as you now have Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Range Rover, and the latest, the Mercedes-Maybach, that joins this elite club for the well-heeled. All these iconic badges offer ostentatious luxury SUVs with real-world off-road capabilities.

Rolls-Royce Cullinan

The Cullinan is the most expensive SUV in India which starts from INR 6.95 crores, ex-showroom India. This Rolls-Royce vehicle, like the rest of the SUVs on our list, offers a vast range of customization options.

According to Rolls-Royce, the Cullinan is the world’s first ‘three-box’ car in the SUV segment that caters to customers who want to explore the world’s challenging terrains in uncompromised luxury. Just to set the record straight, Rolls-Royce, calls the Cullinan, “go-anywhere ultra-luxury motor-car,” not an SUV. 

Based on the Phantom’s aluminum platform, the Cullinan, is 30% stiffer than its limousine sibling and is also Rolls-Royce’s first all-wheel-drive vehicle. Sticking to its typical styling, the British behemoth sports its lineage massive vertical pantheon grille with Spirit of Ecstasy perched on the bonnet. As it is a ‘go-anywhere’ vehicle, it showcases its prominent yet raised ‘eyebrow’ like daytime-running lights, large air intakes in the bumper with a metal skid plate. Keeping practicality in mind, this ‘motor-car’ is the first Rolls-Royce to receive a tailgate, but it comes with its own unique twist. On one touch of a button, two leather seats and a tray fold out from a drawer neatly tucked into the luggage compartment floor. This is called the Viewing Suite. Of course, this can be customized according to your needs. This motorized drawer or as Rolls-Royce calls it, ‘Recreation Module’ can house one’s hobbies equipment or other applications like a drinking cabinet, for instance. 

To ensure that the Cullinan is ‘effortless, everywhere’, Rolls-Royce re-engineered the current air suspension system by adding larger air struts to offer a smooth and comfortable ride quality while tackling various terrains. Based on the inputs received from the body and wheel acceleration, steering inputs and camera information, the suspension system automatically adjusts the vehicle’s height. Switch on the Off-Road mode and the ride height raises by 40mm. It also has a wading depth of 540mm, which according to Rolls-Royce is the best in the super-luxury SUV class.

As expected, the cabin is exquisite. With a dashboard made of leather, the wooden centre console panel gets metal pillars and metal finish air condition vents, control switches and dials. It comes with a large touchscreen unit, an 18-speaker sound system, a Blu-ray player and two H-D 12-inch touchscreen displays for the rear passengers. Cullinan offers two rear seating configurations — two individual seats or a lounge seat for three passengers. 

The Cullinan is powered by a 6.75-litre, V12 petrol engine that pumps out 563bhp and 850Nm at as low as 1,600rpm and it is mated to an 8-speed torque converter automatic transmission. Even though it weighs almost three tons, it can do 0-100km/h in 5.2 seconds and has a top speed of 250km/h.  

Price: Starting from INR 6.95 crores, ex-showroom India

Bentley Bentayga

Bentley, in many ways, started the ritzy SUV wave in India. The Bentayga, has a great road presence with refreshed bold styling, especially with a bigger and more upright front grille while the lower bumper houses large air intakes. The muscular SUV gets the signature cut crystal designed new elliptical LED matrix headlights. At the rear, it gets a simple uncluttered design with an extended roof spoiler and oval-shaped LED tail lamps along with distinctive split exhaust tips. Like the Cullinan, the Bentayga, also comes with massive 22-inch alloy wheels.

The handcrafted cabin of the Bentley SUV balance exquisite craftsmanship along with the latest technology. The centre fascia gets a 10.9-inch HD touchscreen, with an anti-reflection and anti-glare coating. It comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is a first for a Bentley. The display can be customised by setting up three favourites like phone, navigation or media. The navigation system also features a three-dimensional building display, satellite maps and content in the driver’s Head-Up Display. The Head-Up Display can now project traffic information, street and names and distance to the destination too. Like all Bentleys, the Bentayga too proudly showcases a traditional analogue Breitling clock nestled between the air conditioner vents on the dashboard above the multimedia touchscreen. The rear passengers get a 5-inch Touch Screen Remote control tablet, similar to the Flying Spur. The display runs on a quad-core processor with 1 GB of RAM and can control a range of functions, from rear-seat heating and massage to the media system and navigation, to mood lighting and window blinds.

The SUV offers three seating configurations — the standard five-seat, an optional four-seat layout with two individual rear seats separated by a centre console and a seven-seat configuration with an additional third row.

Bentley developed the world’s first electric active roll control technology, which minimizes body roll and ensures a comfortable ride with the help of a 48-volt electric motor. It comes with air suspension and of course, a 4-wheel-drive system that offers one of the widest ranges of on and off-road drive settings — Drive Dynamics Mode and the optional All-Terrain Specification. The four on-road modes are Comfort, Sport, Custom and Bentley (a balance between comfort and performance and off-road ones are Snow and Wet Grass, Dirt and Gravel, Mud and Trail, and Sand. If applicable, specific off-road systems such as Hill Descent Control are also activated.

The Bentayga is powered by 4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 with a power output of 542bhp and 770Nm of torque mated to an 8-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. It can do 0-100km/h in mere 4.5 seconds and has a top speed of 290km/h. 

Price: From INR 4.10 crores, ex-showroom Delhi.

Mercedes-Maybach GL 600 4Matic

The latest to join this bandwagon is Mercedes-Maybach with the GLS 600 4MATIC. It is the brand’s first SUV and the first 50 units have already been booked even before its debut. The next batch will be delivered in the first quarter of 2022. 

Being the epitome of luxury for the German manufacturer, the Maybach GLS’ cabin is made of the highest-grade materials and noise insulation to create a First-Class cabin atmosphere in a private plane. The SUV offers generous interior space thanks to the dimensions of the GLS, but the Maybach, as expected, comes with a high level of craftsmanship like wooden panels, Nappa leather lined dashboard and upholstery and the horizontal, chrome-look louvres of the air vents. The latter beautifully complements the exterior pinstripe decor of the radiator grille. Like the GLS, the Maybach SUV's cabin, sports two 12.3-inch screens that double up as the instrument panel and the infotainment touch screen in a fully leather-lined panel. As an option, two screens for the MBUX Rear Seat Entertainment system can also be installed with the MBUX Rear Tablet housed in the extended center console in the four-seater variant, while it is located in the fold-out center armrest in the five-seater version. The new SUV comes equipped with a Burmester 3D music system.

As the new SUV is available as a four or a five-seater and the two side seats in the back come with calf supports and backrests that recline a long way back, similar to lounge seats. All the seats, front and rear, are electrically adjustable, heated or ventilated, climatized and equipped with massage functions.

In terms of exterior design, the SUV sports the typical all-chrome vertical slat Maybach radiator grille with a wide air dam crafted below it. While the window sills get a chrome finish, the B-pillar is chrome plated and the D-pillar wears the Maybach badge. The ultra-luxury SUV comes standard with 22-inch wheels, but one can opt for 23-inch ones as well. Speaking of additional options, the Maybach GL 600 4MATIC is also available in dual-tone paints. 

This Maybach SUV comes loaded with many features such as adaptive air suspension, automatic extending sideboard, panoramic roof, 360-degree camera, the world's first front airbag for rear passengers and much more. It also comes with a long list of additional features likes a folding table at the rear, refrigerated compartment, E-Active Body Control for better on-and-off-road qualities. 

The new extravagant Maybach is powered by a 4-litre V8 petrol engine that has a power output of 550bhp and 730Nm of torque with a 48V onboard electrical system that churns out an additional 21bhp and 250Nm. The powertrain is mated to a 9-speed torque converter and can do 0-100km/h in 4.9 seconds with a top speed of 250km/h.

Price: Starts from INR 2.43 crores, ex-showroom India.   

Range Rover

In the world of SUVs, Range Rover doesn’t need an introduction as this iconic vehicle can be driven in the Amazon jungle, the Sahara Desert or you can simply cruise with it in urban conditions. The Range Rover, is both robust and capable as a seasoned warrior and offers the best extravagance that money can buy. Range Rover is available in two trims — standard wheelbase and long wheelbase, the latter available only in higher-spec variants. Ever since this SUV made its debut in 1970, the Range Rover has certainly evolved in leaps and bounds, but retained its classic shape. The latest avatar sports the clamshell bonnet, distinctive floating roof and trademark front fender vents. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, Range Rover offers four types of LED headlights — Premium (standard), Matrix, Pixel and Pixel-Laser.

As expected, the Range Rover’s cabin offers an array of leather panels and upholstery as well as wooden finish options. The additional Executive Class Comfort Plus seats offer heated armrests, massage feature and calf rest for the seat behind the front passenger. It comes with a 10-inch touchscreen unit and an additional two seat-mounted 10-inch displays for the rear passengers. It’s also equipped with a Head-up Display and a 12.3-inch digital instrument console. 

Being a capable on-and-off-road all-wheel-drive vehicle, the Range Rover comes with features like electronic air suspension which can be lowered by 50mm or jacked up by 75mm from its normal height. To tackle extreme conditions, it has an additional set of low range gears and the Terrain Response has seven driving modes — Comfort, Dynamic, Eco, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud and Ruts, Sand, and Rock Crawl. The Dynamics Response, on the other hand, controls body roll and ensures low-speed agility and high-speed stability. 

The Range Rover is available in two engine trims — 3-litre diesel with 296bhp and 650Nm of torque and 394bhp 3-litre petrol with 550Nm. Both are mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. 

Price: Starts from INR 2.10 crore, ex-showroom Delhi. 

Mercedes-AMG G 63 4Matic

As we added Range Rover to this list, it would be sacrilege not to include the G 63 4Matic. Don’t let the looks fool you. As old-school as this tank appears, it comes fully loaded with the latest technology and top-class extravagance that will spoil you silly. The G-Class is available in two variants, the standard one, which starts from INR 1.62 crores, ex-showroom India, but we will be focusing on the mean machine, G 63 AMG, which is a shade less than INR 2.5 crores, ex-showroom India. 

The G 63 has a roaring 576bhp 4-litre V8 Biturbo engine with 850Nm of torque. It sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds and has a top speed of 220 km/h. If that sounds too mellow for your liking then one can opt for the AMG Driver‘s package which hits 240 km/h marks. Mated to the AMG Speedshift 9-speed torque converter, it offers shorter shift throws and has eight drive modes. The five on-road modes or as Mercedes-Benz calls it Dynamic Select are — Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual. It also comes with three off-road modes to drive on the off beaten tracks — Sand, Trail and Rock. One of the main reasons why the G 63 is one of the most capable off-roaders is because it’s based on a torsional rigid ladder-type frame.

The G Wagon is a very distinguished-looking vehicle due to its boxy silhouette, the squarish bonnet with the massive AMG-specific radiator grille with slim vertical slats, external door hinges, round LED headlamps and the exposed spare wheel on the rear door with a stainless steel cover and the iconic three-pointed star. If the standard headlights are too passe for your taste, it also comes with multibeam LEDs as an option.

As retro as the G Class looks from the outside, the more contemporary it is from the inside. The cabin comes with bucket loads of chrome on the dashboard, switches and the flat-bottom steering wheel. The analogue instrument cluster comes standard, but one can opt for all-digital two 12.3-inch displays that become your virtual cockpit and a touch screen multimedia display.

Even though 4MATIC all-wheel drive is rear-biased, it comes with a Low Range gearbox to operate in difficult terrains. G 63 feels at home when off-road and agile on-road due to the independent front axle, double wishbone suspension and a rigid axle with a five-link suspension is used at the rear. It also automatically electronically adjusts the damping of each wheel.

Price: Starts from INR 2.43 crores      

 


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