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Rolls-Royce Unveils SUV with $325K Price Tag

by Associated Press

   WESTHAMPNETT, ENGLAND --

   Motorists with the money can now explore off-road in luxury or just
   make a statement dropping the kids off at school.

   Rolls-Royce unveiled its first SUV on Thursday. The Cullinan, named for
   the diamond in Britain's Crown Jewels, carries a $325,000 price tag
   plus an estimated $5,000 gas-guzzler tax.

   The Cullinan's 6.75-liter, twin-turbo V12 engine has 563 horsepower.
   The SUV includes Rolls' "magic air ride," but drivers can press an
   "off-road" button to hit the trails.

   Deliveries are expected to begin in 2019.

   Rising sales of SUVs and pickup trucks are driving auto sales in the
   U.S. Autodata Corp. said in March that truck and SUV sales rose 16.3
   percent, while car sales plunged 9.2 percent. Nearly two-thirds of all
   vehicles sold were trucks or SUVs.