ROLLS-ROYCE TURNS CULLINAN INTO MOVING ART
Rolls-Royce has partnered with contemporary artist Cyril Kongo on five hand-painted Black Badge Cullinan commissions blending street art, luxury craftsmanship and collector culture.
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Luxury carmakers have long flirted with fashion and art, but Rolls-Royce’s latest collaboration pushes further into collector territory.
The British marque has unveiled five bespoke Black Badge Cullinan commissions created in collaboration with internationally recognised contemporary artist Cyril Kongo, whose graffiti-inspired works have appeared on everything from haute horology pieces to private aircraft.
The project, curated through Rolls-Royce Private Offices in New York, Seoul and Goodwood, transforms the luxury SUV into what the company describes as a “one-of-one collector’s piece”.
A hand-painted ‘Kongoverse’
Each vehicle features individually hand-painted interiors inspired by Kongo’s self-described “Kongoverse”, a visual world shaped by imagined planets, mathematical formulas, symbols and quantum physics references.
The artworks extend across the Starlight Headliner, fascia, centre console, picnic tables and rear waterfall section, with more than 70 paint colours used throughout the process.
One of the project’s standout details is the hand-painted Starlight Headliner, where Kongo worked alongside Rolls-Royce engineers to place all 1,344 illuminated stars individually.
The vehicles also introduce several firsts for the brand, including a gradient coachline with colour transitions and different coloured brake callipers behind each wheel.
Collector culture meets contemporary art
Born in Toulouse in 1969, Kongo first emerged from the Paris graffiti scene before becoming a sought-after name among luxury collectors and global brands.
Rolls-Royce said the collaboration reflects growing interest among high-net-worth collectors in contemporary and street art-inspired commissions.
The launch also forms part of the 10-year anniversary celebrations for the Black Badge family, Rolls-Royce’s darker and more performance-focused sub-brand introduced in 2016.
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BMW has reworked its flagship sedan around Neue Klasse technology, an 8K rear screen and extensive customisation.
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The luxury sedan may no longer dominate the prestige market, but BMW is betting that its most traditional flagship can become the clearest showcase of its newest technology.
The new-generation 7 Series introduces Neue Klasse systems to BMW’s luxury range, combining a fresh design language with upgraded electric hardware and a cabin built around multiple digital surfaces.
The headline interior technology is BMW Panoramic iDrive, supported by the marque’s Operating System X. A passenger display joins the dashboard, while the vast 31.3-inch rear Theatre Screen has been upgraded with 8K resolution, Dolby Atmos capability and integrated video conferencing. It is an unusually literal interpretation of the executive car as a mobile office and private cinema.
Electric i7 variants lead the rollout in some markets. BMW says its sixth-generation cylindrical battery cells improve energy density and range, with the i7 50 xDrive quoted at up to 452 miles on the WLTP cycle in UK specification. Combustion and plug-in hybrid versions remain part of the broader range, allowing BMW to serve markets moving towards electrification at different speeds.
The exterior introduces a more monolithic face, minimalist crystal headlights and an illuminated interpretation of the kidney grille. Buyers who want greater individuality can access an expanded BMW Individual palette with hundreds of possible combinations, including a dual-finish paint process described by the company as a world first.
The model will be produced at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing in Germany, where all drivetrains can be assembled on the same line. That flexibility matters: the upper-luxury segment has global reach, but demand for electric, hybrid and combustion power varies sharply by region.
For Australian buyers, the decisive details remain local. Model mix, pricing, range certification, charging specifications and delivery timing should be confirmed by BMW Australia before publication. Overseas specifications provide the clearest view yet of the car’s direction, but should not be presented as guaranteed Australian equipment.
The latest 7 Series is therefore less a single powertrain proposition than a statement of intent. It argues that the prestige sedan can remain relevant by offering something an SUV struggles to replicate: formal presence, rear-seat theatre and the sense that the entire car has been designed around arrival.
Fact box
Model: New-generation BMW 7 Series/i7
Technology: BMW Panoramic iDrive, Operating System X, passenger display
Rear entertainment: 31.3-inch 8K Theatre Screen with available Dolby Atmos
Production: BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, Germany
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